| The sports equipment business has grown from | | | | manufacturing of items used for sports and |
| very humble beginnings to a multi-billion dollar | | | | recreation. The true growth spurt came in the |
| industry in the last 100 years. What is the main | | | | years after World War I, when team sports such |
| thing that spurred this growth? | | | | as baseball and football began to grow in |
| In some ways, you might say there has been a | | | | popularity. Just about every major sporting |
| sports gear industry for thousands of years. Man | | | | activity traces its roots and early history to this |
| has always engaged in sport and recreational | | | | period. |
| activities whenever his quest for survival allowed | | | | In 1957, the SMGA began operating a Sporting |
| him any leisure time at all. In ancient Rome, | | | | Goods Fair. This became the Super Show in 1986 |
| games like chariot races and gladiatorial contests | | | | and was the single largest Sporting Goods product |
| entertained the people. It might be said that the | | | | show in the World. The SMGA has also been a |
| suppliers of the chariots and the makers of | | | | political force. In 1997, it was instrumental in |
| swords were involved in industry, but in each | | | | eliminating the use of child labor to produce soccer |
| case, the product was used for other things and | | | | balls in Pakistan. It was not the SMGA that was |
| was adapted to the sporting or leisure event. | | | | causing the rapid growth of the industry, |
| Some early activities in the middle ages were the | | | | however. It was the technological revolution. Labor |
| beginning of sports that were unique from other | | | | saving devices and machines in the work place |
| activities. Early sports such as golf, forms of | | | | and the home had given people more free time. |
| tennis, and even fishing, began to demand | | | | This free time was being used for leisure |
| specialized products. In was in the 19th century, | | | | activities. |
| perhaps, that the true beginning of the industry | | | | At one time, sport and leisure was the reward of |
| could be found. Some companies were formed | | | | wealth and nobility. Today, this has changed. |
| that concentrated solely on the production of | | | | People have a lot of free time and every single |
| leisure activity products. Some of these early, | | | | sporting and recreational activity has experienced |
| small companies have grown into the industry | | | | incredible growth in the last 50 years. The |
| giants of today. | | | | Sporting Goods Industry has profited from this |
| In 1906, a number of these companies banded | | | | growth by supplying the goods, but it has also |
| together to form the Sporting Goods | | | | helped spur the growth by making high quality, |
| Manufacturers Association (SMGA). This | | | | safe, and ever better products available to the |
| organization was formed to promote the | | | | public. |
| common interest of those involved in the | | | | |