Social Class

The social class includes people characterized by the same material, occupational and often educational conditions. Social belonging, and the different money availability, are factors influencing the possibility of practicing or following a sport, but they have also some impacts on values and tastes towards specific sports disciplines. Playing sports has its costs, which vary according to the typology, while the fact of residing in places with adequate facilities, transport and medical services can play the role of facilitator. Being a sports fan also involves money availability in order to access the consumption of sports products and services. The sports industry tends to segment the consumer (athlete or fan) on the basis of socio-economic variables, to provide different budget options depending on the class membership and the financial resources. The growing involvement of less wealthy groups in sports consumption has been important for the economy of this sector, although different types of experiences are provided to each stratum of the social class according to the budget involved.