An interesting phenomenon happened when we all had to stop socializing indoors; we fell in love with sports and exercise again. It was as though we all remembered just how much fun it was to go outside and play. Or that we could exercise at home without all the big fancy machines.

That, in turn, caused the sport-related industry to boom to a record $187 billion by the end of 2022! If you’ve been waiting to get into the sports business, wait no longer. There are plenty of opportunities, even if you’re not an athlete.

Where to Start

You don’t need to own a major league ball club to get in on the action. There are plenty of business opportunities you can do right from home. Look at your strengths and passion to point you in the right direction.

Create a business plan to flesh out if your idea is workable and can actually earn you some money. Don’t expect to make a profit early. Your business plan will help you set goals and give you a clearer picture of how realistic those goals are.

A social media marketing plan can be an effective place to start in reaching your target audience. These are the people who are most likely to be interested in your content, products, or services. Sites like Facebook (Meta) have tools that help you filter your audience. You can use a Facebook ad maker to create your own ad, too.

Hiring a marketing consulting firm like Premlall Consulting will aid you with consultation, business marketing, paid advertising, social media marketing, and many other services. It can make all the difference between business success or a constant scramble to find your audience.

Run Your Business from Home

Even if you’re not athletic and your skills lend themselves to the business side of things, there are several ways to use those in the sports industry.

A sports statistician, for instance, records statistics as events happen, audits stats with play-by-play, serves as an official scorekeeper, prepares final game summaries for the media, and so much more. And a player’s manager is a fast-paced and complex business but can be very rewarding financially and personally. If you’ve had experience coaching sports, this might be a good fit for you.

A podcast or YouTube channel can be monetized, and both are pretty popular. Invest in some high-quality sound equipment (and video, too, if you want to publish on YouTube). You might want to enlist the services of a good writer as well since your production needs to be interesting, relevant, and quickly paced.

Sports-related sales like equipment, clothing, and accessories can all be done with an online store you run right from your home. E-commerce can include selling products and services and e-tickets to games and events. Or you can create an online fitness and sports directory.

Field lighting is an essential part of any team sport. Reviewing industry case studies is a great way to start learning about this trade. Before starting a career selling and installing stadium lighting, you’ll need to understand exactly what it takes to light up large to mid-size outdoor complexes as well as indoor arenas, from professional sports to the collegiate level. Take a look at stadium lighting options to learn how to begin.

Field management can include field maintenance, too. Look at the various types of equipment you might invest in to start your own business providing grounds and field upkeep. You can find work maintaining and even creating the grounds for local football and soccer teams, as well as for collegiate and professional franchises.

Give Back by Helping to Fundraise

For most communities, schools, and youth teams, fundraising is a regular part of their operations.

How about a hit-a-thon or shoot-a-thon! Contributors pick a player to support and pledge to donate a fixed amount for every hit, goal, or basket they make.

Create a team calendar with photos of the team in action. Include a season schedule and other important dates related to your team. You can sell the finished product at games, online, or both.

Set up an e-store and link to it in your social media posts and on your team or league website where you sell items featuring the team’s logo. T-shirts, mouse pads, and water bottles are all favorites and sell well.

Make a business plan and create a marketing strategy. Hiring a professional group can increase your business’ awareness by a significant amount. Learn by reviewing case studies. Understand your strengths and choose a business that plays to those.

You may not be on the cover of Sports Illustrated, but you may be the one that made it happen!