Rewarding Management Opportunities in the Sports Industry

The sports industry is one of the fastest-growing industries in the United States, offering a wide variety of rewarding management opportunities to graduates in sport studies. In-demand leadership roles include sports facility managers, directors of sports management, sports agents, and game operations managers. Here's a look at what's expected of graduates interested in pursuing these positions within the sports industry.

Sports Facility Manager

Successful daily operations of sports complexes, arenas, stadiums, and community recreation centers depend on the dedication and multi-faceted talents of facility managers. From guiding program development and providing human resources services to training staff and handling marketing, facility managers work every day to achieve the goals of a sporting facility. Successful candidates for management positions usually have strong backgrounds in operations and asset management, and they also communicate well with others and supervise teams confidently.

Sports facility managers earn a median annual salary of $96,940 and can expect 6% job growth through 2029.

Director of Sports Management

Directors of sports management perform most of their work behind the scenes, overseeing the day-to-day operations of teams and organizations and coordinating activities during off-seasons. Professionals in this role have a passion for sports as well as a mind for business and managing people and projects. Directors may wear a number of hats on any given day on the job, handling responsibilities as diverse as training players, hiring trainers, coordinating trades, speaking to the media, and resolving internal conflicts.

With a median annual salary of $99,310, directors of sports management can expect 9% job growth through 2026.

Sports Agent

Like film or literary agents, sports agents primarily represent the interests of their clients in contract negotiations, legal issues, and public relations. They form close relationships with the athletes they work for, ensuring that they make strategic career decisions and avoid potential pitfalls. Aspiring agents should have strong interpersonal skills as well as a knack for networking, solving problems, and collecting and analyzing data.

Sports agents earn a median annual salary of $97,170 and can expect 3% job growth through 2026.

Game Operations Manager

Game operations managers play an essential role in managing entire sporting events, including overseeing music and media, negotiating with sponsors, overseeing parking and security, and planning special events. They also often create operational plans and publications regarding team guidelines, weather policies, and emergency response tactics. Game operations managers are typically passionate team players with lots of creativity and strong communication and management skills.

Game operations managers can expect to earn an average salary of $117,200.

How to Stand Out in the Sports Industry

Landing a leadership role in the sports industry requires dedicated passion, flexibility, and a range of industry-specific skills. Earning a Master of Professional Studies in Sport Studies or a graduate certificate in Sport Administration from Tulane School of Professional Advancement can prepare you to meet the responsibilities of these and other sports industry management opportunities. Our courses provide insight into a range of topics, from sports and culture to the ethical issues and psychology behind sports. To learn more about how you can advance your career or begin a new one in the world of sports, request more information today.