Who among the following exerts significant influence over sport events, directing sport images and narratives toward spectator-consumers?

Corporate sponsors exert significant influence over sport events by shaping the narratives and images presented to spectator-consumers. Their financial support allows for the promotion of specific themes, branding opportunities, and marketing strategies that can dictate how events are portrayed. They play a crucial role in determining which athletes and sports receive coverage and how those stories are told, ultimately influencing audience engagement and perceptions.

This influence extends beyond simple sponsorship; it encompasses the overall experience of the event, including advertisements shown during broadcasts, the branding of venues, and even the framing of athlete performances. In contrast, while television networks certainly have a powerful role in how sports are presented to audiences, they primarily act as platforms for content rather than architects of the narratives themselves. Team coaches focus on the athletic performance and strategy related to games but are less concerned with the marketing and consumer aspects. Athlete associations typically work to protect athletes' interests and rights, which are crucial but do not directly shape the broader sport narratives targeting the audience in the same way that corporate sponsors do.