For a lot of us, money has been tight. Some of us are forced to take time off work or, in the case of some people, haemorrhage money from our business and would like a way to make it back.
There are a few ways you can use the sports industry to make a little bit of cash, sometimes a quick boost, it’s longer, guaranteed, extra income. It is through engaging in sports business management. This article discusses monetizing sports and making a professional career with the main focus on sports business management.
How Does the Sports Industry Guarantee Money?
First things first, we’ll talk about something that would all but guarantee money.
A career in the sports industry! There are many different ways you could do this, and there are many different career paths, from athlete to trainer, sports psychologist to physiotherapist. The possibilities are vast.
If it’s a career in sports you seek, however, you’ll be spending the best part of your youth training, learning, and taking in everything you can.
If you want to be a professional footballer, for example, you’ll be starting from a young age; you’ll be living, breathing, eating, drinking, and sleeping football.
Or if you want to make it into that top 1% of footballers that ever make a big-time, you need that hunger, that competitive edge, and the will to push yourself beyond your limits.
This is why, as a sports enthusiast, you should have a career in the sports industry.
What Is Sports Business Management?
So, what is sports business management? Sports business management is a branch of sports that offers immense opportunities to students and other enthusiasts who want to make good money (building their career around sports).
You can say, it is a job which manages different businesses related to sports.
For example, managing a professional athlete or a team is also one of the common occupations in this sector. However, we will discuss career opportunities in the later sections.
How to Make Money from the Sports Industry?
Very few make it, and even fewer last, but steady growth opportunities are all time present in the sports industry. They say if you don’t get picked up by a team when you’re young, it’s basically impossible, and while that’s true for the most part, it’s worth looking at players like Jamie Vardy.
Jamie was playing his trade in non-league football for Stocksbridge Park Steels, earning a mere £30 a week. He was eventually picked up by Halifax Town for £15,000. When you consider the player, he is now, that’s a silly price for him.
He spent some more time in the conference after moving to Fleetwood before eventually being picked up by Leicester City in 2012 as a 25-year-old. It took him a while to get into his stride, only scoring 4 in his first 26 games, but the following season, he scored 16, helping Leicester win promotion to the Premier League.
The rest is history. So, while it’s unlikely you would get picked up if you don’t make it as a youngster, there’s still a possibility. Don’t give up hope!
How to Find a Career Opportunity from the Sports World?
If you do not want to be the athlete, but somebody who may help condition or rehabilitate them. Also, you could be the guy who works out the best possible meal and exercise plans for them.
You probably don’t have to “live and breathe”. It’s the same way the athlete does to stay at the very top of their game.
You’ll be spending a LOT of time learning, researching, developing your own methods, etc. It’s a long old slog, but if it gets you to where you WANT to be in life, and you can be happy earning money from the sports industry, that’s ultimately the best scenario.
Next up, we’re going to talk about gambling. There are many ways we can stake money in sports. Most sportsbooks will have MANY different markets you can try your hand at, from outright winners in leagues or events, like “Who will win the Premier League?” or “Winner of the men’s 100m, Tokyo Olympic Games.” to markets based on individual games.
Things like the first goal scorer, correct result, big hits if you’re into hockey, minutes spent in the sin bin, etc. They have a significant impact on the game
It’s always worth scouring the internet, too, as there are so many sites that will have new customer offers, so you can make a deposit and gain a risk-free bet. If you don’t enjoy it, you can withdraw your initial deposit. So don’t feel like you need to stay committed to ONE bookmaker; there are plenty out there, and they all have perks!
An example of a Fantasy Premier League team. Source: Fantasy Football Geek
Career in Sports Business Management
Sports business management encompasses many types of organization, it offers diverse job opportunities.
Depending on the skills and what you are passionate about, you can find a perfect job.
There are many companies that operate sports and hire sports business management experts. For example, you can work in the sports clubs and manage their affairs. Also, you can work in:
- sports federation
- Sporting goods retailers.
- Communications and marketing agencies.
Yes, these are the places where you can find job opportunities.
However, if you are looking for a practical career option, here are some of the jobs that you can access. They include sports shop managers, sports event managers, sponsorship managers, and athlete manager.
Also, different organizations hire sports business management positions, like product manager, press secretary, communication director, business development manager and others.
Choose a Career in Sports Busiess Management But Follow Your Passion to Exel
And that covers it for me. Are you aiming for a career in sports? Are you an avid gambler with all the big tips? Or are you just super into fantasy drafts?
I personally could never get into fantasy football, I enjoy the concept, but I forget to check back on a weekly basis to change my team and end up with a squad crippled with injuries.
Not a great look, admittedly. Whatever it is you decide to do to make your money from the sports industry, I wish you nothing but the best of luck!
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