The Leisure Interdependencies: A Case Study on the National Football League’s Expansion to Europe

Abstract This paper uses Niklas Luhmann’s systems theory to examine leisure as an operational form. It emphasizes the intricate interdependencies between leisure and various societal domains, such as sports, media, the economy, and politics. Contested interdependencies result in divergent social practices and understandings of what constitutes leisure. The following investigation will explore the National Football League’s (NFL) expansion into Europe and the resulting interdependencies.