Luton Town’s Sonny Bradley lifts the trophy after their sides victory during the Sky Bet Championship play-off final against Coventry City at Wembley Stadium, London, Saturday, May 27, 2023. Luton Town’s promotion to the Premier League is an opportunity not given to U.S. minor-league teams.Maybe you didn’t know that much of the world makes their pro teams sweat to keep their status in top-tier leagues. What’s called “relegation” is an annual culling of the sporting herd.
But the intrigue surrounding these sporting demotions has become pop culture lore. Relegation was a common theme in the popular Yes, many U.S. sports teams choose the costly fight to battle for supremacy. But no fear of relegation translates to other franchises spending far less money and energy toward victory.
Then add to that buzz what’s happens in the league one notch below. That’s where top teams play to win promotion to the high-profile competition next season. This is a real business victory. Premier League is an estimated $200-plus million windfall each for Luton plus the two other promoted clubs – Burnley and Sheffield United – compared to remaining in the second-tier circuit.
And tanking is bad for business as it spins fandom on its head. Team supporters actively argue whether a late-season victory is good news or a bad move, hurting chances to obtain high-end talent.Dallas Mavericks were fined $750,000 by the National Basketball AssociationThe team sat key players at the season’s end so it could miss the playoffs and get a better draft choice., the National Hockey League’s worst club this past season.