Image via Pexels
Not everyone has what it takes to become a professional athlete, but this doesn’t mean you can’t still work in the sports industry. As a non-athlete, you can support and improve your favorite types of sports by launching your own sports industry startup as a marketing manager, statistician, sports therapist, general manager, or journalist. You could even open a sports complex or arena in your community or sell products and services to enhance the fan experience.
There are so many ways to turn your love of sports into a profitable and rewarding career, and this guide from The Sports Archives Blog will tell you how.
Explore Sports Business Ideas
Like being an athlete, running a business is hard work. Both take dedication and determination, and entrepreneurs, as well as professional athletes, need to be effective team players. Additionally, many athletes and small business owners work more than 40 hours a week.
If you’re passionate about sports and wish to turn this passion into a rewarding career, why not start your own sports industry business? From working as a coach to manufacturing sports equipment for your favorite teams, there are so many sports business ideas to be explored.
Some sports industry businesses can even be performed from home, including sports podcasting, marketing, and writing. If you’re not quite ready to pursue entrepreneurship on a full-time basis, however, you could break into the sports industry by becoming a freelancer or launching your new business as a side gig.
Improve Your Favorite Sports Arenas
Another way to break into the sports business industry is to donate a portion of your earnings to your favorite sports teams or sell products and services that enhance local sports facilities. As a few ideas, you could manufacture flooring or turf for sports venues and arenas or sell LED lighting for indoor and outdoor stadiums, race tracks, arenas, and fieldhouses.
To start a business that enhances the look and feel of your favorite sports venues, start by reviewing industry case studies. You’ll discover the various challenges and safety hazards of poor stadium flooring and lighting and learn how installing quality LED lights for stadiums and other venues can help to create a more positive experience for players and fans alike. In addition to being unsafe for the players, insufficient lighting impairs the viewing experience for sports fans watching at home or in person.
Turn Your Business Idea Into a Reality
Once you’ve chosen a sports business idea, you can start turning your idea into a reality. Begin by increasing your knowledge of business, reading sports industry magazines and journals, and conducting market research. Market research can help you to understand your target customers and clients and determine whether there’s a need for your products and services.
It’s also important to choose the right legal structure when starting your sports business, as the legal entity you choose will determine how your business should be registered, taxed, and protected from legal liabilities. The Small Business Administration (SBA) can help you to select the best legal structure for your business and determine how your startup should be registered in your state.
Market Your Sports Industry Business
To truly become profitable as a business owner in the competitive sports industry, you’ll need to market your products and services to your target audience. This usually means creating and sharing useful content, building partnerships with sports brands and teams, and promoting your business on social media. If you’re new to marketing, however, you might want to hire a pro to help you get started — or take an online course or two on popular marketing topics.
In Conclusion
If you love sports but becoming an athlete isn’t something you’re interested in, it’s possible to turn your passion for sports into a profitable small business. From launching a business as a sports journalist to providing LED lighting for sports stadiums and arenas, there are a number of ways to break into the competitive sports business industry — no athleticism required!
The Sports Archives Blog provides a wealth of information on historical sports and fitness. Follow the blog by email, share it with other sports fans, or submit your questions and comments to the team online here.
