Sports Management

In recent years, the sports management field has expanded to include other sports-related endeavors, including fields like:

• Athletic talent management agencies
• Sports media, journalism, and communications
• International sports agencies and endeavors
• Governing bodies for various team and individual sports
• Sporting goods supply companies
• Professional and college sports leagues
• Sports marketing firms

Education & Career Opportunities in Sports Management

There are a number of traditional and online degree programs in sports management that could help prepare you for a career in the sports management field. The degree program that you choose should be the one that is most closely related to the area of sports management in which you wish to seek a position. For example, if you are interested in general management of a sports franchise or facility, a degree with a concentration in operations management might be beneficial. If you are interested in managing a leisure resort with a sports emphasis, such as a ski lodge, a degree in hospitality and tourism management could best serve your career hopes.

On the other hand, some colleges and universities offer general degrees in sports management. This type of program may be your best bet if you have not yet chosen a preferred area of emphasis or if you plan to try several sub-fields of sports management before choosing a permanent career path.

Salaries for sports management jobs vary widely depending on the career. In 2009, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported a median annual wage of $61,890 for agents and business managers of artists, performers,and athletes.