Arizona Professional Baseball owns and operates the Arizona Diamondbacks baseball franchise. The team joined Major League Baseball as a National League expansion franchise in 1998 and enjoyed early success, reaching the postseason in its second year and winning the World Series in 2001. The Diamondbacks play host at the state-of-the-art Chase Field, which features a retractable roof, air-conditioning, and a swimming pool in the outfield stands. A group led by former computer industry executive and Datatel founder Ken Kendrick has controlled the team since 2004.Between 1940 and 1990, Phoenix jumped from the 99th largest city in the nation to the 9th largest; currently 5th largest today. As such, it was frequently mentioned as a possible location for either a new or relocated MLB franchise. Baseball had a rich tradition in Arizona long before talk of bringing a big-league team even started. The state has been a frequent spring training site since 1946. With the large number of people relocating to the state from the Midwest and the Northeast, as well as from California, many teams (most notably the Chicago Cubs and the Los Angeles Dodgers) have normally had large followings in Arizona.

If you really had two left feet, wouldn't you just keep dancing to the left? Arthur Murray International would prefer not to find out. Originally famous for its "footprints" method of dance instruction (foot outlines placed on the floor, a method it no longer uses), the company franchises about 225 studios in approximately 15 countries. Dance lessons range in skill from beginning to competition-level dancing, and students can learn a variety of steps, including swing, samba, merengue, rumba, cha-cha, mambo, tango, and waltz. Founder Arthur Murray began teaching dance in 1912; he formed the company in 1946. The company consists of approximately 275 franchised studios in eight countries including the United States, Australia, Canada, Germany, Israel, Japan, Italy, and South Africa. Former staff members who have worked their way up in the company own and operate the franchised studios. These owners typically began their careers with Arthur Murray as dance instructors, realized the opportunity of operating a studio, and reached executive level. Arthur Murray staff members were eligible to become franchisees within just a few years of beginning as teachers. Sales for Arthur Murray International during the late 1990s amounted to an estimated $50 million.

Quiet nights -- that's what AmericInn promises its overnight guests. Limited service (without food or beverage) hotel operator AmericInn International points to the quiet offered by its unique masonry construction as the reason customers receive a good night's rest. The company has more than 250 hotels in operation or under development in about 20 states the US and Canada. The heaviest concentration of AmericInns is in Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan. Several locations include Splash Bay Adventure, a family-oriented pool and children's activity center. AmericInn was founded in 1984 and is owned by the Minnesota-based hospitality firm Northcott Hospitality International.

Nordic Panorama PLC was founded in 1990 and is based in London, the United Kingdom. Nordic Panorama Plc, through its subsidiaries, develops and operates leisure resorts principally in Norway. It engages in the operation and development of season’s holiday destination in Telemark. Nordic Panorama PLC company’s activities comprise operation of the Vradal Panorama ski resort and property development in terms of plot sales, and the construction and sales of chalets and cabins within the resort area. It also involves in winter and summer outdoor activities, such as operating ski lifts; operating service facilities, such as restaurants, bars, ski/bike rental, ski schools, and a shop; provision of boat rental services; and organizing hunting and fishing.

Keith Johnson saw how much his family enjoyed eating soft pretzels at a local farmers’ market and thought pretzels would be a great concept to franchise in malls. He worked at creating his own recipe for pretzels and, once the recipe was perfected, in 1992 opened the first The Pretzel Twister store in Naples, Florida. Mister Twister Pretzels operates the Pretzel Twister snack food chain, with about 40 franchised locations that specialize in soft pretzels. The eateries feature such pretzel flavors as Caramel Crunch, Cinnamon, and Toasted Almond; the company also sells flavored pretzel dips and smoothies. Its outlets are located primarily in shopping malls in Florida, North Carolina, and 10 other southeastern states. Founder Keith Johnson started the Pretzel Twister chain in 1992 after seeing families eat soft pretzels at a farmer's market.

Toronto sports fans get a double dose of entertainment from this company. Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment (MLSE) owns and operates two of that city's professional sports franchises, the Toronto Raptors basketball team and the storied Toronto Maple Leafs hockey team, as well as Toronto's Air Canada Centre, where both teams play. In addition to the sports franchises, MLSE operates television channels dedicated to each team. Formed in 1998, the company is controlled by Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan, which owns two-thirds of MLSE. Other shareholders include construction magnate and chairman Larry Tanenbaum (20%), and Toronto-Dominion Bank unit TD Capital.Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment Ltd. (MLSE) owns the National Hockey League's Toronto Maple Leafs, the National Basketball Association's Toronto Raptors, and the $265 million Air Canada Centre, as well as Leafs TV and Raptors NBA TV. MLSE, which brought the two professional sports teams under one new roof, has established a reputation as one of the best-run sports franchises in North America. Fans pack the arena paying the highest ticket prices in Canada.

BridgeStreet Worldwide bridges the gap between business trips and home. The company provides corporate housing -- serviced apartments for guests requiring short-term temporary housing or fully-furnished extended stay accommodations. Its more than 15,000 corporate apartments, which are typically 700 square feet or larger, are located throughout the US and nearly 50 countries internationally. BridgeStreet targets individuals, corporations, families, and government travelers. The company is owned by Dublin-based privately-held investment group Sorrento Asset Management, which purchased BridgeStreet Worldwide from previous owner Interstate Hotels & Resorts for more than $40 million in 2007.

Sunderland Ltd. owns and operates the Sunderland Football Association Club, which plays in the English League. Known to supporters as The Black Cats, the team was started in 1879 and plays host at the Stadium of Light. A consortium of Irish businessmen known as Drumaville, led by chairman and former Arsenal player Niall Quinn, has controlled the team since 2006.

AMF Bowling Worldwide is a leading operator of bowling centers with more than 300 locations in about 35 states. Operated through subsidiary AMF Bowling Centers, the chain offers league and non-league bowling, along with video games, billiards, and other amusements. AMF's activity centers also offer food and beverage service and sell bowling gear. In addition to its chain of bowling centers, the company owns 50% of QubicaAMF Worldwide, a joint venture with Italian manufacturer Qubica that sells such bowling center equipment as refurbished pinsetters and scoring systems. AMF Bowling is controlled by investment firm Code Hennessy.

Aston Villa plc is the publicly listed company governing the activities of England's Aston Villa Football Club and the Villa Park stadium in the city of Birmingham. A founding member of the Football League's Premier Division, Aston Villa is also among the first football (soccer) teams to become listed on the London Stock Exchange, joining such renowned teams as Manchester United and Arsenal in a run-up to what many consider will be a new era in sports marketing, when barriers to sports team ownership, notably by media corporations, are expected to fall. As such, Aston Villa has already entered a relationship with American cable television company NTL Inc., which has been building up its shareholding position in the more than 125-year-old team. The majority of Aston Villa's revenues, which neared £36 million in 2000, come from gate receipts. Broadcasting fees provide another 20 percent of annual sales, while merchandising and royalty receipts add 14 percent of the company's revenues. Aston Villa also operates conference and convention services, and expects to open its own hotel in the future. The company is also renovating its aging stadium, built in 1924, boosting the number of seats to 51,000. Aston Villa is led by chairman and CEO Herbert Douglas Ellis, who also owns some 33 percent of the company's stock.

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