Career Opportunities in the Sports Industry
Program Links
The sport management major at Georgia Southern provides academic preparation and practical experience in the skills and techniques required to be successful in the sport business and leisure fields. Sport management is one of the fastest growing fields of study in the country and is well established at both the undergraduate and graduate levels at Georgia Southern. Future sport managers who graduate from the program will be prepared for success in various sectors of the sport industry such as:
- Professional teams or collegiate athletic departments
- Sport facilities and event management
- Sport marketing, promotion or advertising
- Sports information, media or communications
- The Olympic Movement
- State and county sports commissions
- Governing bodies and athletic associations
- Community sport organizations
Skills/Abilities Gained from Sport Management Degree:
- Leading/Directing
- Organizing/Coordinating
- Motivating/Developing staff
- Decision-Making
- Quantitative analysis
- Management
- Marketing/Selling
- Strategic Planning
Typical Work Activities:
- Plan and direct athletic events & activities
- Organize various components of event management
- Managing ticket sales and box office operations
- Performing game-day actions including set-up and break-down of seating, parking
- Selling sponsorships, advertisements, corporate hospitality venues
- Overseeing/directing volunteers for sporting events
- Directing media relations & communications/press releases/scheduling player interviews/game programs/social media
- Directing concessions sales/merchandising/parking/other ancillary services
- Creating/implementing game-day marketing and promotional activities
- Coordinating player/guest relations services
Sport Management Occupational Opportunities:
| Athletic Director | Athletic Conference Commissioner | Ticket Sales Representative |
| Sponsorship Sales Representative | Marketing Director | Sports Information Director |
| Sports Agent (Athletes) | Athlete Management Services | Athletic Conferences & Leagues Admin. |
| College & University Athletic Associations | Facility/Event Management | Hospitality or Luxury Suite Director |
| Athletic Development | Professional Sports Front Office | Sporting Goods Sales/Dealer |
| Sports Merchandise/Apparel Sales | Sport Communication/Media/Public Relations | Sports Camp Director |
| Agency Recreation Leader/Instructor | Fitness Center Ownership/Management | Health & Fitness Industry |
| Tourism Director for Sports Council | Owner/Manager of Local Sport Business | Non=profit Director |
Possible Employment Settings:
| Professional Team Front Offices | College/University Athletic Department | Governing Bodies |
| Athletic Conferences | Professional Leagues and Associations | Community Development Organizations |
| Sport Marketing Firms | United States Olympic Committee | Fitness Centers |
| Event Management Groups | Facilities (Stadiums, Arenas, Ballparks) | Golf Courses |
| Athlete Management Firms | Sports Academies/Camps | Sport Media Outlets |
Useful Links:
- North American Society for Sport Management
- North American Society for the Sociology of Sport
- National Association of Sport Commissions
- European Association for Sport Management
- National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics
- Internationally Facility Management Association
- The International Association of Venue Managers
- National Federation of State High School Associations
- The Aspen Institute Project Play
- Applied Sport Management Association
- Sports Jobs
- Sports Management Group, Ltd.
Last updated: 9/19/2023