Business Cave

So, you’re interested in a career in sports? Many students, as well as young practitioners in New York who are striving to achieve a degree in sports management and aiming to reach into the sports industry, have realized that working in the sector is no longer restricted to selling tickets or reporting on the local pro team for your local newspaper.

Sports marketing, media, facilities, and even top universities are expected to grow faster than the overall relevant indicators of 25% in the 2020-2025 timeframe. Moreover, this year, New York adopted the sports betting like BetMGM. However, despite the abundance of job opportunities in sports today, the level of competition to drop one is higher than it has been in the past.

Are you still up for it? Assuming that’s the case, let’s take a closer look at what it takes to break into today’s sports industry, step by step:

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Programs for the Study of Sports Management

The number of schools offering degrees in sports management has increased dramatically in the last three decades. They are gaining ground in college and university programs, from bachelor to post-graduate level courses with sports management exposure. Sports management programs flourished from a few to hundreds of UG programs in the US between 1990 and 2020, but only 25 to 35 UG programs were available by 2020.

If you’re looking to build on your bachelor’s degree and give yourself a leg up in the sports industry market, some of the best graduate programs in sports management today entail the University of Massachusetts Amherst, Ohio University, Rutgers University, and the University of Central Florida.

New York City is just a short train ride away from Rutgers University, making the university’s Global Sports Business Program an ideal location for students interested in working in the industry.

Looking for Work Experience and Internships

It’s impossible to keep track of all the agencies, organizations, and institutions that make up the American sports industry today. During each semester, these organizations employ a number of interns. Internships in sports are highly sought after, but they are also a requisite for anyone hoping to work in the industry in the future.

Internships are essential for anyone hoping to enter the sports industry as a fresh graduate. It is rare, if not impossible, to land a job without any prior internship experience unless you have an inside affiliation due to the small and close-knit nature of the sports industry. A source is impossible to evade. A phone call will be made to verify the applicant’s work ethic and intelligence before an interview even takes place if an employer requires their resume and knows they worked for a nearby team or agency.

While it is possible to spend hours online searching for internship and work opportunities at the places you’d like to work, there are an increasing number of conferences and networking events that are worth attending.

Leadership Development Programs

As a summer leadership program in New York City, MSBA seeks to identify, train and link the next-gen of sports business leaders. MSBA is geared toward college students and young practitioners who want to jump-start their careers by immersing them in today’s business world.

Members of MSBA are selected through a rigorous process and then provided with a variety of learning opportunities, such as internships, a weekly speaker series, outings to local businesses and the opportunity to work with mentors on a variety of career-related topics.

The foundation of the program is MSBA’s personal internship placement service, which aims to provide students with unmatched access and exposure. Internships with world-class alliance partners allow students to gain real-world experience, hands-on learning, and an opportunity to make their mark.

Types of Sport Management Careers

Sports management encompasses a wide range of jobs, many of which have a common working environment. Opportunities to advance and eventually manage or help propel others are also common within these types of businesses, franchises, or organizations. Prior to taking on a management role, it is common practice to have worked as an assistant for a number of years.

Data Analyst

With the onset of big data, both professional and collegiate sports have benefited from the data analysis it provides. There are many ways they use data, including in marketing, sales, and even sports, to gain an advantage over their rivals.

Marketing Specialist

In order for sports teams to be successful, they must advertise themselves to the public. They use their finances to place ad campaigns that attract new audiences, increase direct bookings, and sell merchandise while inspiring loyalty to the team.

Agent

Professional athletes rely on sports agents to act as a go-between, ensuring that their clients receive contracts that reflect the market value of their services. Additionally, they frequently bargain with franchises over contract renewals and bonuses.

General Manager

The general manager and CEO are at the sharp end of a sports franchise activities hierarchy. The general manager is in charge of everything from the team’s performance on the field to its branding and marketing efforts.