Historically, sport was largely amateur in nature, with participation motivated by honor, community recognition, and personal fulfillment. Economic considerations played a minimal role, and financial compensation was often viewed as incompatible with sporting values.
The transition to professional sport marked a fundamental economic erotic shift. Athletes began to receive wages, clubs became commercial entities, and competition intensified. Professionalization enabled sport to attract investment, media attention, and broader audiences, laying the foundation for modern sports economies.