Financial Reporting of Professional Sports Clubs (Wth a View to Main Elements of Intangible Assets)

The dissertation thesis concentrates on financial reporting of professional sports franchises. The thesis is divided into eight sections. In addition to introduction and conclusion the thesis includes the section focus on sports economics and five sections consider specific issues of professional sports clubs from accounting perspective. Section 1 accents an increasing importance of sport in society involving growing allocation of financial resources. Entry into stock is way to obtain an external capital. However this entry increases user's requirements on financial statements. Section 2 focus on economic background of professional sports franchises. Understanding of economic relations in sports branche provides correct interpretation of economic phenomenons and their recognition. Section 3 emphasizes importance of intangible rights in sports branche and presents approaches of intangible asset accounting included in IFRS and US GAAP. Section 4 be engaged in most important issue in sports branche -- economic relations between players and sports franchises established in the player contracts. This section concern about initial recognition of player contracts depending on type of acquisition and accounting of longterm liabilities included in the player contracts. Section 5 shows economic implications of league franchise (especially teritorial exclusivity) which are crucial for fulfiling the recognition criteria to be classified as an (intangible) asset. Key problem of subsequent recognition of league franchise is determining the useful life of an intangible asset. Section 6 present the main sources of revenues for sports franchises (operating segments) and their influence on the structure of financial statements. This section concentres mostly on recognition of revenues from sale of broadcasting rights guaranteed in longterm contracts. Section 7 focus on some economic and accounting aspects of operating a sports facility (especially subvencion and longterm lease of sports facilities). Section 8 summarise the main ideas included in this dissertation thesis