What is the Scope Of Sports Management In India?

Introduction

In recent years, several sports tournaments have been birthed around the world. 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.

Sports Management is one of the most lucrative and sought-after jobs in the world right now. Their demand is only rising, and will likely not be quenched in the near future. There is a market for domestic tournaments around the globe, and each such tournament will create multiple Sports Management job designations that are required to be filled.

Additionally, newer sports like Pickleball and Formula Kite, will generate a market of their own. The Esports market, which has become increasingly popular in recent times, also demands a lot of Sports Management positions such as team manager, strategy handling, etc.

Overall, the scope of Sports Management in India looks bright in the future. Here’s exploring it even further.

What is Sports Management?

Sports Management is a dynamic and multifaceted field that encompasses the strategic planning, organization, and administration of various aspects within the world of sports. It is the business side of sports and recreation; one that deals with planning, organizing, and management.

One need not be a skilled athlete or need to be involved with a sporting team to pursue a career in Sports Management. It could simply be a deep passion for management, marketing, and leadership roles, that could propel someone to success in Sports Management.

An MBA in Sports Management teaches students about the business of sports organizations and how they operate. Other factors like management, operations, finance, and marketing are also covered in this course.

The Growing Indian Sports Industry

In India, the sporting industry is growing at one of the fastest rates 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.

Indians won more medals at the Tokyo and Paris Olympics than at any other Olympics previously. This saw the potential in Indian athletes and the need to correctly scout them, manage them, and prepare them into world-class athletes before attaining Olympic glory. This drive within the country to find, prepare, and manage potential sporting prospects naturally created a demand for numerous jobs in Sports Management and otherwise.

The aforementioned sporting leagues are also each worth in crores of rupees. The scope of Sports Management jobs in India isn’t just high in demand but is also a lucrative one. Moreover, an increasing number of International Sporting tournaments like the 2026 ICC T20 World Cup, the 2023 Men’s Hockey FIH World Cup, the 2023 ICC Cricket World Cup, the 2026 World Badminton Championships, etc. in recent times have shown the nation the great scope for prosperity in this field.

As per a GroupM ESP Sporting Nation Report 2024 (as reported by Sportstar), the sporting industry in India has registered an 11% annual growth from 2023 to 2024. From 2024 to 2030, it is further expected to grow at 10-14% CAGR (compound annual growth rate). With such a terrific rise in capital and interest in various sports in India, the scope of Sports Management has widened in myriad designations.

From business and administration to managing media to marketing athletes to the management of events and developing businesses and many more, Sports Management offers a lot of jobs currently.

What are the Factors Influencing the Growth of Sports Management in India?

There are several factors influencing the growth of Sports Management in India. Most of it has got to do with the rise of interest the Indian public has taken in sports across various fields. Here are some of those factors listed below:

1. Rise of domestic sporting leagues

Sporting leagues like IPL, PKL, PBL, ISL, etc. in the last 10-15 years. More leagues gave rise to more teams to manage, which created a multiplicity of job demands. Each of these domestic leagues is worth billions of rupees, thus creating lucrative jobs in the sports market.

2. India’s performance on the global stage

Indian athletes have won more medals at the Tokyo and Paris Olympics than any other previous Olympics. Additionally, India won many more medals at the Asian Games, Commonwealth Games, and other World Events. This steady improvement in India’s performance at the Global stage birthed a drive to find more potential talent and bring more glory. This created an ecosystem of sports management, just to find, prepare, and manage talented athletes.

3. Event Management

India’s ability to host more and more sports tournaments led to the increasing number of Sports Management students being taught Event Management. It is a driving factor in growing this field of work.

4. Rise of Data Science and AI

AI and Data Science have led to the increasing use of Data Analytics in any sports today. Data Analytics is constantly being utilized in most sports matches today. Therefore, the reliance on it and the demand for it has increased manifolds.

5. Improved Education Standards

Alongside the growth of sports, the colleges that have started teaching an MBA in Sports Management have also opted for an industry-reliant, better-quality education. This creates capable sports management professionals who can easily fit into the industry.

What are the Career Opportunities in Sports Management in India?

Pursuing a MBA degree in Sports Management can open a wide range of jobs. Here are some jobs a sports management student can opt for:

  • Sports Marketing Manager
  • Sports General Manager
  • Sports Public Relation
  • Sports Financial Analyst
  • Sports Agents
  • Sports Information Director
  • Sports Event Manager
  • Facilities Manager
  • Athletic Directors
  • Business Managers of Athletes
  • Computer Systems Analyst

The Future of Sports Management: Trends and Predictions

The future of Sports Management in India looks bright and prosperous. With its in-depth talent pool, the rising popularity of sporting leagues, and a variety of jobs opening up, Sports Management looks like a vastly growing field in the world. Here are some of the trends and some factors that will shape the future of the scope of Sports Management in India:

  • The growing popularity of sports in this country. More leagues might come up and the size of existing sports leagues might increase. This creates an ever-increasing demand for jobs in the Sports Management sector.

 

  • With India continuing to show promise as a hub of sports events, bigger and larger companies will pour their investments into the country. This creates more opportunities and makes the existing jobs more lucrative.

 

  • India’s huge talent pool of athletes means that there is a constant demand for scouting them, managing them, and preparing them into world-class sportspersons. Investing in each athlete to perform well at the International level, will call for multiple jobs in managing their talent and their businesses.

 

  • Digital and technological advancements like AI are sure to impact sports in a much larger way in the future. Data Analytics is already a staple of most sports to try and get an edge over the competition by studying data. Other technologies such as Hotspot, Snickometer, Ultraedge, VAR, Hawk-Eye, etc., have already entered the sporting world. As there are still some inconsistencies left, technological advancements are sure to make them near-perfect.

 

  • Emerging fields like sports medicine, sports therapists, and exercise physiology will also shape the Sports Management field.

 

  • It will have a tremendous impact on a country’s economy. The rise and fall of sporting leagues can make or break the economy of a country at times.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Why is Sports Management important?

Sports Management is important since it ensures a hassle-free, consistent, and smooth operation of a sporting organization and athletes. Sports Management ensures that athletes don’t need to worry about anything else besides their game. It is also important for those management professionals since it gives them lucrative jobs. It creates a job demand which leads to more jobs, thereby generating more revenue and an improved economy.

2. What is the future of Sports Management in India?

The future in Sports Management is bright and prosperous in India. With the rise of sporting leagues, a never-ending talent pool, an increasing number of investments, and a growth in interest in varied sports, India provides a great future for Sports Management professionals.

3. How can I get started in Sports Management?

You can start in Sports Management by pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in any field. After graduating with a 50% or more score, you can enroll in an MBA in Sports Management from any recognized college like MBA ESG India. After pursuing an MBA for 2 years, you can look for jobs according to your preference in any company you like.

4. Is pursuing an MBA in sports management in MBA ESG worth it?

Yes. Pursuing an MBA in Sports Management in MBA ESG worth it. MBA ESG ranks among the top 20 business schools in Europe and the top 4 in Paris. It has over 35 years of legacy and has partnered with Alliance University, Bangalore for its cutting-edge MBA program. This provides students with an excellent opportunity to obtain double certification — a degree from Alliance University and an MBA ESG Paris certification that is recognized worldwide.

Practical learning, industry exposure, and global insights are the focus of the MBA program. It also designs its courses according to industry standards, which are further taught by industry professionals. Topping that up MBA ESG provides placement support to all our students across campuses.

Author: SEO Team