BBA, or Bachelor’s in Business Administration, is typically a 3-year undergraduate program where students learn the basics of business management and administration. A BBA in Sports Management equips students with the necessary knowledge about the Sports industry, combined with the business acumen to improve their decision-making skills and perform better.
Sports Management combines the worlds of Sports, Business, and Management. A BBA Sports Management course will help a student with the planning, organization, and administration of the various facets of a sporting event, albeit at a grassroots level. They can always further pursue an MBA to strengthen their knowledge and learn more industry-oriented skills.
BBA in Sports Management: Key Course Highlights
An intersection of Sports and Business, alongside Management, a BBA in Sports Management has all the prerequisites in its course to prepare a student for a successful career path in the sporting industry.
As part of the course, students learn about various subjects with the sporting context such as Sports Marketing, Sports Event Management, Sports Facility Management, Sports Sponsorship, Sports Analytics, etc. The course also touches upon the Broadcasting and Media part of sports, albeit lightly.
On the Business and Management side of things, this BBA course also teaches students about core business principles such as Principles of Management, Marketing and Branding, Financial Management, and Business Strategy and Policy, among others.
After graduating from this course, students can opt for a wide variety of jobs in the market. With the influx of multiple sports tournaments, the Sports industry is growing at an exponential rate. Owing to this growth, the demand for Sports Managers is highly unlikely to be out of fashion. From being a Sports Marketing Manager to a Sports Facilities Manager to a Marketing Coordinator and Athletics Director and many more, a Sports Management graduate can opt for any job option.
BBA in Sports Management: Overview & Purpose
A BBA in Sports Management is an undergraduate program that covers essential topics related to sports and management. It prepares students for a career in Sports Marketing, Sports Event Management, and Sports Facility Management, among others.
Sports Operations, Marketing, Event Management, Athlete Management, Media Relations, and Sports Economics are all part and parcel of what Sports Managers do. Therefore, the three-year course is designed to cater to all of those needs. It also prepares the right base for those wanting to study an MBA in Sports Management. At MBA ESG, courses are also designed with an industry-specific outlook by the industry experts.
Students also gain practical experiences like internships, seminars, live projects, and industry visits, among others. This prepares them from an earlier stage, what the sporting industry expects from them. Other sports-specific courses like sports law, sports facility management, sports finance, sports marketing, event promotions, etc., are all part of this program.
After pursuing the course, a Sports Management graduate can opt for a career in professional sports leagues, teams, equipment companies, media, marketing agencies, or even venues.
The purpose of studying BBA Sports Management is to choose one out of the many career paths in Sports and Management. Owing to an increase in sporting leagues and tournaments around the world, there is an increasing demand for good quality managers, and this demand needs to be met. Professionals in this career path also get to simultaneously pursue their career while remaining close to their passion, i.e. sports.
Sports Managers are also required by most sports organizations since they smoothen the process of management. From venues, to players, to teams, to facilities, to the press, everything needs to be arranged perfectly. Sports Managers ensure that while players and coaches can wholeheartedly focus on the game.
BBA in Sports Management: Leading Institutes in India
Here are some of the leading institutes in India for BBA in Sports Management:
- MBA ESG, Pune and Bengaluru
- Indian Institute of Sports & Management, Mumbai
- Manipal University, Jaipur
- DY Patil University, Pune
- IIM Rohtak
- Shiv Nadar University, Greater Noida
- Christ University, Bengaluru
- Xavier’s College, Mumbai
BBA in Sports Management: Eligibility
To be eligible for a BBA in Sports Management program, a student needs to pass his/her Class 12 with an aggregate of 50% or more marks across academics. Students from any background, i.e. science, commerce, or arts, can pursue this course in their college.
BBA in Sports Management: Admission Process
To pursue a BBA in Sports Management, a student needs to secure 50% or more marks in their higher secondary board exams across academics. They can be from any education background, i.e. science, arts, or commerce. They can then apply to a business school of their choice.
After applying to the college, they need to clear the admission test specific to each institution, and then clear the interview or portfolio review. Once they clear all rounds, they can get admission into the college and pursue their course.
CUET-UG (Common University Entrance Test-Undergraduate), AIMA UGAT, NPAT (NMIMS), and IPMAT are some of the common entrance tests for BBA colleges that offer a Sports Management course.
The MBA ESG in India has its entrance exam, which is followed by an interview. Some other college-specific exams are IPU CET (Indraprastha University Common Entrance Test), SET (Symbiosis Entrance Test), UPES Engineering Aptitude Test (for specific programs), etc.
BBA in Sports Management: Syllabus & Course Structure
Although the syllabus for a BBA course in Sports Management might vary from one institution to another, here is a general overview of the subjects taught during this course. They are divided into ‘Core Business’ and ‘Sports-Specific’ subjects.
1. Core Business Subjects
Accounting & Finance, Budgeting, Investment Strategies, Marketing & Business Strategy, Sports Marketing, Branding, Sponsorship, Audience Engagement, Management and Human Resources, Leadership, Organizational Behaviour, and Business Communications, among others.
2. Sports-Specific Subjects
Sports Law, Event Management, Sports Analytics, Athlete Management, Sports Journalism & Media.
Other parts of the BBA Sports Management course structure include live experiences like internships and projects.
3. Practical Experiences
Internships, Workshops, Seminars, Industry Visits, Other Live Projects, etc.
Other elements like Case Studies, Leadership Development, Communication Skills, Networking, Presentations, and Live Projects are part of the course structure.
4. Duration
A full-time BBA in Sports Management program usually lasts for 3 years.
BBA in Sports Management: Scope & Career Opportunities
The scope of Sports Management is huge in India. It is only growing by the day, as more and more sports leagues spring up across the nation. Sports such as Cricket, Kabaddi, and Badminton, which didn’t have many leagues previously, are now inviting International attention with their many domestic leagues. Whereas, other sports like Football, Tennis, and Hockey, are expanding into newer territories with more domestic leagues. This rise in sporting leagues is a positive indicator of the thriving and dynamic job market in Sports Management.
Each league has multiple teams and each team will be in dire need of various sports management positions. Thereby, this only widens the job vacancy gap in this field of work. Its ripple effect will be felt at the grassroots level, where in more business schools will adopt BBA Sports Management as a course and will naturally bring in more applications from students. This, altogether, improves the entire ecosystem of sporting and management culture in the country.
Sports is now called the ‘Sunshine Sector’ in India in the industry jargon. The sporting industry was worth INR 158 billion by the end of 2023, as per the statistical website Statista. This was more than four times what it was in 2013. Its significant growth was attributed to India’s excellence in the sporting world globally, combined with the popularity of domestic leagues like the Indian Premier League, Pro Kabaddi League, Indian Super League, Hockey India League, Premier Badminton League, etc.
Here are some of the best career opportunities in Sports Management:
- Sports Marketing Executive
- Sports Public Relations
- Sports Financial Analyst
- Sports Agents
- Sports Event Executive
- Facilities Manager
- Business Managers of Athletes
- Computer Systems Analyst
BBA in Sports Management: Top Hiring Companies
Here are the top hiring companies for BBA graduates in Sports Management:
- IPL (Indian Premier League) – Hiring for positions in Event Management, Marketing, Sponsorship, Media Relations, etc.
- IMG Reliance – Hiring for roles in Event planning, Sports Marketing, Sponsorship Management, Athlete Management, etc.
- Sports Authority of India (SAI) – Hiring for roles in Sports Coordination, Event Management, Coaching, Player Development, etc.
- ESPN India – Hiring for roles in Sports Journalism, Content Creation, Event Broadcasting, Sponsorship Management, etc.
- Star Sports (Disney India) – Hiring for Broadcast Management, Sponsorship Sales, Media Rights Negotiation, Content Production, etc.
- Pro Kabaddi League – Hiring for Event Coordination, Sponsorship Management, Sports Marketing, etc.
- Viacom 18 – Hiring for Content Creation, Marketing, Event Management, Broadcasting, etc.
Some of the other top companies hiring for various positions among BBA Sports Management graduates are DNA Entertainment Pvt. Ltd., Decathlon Sports India, Nike, Sports Consultz Pvt. Ltd., etc.
BBA in Sports Management: Salary Insights & Trends
The salary of a Sports Manager, including various departments, can range from INR 3.5 LPA to 5 LPA for an entry-level job. It can increase up to INR 10 LPA to 25 LPA depending upon their experience.
A student who graduated in BBA Sports Management might get hired for somewhere around 3.5 LPA on average. It can range from 5-6 LPA as well depending upon the quality of the student, their passion and knowledge about the respective sport, interview skills, and other job-related skills.
The salary structure for the same entry-level job significantly goes up for different colleges based on the quality and reputation of the college.
The location of the job and the designation of the post also impacts the salaries. Tier 1 cities such as Mumbai, Chennai, Delhi, and Bangalore, will pay more. Moreover, if someone joins a senior management position like a Sports Director or General Manager, the pay scale rises in that scenario.
Lastly, any additional skills and specialized degrees will also help one candidate crack a better, bigger job in the Sports world. That will also drastically change one’s salary structure.
One of the huge trends to look out for, that will significantly influence BBA Sports Management graduates’ salaries, is the rise of domestic sports leagues. IPL, ISL, PKL, etc, are growing by the day, and this only means great things for the future of Sports Managers.
Specialized roles such as sports analytics, digital marketing, sports law, etc., will fetch higher-paying jobs than the rest. Other data-driven roles such as ticket optimization and fan engagement will also fetch higher salaries.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is BBA Sports Management?
A BBA in Sports Management is a 3-year undergraduate program where students learn the basics of business management and administration in the sporting context. They specialize in the business aspects of the sports industry, equipping them with management, marketing, and finance skills required in sports organizations.
2. Who Should You Pursue a BBA in Sports Management?
You should pursue a BBA in Sports Management since the career opportunities are boundless and the salary is lucrative. There is also an increasing demand for good sports managers, due to the rise of sporting leagues and teams. Professionals in this career path also get to simultaneously pursue their career while remaining close to their passion, i.e. sports.
Sports Managers are also required by most sports organizations since they smoothen the process of management. From venues, to players, to teams, to facilities, to the press, everything needs to be arranged perfectly. Sports Managers ensure those arrangements are perfectly in place while players and coaches can wholeheartedly focus on the game.
3. What is the Eligibility Criteria for BBA in Sports Management?
To be eligible for a BBA in Sports Management program, a student needs to pass his/her Class 12 with an aggregate of 50% or more marks across academics. Students from any background, i.e. science, commerce, or arts, can pursue this course in their college.
4. Are There Entrance Exams for BBA in Sports Management?
Yes, there are entrance exams for BBA in Sports Management. CUET-UG (Common University Entrance Test-Undergraduate), AIMA UGAT, NPAT (NMIMS), and IPMAT are some of the common entrance tests for BBA colleges that offer a Sports Management course.
The MBA ESG has its entrance exam, which is followed by an interview or a portfolio review. Some other college-specific exams are IPU CET (Indraprastha University Common Entrance Test), SET (Symbiosis Entrance Test), UPES Engineering Aptitude Test (for specific programs), etc.
5. What Skills are Required to Succeed in Sports Management?
A student requires a fine blend of soft and hard skills to succeed in Sports Management. Some of the most sought-after skills are strong leadership, communication, problem-solving abilities, along with business acumen, financial knowledge, adaptability, and a quick decision-making skills.
6. What is the Average Fee for a BBA in Sports Management?
The average fees for a BBA in Sports Management program can typically range between INR 3 LPA to INR 7 LPA for the entire 3 years. At MBA ESG, the total course fees for a 3-year BBA Sports Management program is INR 10.5 LPA.
7. Is BBA in Sports Management a Good Career Choice in India?
Yes, a BBA in Sports Management is a good career choice in India. It opens up a lot of doors for an individual to pursue his/her career according to their will, while remaining close to their passion. The market is an ever-growing market with an influx of jobs across designations. As sports grow larger in India with more and more sports leagues, tournaments, events, and teams coming up, sports managers will be at an all-time high demand. Therefore, Sports Management is a lucrative job option in India.
8. What are the Specialization Options in Sports Management?
Some of the specialization options in Sports Management are Sports Marketing, Event Management, Sports Facilities Management, Sports Administration, Human Resource Management, etc.
