Abstract
Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to introduce this special issue of Management Decision and discuss the key question “Should sport be taken seriously?”. Design/methodology/approach – The themes of the special issue are discussed and each paper is introduced. Findings – Sport should be taken seriously because it has a significance beyond the field of play. It has become a commodified activity which creates and consumes wealth and can be used as a context for management research. Originality/value – Rarely before has sport been taken seriously in a management research context. This guest editorial and the special issue that follows it begin that debate.