Commercialization Bottlenecks and Breakthrough Paths for Sports Event Intellectual Property in China: Evidence from the Premier League

Abstract

This paper discusses why obtaining intellectual property rights (IP) in sports events in China usually does not bring sustainable profits. Based on literature review, structured case study and comparative analysis, this study puts forward an analytical framework, focusing on the monetization of rights, digital fan participation and governance structure. The Premier League (EPL) takes its time-tested business model as the main reference, which is characterized by strategic integration of media rights, direct digital interaction with consumers and revenue sharing mechanism aimed at supporting competition balance and long-term reputation. According to official data, from 2021 to 2023, the sports industry in China grew well. However, the parties who rely on events to make money are still very small. This shows that the biggest problem is not the lack of funds or audience, but the failure to achieve sustainable development after purchase. In the end, the organizers of China must adapt to its core mechanism, rather than simply copying the scale of EPL. This means developing a package of rights at different levels, improving the ecosystem of members and data, and changing governance to build a strong long-term brand.