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Learn about sports business with online courses and programs

You don’t have to be an athlete to be successful in sports. Event promotion, team marketing, sponsorship negotiations, and other behind-the-scenes activities are often what make gameplay possible. Learn about the business of sports with courses on edX.

What is sports business?

When you watch two teams go head-to-head in a season championship or view a commercial starring your favorite quarterback, you’re experiencing the results of sports business. From agents and team owners to lawyers and marketing teams, the sports world relies on many players outside the arena.

Sports has a global reach. This makes sports teams and players attractive vehicles for advertising, and can even inspire corporate social responsibility initiatives. Competition is just a slice of the sports pie. There are many commercial and financial elements that make sports a significant contributor to the international economy.

If you love sports but don’t have the interest or ability to play, working in sports business can be a great way to combine business and pleasure. Learning business management, marketing, and even law can be great stepping stones into the world of sports.

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Sports business course curriculum

Whether you’re interested in a career in athlete management or want to apply your marketing skills to the world of sports, learning the fundamentals is a great place to start. This can give you helpful context regarding the sports industry as a whole, as well as its various segments. You may also learn about the different tiers of sports, such as youth, collegiate, professional, and international.

It’s also important that you know how to follow and integrate industry trends into your work. Learners can confront challenges and opportunities within sports, such as the use of big data and AI, social issues, and multi-layered sponsorship agreements. edX offers a variety of courses that cover the broad field of sports business, as well as more niche topics.

Start building the knowledge you need to work in the web development field. From accelerated boot camps to comprehensive programs that allow you to earn a bachelor’s degree or (for more advanced learners) a master’s degree, there are many different learning formats available to fit your needs. You can even take advantage of executive education courses specifically designed for busy professionals. Find the right course for you.

Explore sports business jobs

Working in sports business means combining your love of the game with your unique skill set. The sports world needs more than athletes, with many critical supporting roles including:

  • Sports marketing manager: Develops and executes marketing campaigns to promote teams, events, or athletes.1

  • Sports agent: Represents athletes and negotiates contracts, endorsements, and other deals on their behalf.2

  • Sports event coordinator: Plans and manages logistics for sporting events, from small tournaments to major championships.3

  • Sports analyst: Analyzes sports data to provide insights into team and player performance.4

  • Sports lawyer: Specializes in sports law, handling contracts, disputes, and compliance issues.5

While many of these roles exist within similar industries, employment qualifications for careers in sports business differ based on the position and employer. Some roles may require a higher level degree while others may only ask for a demonstration of skills that can be acquired in a digital marketing boot camp, for example. Before deciding on which learning path will work best for you, research potential roles you hope to pursue and align your coursework with your professional aspirations.

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    1. Marketing Manager Job Description: Top Duties and Qualifications. (2023). Indeed. Retrieved September 13, 2023.

    2. What Are Sports Agent Responsibilities? (with How-To). (2023). Indeed. Retrieved September 13, 2023.

    3. Event Coordinator Job Description: Top Duties and Qualifications. (2023). Indeed. Retrieved September 13, 2023.

    4. Everything You Need to Know about Becoming a Sports Analyst. (2023). Indeed. Retrieved September 13, 2023.

    5. What Lawyers Do. (2023). U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Retrieved September 13, 2023.