To see if sports management is the right fit for you, explore some of the career options available in the field. Because the field is so broad, diverse and multidisciplinary, there’s a career option for virtually every interest.
Facility Management
Facilities management is an area relevant to sports at multiple levels — from professional teams to community or recreational leagues. Facilities managers are tasked with ensuring the smooth operations of any type of sports facility, such as a stadium, arena or training facility. Sometimes, facilities managers are even involved in the construction phase of a facility or the design of facility renovation plans, such as by lending their expertise on the layout and features that would be needed.
On any given day, a facilities manager may:
- Plan and coordinate athletic events
- Lease, buy or sell facilities
- Supervise the staff at a sports facility
- Oversee daily operations at the facility and troubleshoot problems
Sports Marketing
Marketing and advertising are integral functions for all types of industries, and the sports business is no exception. Sports marketing professionals may work on marketing one specific team, or they might lend their expertise to a handful of teams or a league.
Some of the responsibilities of a sports marketing professional can include:
- Liaising with brands to discuss marketing opportunities at sports venues
- Building relationships with brand representatives
- Finalizing sponsorship arrangements with brands
- Marketing sporting events, like games and community outreach activities
Operations Management
Operations management professionals are responsible for ensuring that sporting events proceed as planned. They handle the goings-on behind the scenes before, during and after each game or other sporting event. For example, an operations management professional will establish the budget, hire and coordinate staff, ensure employees are properly trained and oversee the selection of music and other audiovisual elements.
Athlete Representation
The signing of athletic talent, particularly star professional players, can be a complex affair. Much of the work is done by the athlete's representatives or agents. Sports agents work on building relationships with front-office staff and team owners, as well as networking with new or up-and-coming athletes who could become tomorrow's stars.
Typical responsibilities for sports agents include:
- Negotiating contracts with teams on behalf of their clients
- Negotiating and securing endorsement deals from sponsors for athletes
- Providing career guidance to their clients
- Helping clients maintain their public image through marketing, branding and public relations
- Serving as a liaison between the client and media members
- Assisting their clients with financial matters
