I’ve been reading about how the owners of NFL teams lobby local governments to fund their stadiums at little or no cost to themselves. It’s no surprise to me, as I’ve plenty of experience of the non-profit sector. But if you don’t know that some businessmen use charities and non-profit entities to lobby government for their own benefit and profit, this article is a good place to start.
The sporting industry is interesting because it occupies a gray area between charity and business in most people’s minds. A football team can evoke religious fanaticism among its followers and even greater profits for its owners.