Sports management offers a spectrum of employment opportunities. The range of jobs exist because of the field of sports management is diverse. Moreover, your degree in this discipline affords an array of concentrations to suit your career aspirations. A more advanced degree, namely a master’s, will increase job offerings in amateur and professional sports, as well as sports organizations and venues.
Sports is a massive industry in the United States. Major League Baseball (MLB) grossed a record $10.7 billion in revenue for the 2019 season. The league took in approximately $1.5 billion from deals with three television networks. In 2019, the NFL had total revenue approaching $17 billion. Again, as with the MLB, much of the billions come from television rights.
Networks, such as NBC Sports, have a limited number of positions for individuals with a keen interest and knowledge of sports, along with a bachelor’s degree. Social media is one burgeoning area of sports and one which has courses to develop your media skills. A job posting, for example, posted by NBC Sports in Chicago, seeks a Social Media Coordinator to create and publish high-quality media content. This job, posted on Indeed, stipulates the academic requirements as an undergraduate degree.
A degree in sports marketing and media is under the banner of sports management, but it focuses on the methodology of marketing through social media. Event planning, promotions, and production are areas of study. Full Sail University, in Winter Park, Florida, offers a Bachelor of Science in the marketing field of sports.
Event planning opens up jobs as an event coordinator. One place of employment is at universities that hire coordinators to organize special events on campus, as well as reviewing sports programs, operational procedures and promote intramural sports. In February 2020, the University of Nevada-Las Vegas posted a job on SimplyHired for a full-time Program Coordinator.
A close relative of event coordinating is a position in public relations. Again, the major television networks have summer internships in public relations for college students. Working as a paid intern is a way to see what the job entails while continuing your degree in sports management. NBS, Fox, CBS, and Turner networks have summer internships in a variety of areas, including editorial, marketing, field production, sales, public relations, and communications.
Becoming a sports agent is another profession to use a degree in sports management. Sports agency is a category in itself, due to the number of branches your career can take. Some agents represent professional athletes in negotiating contracts and endorsements. Additionally, some agencies offer a range of services, from residence relocation to tax preparation. Although there is no formal degree required to become a sports agent, a master’s degree would help gain access into this competitive field.
Sports management firms, for example, KMG in Cinncinati, Ohio, has a department store of services for clients. They perform contract negotiation, brand development, community relations, post-career planning, legal and financial services, and even conditioning and training. Prestigious sports management firms as KMG might be challenging to procure a job interview. One would likely need a master’s degree in sports management, administration, finance, or law.
Some management firms take clients from one professional sport only. Aces, a sports management company, deals solely with major league baseball players. Currently, it has more than 50 athletes, with contracts totaling over $845 million. These contracts result in over $42.3 million in commissions.
Octagon advertises as a sports talent agency that represents clients in hockey, baseball, football, and basketball. Its website posts several jobs in a host of professions, some of which apply to the field of sports management. For example, position as an account director, volunteer operations trainee, special events trainee, and senior account executive. The latter requires a bachelor’s degree in sports marketing or management, as well as experience.
Personnel development and management is another avenue. You could be working at the college, amateur, or professional sports level to hire, train, and manage support staff. You might handle the business affairs of this side of the team operations using negotiation skills and business acumen. At the college level, you may find work within the athletic director’s office as a manager of personnel and resources. Schools with national-caliber teams, such as Clemson University, have large athletic departments. The administrative staff dedicates its efforts to all areas of the student-athlete, including academics, physical, and emotional well-being and development.
Additional Resources:
How long does it take to get a Master’s in Sports Management?
What is the difference between a Sports Manager and a Sports Agent?
Is a law degree helpful for a career in sports management?
Do I need to be a former athlete to have a good chance at a job in sports management?
What kind of undergraduate degree is best for trying to get an internship with a sports team?
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