Sport Business

Mission Statement

The Sport Business degree combines the institution of sport to the realm of business and prepares students to plan, manage and sustain effective sport business experiences in private, public and commercial settings.

In this major, you'll study concepts like management and leadership, marketing and promotions, and finance and economics as they pertain to the world of sport business. The sport business professors place a focus on practical learning through class projects, external partnerships, and the student club. Hands-on learning will prepare you for your career and interesting coursework will provide a strong foundation in sport business principles. Students must be cognizant of the fact that the undergraduate degree is primarily a preparation for entry-level positions. Thus, students are encouraged to continue their education by seeking a graduate degree.  For those looking to set themselves apart from their peers, Limestone offers a unique 4+1 program where students can graduate with both a bachelor’s degree in Sport Business and a Master’s in Business Administration (MBA) in only 5 years. Regardless of your goals, an MBA can enhance your professional opportunities. 

Limestone’s online and on-campus bachelor’s degree in Sport Business provides students an automatic minor in business administration. Major courses in the 120-credit curriculum include sport marketing, sport finance, and event and facility management, among others.  All students must also complete either a practicum or an internship, and a capstone senior seminar. 

What can you do with a Sport Business degree?

Graduates go on to work in facility and event management, marketing and promotion, sports communication, sales, sports tourism, and amateur and professional sport business organizations, among others. Sports Information Director, Director of Operations, Marketing Director, Athletic Director, Sports Facility Manager, Event Manager, Sporting Goods Ticket Manager, Sport Media Corporate and Community Programs, College Athletics, Recreation Sport Manager

Fast Facts

• The field of sport business equips professionals with the skills and knowledge necessary to support sport marketing agencies, intercollegiate athletic departments, professional sports organizations, sports equipment manufacturers and many more operations throughout the vast sport industry. According to Forbes magazine: The sport market in North America is expected to reach $73.5 billion by 2020’s.
• The sports industry continues to grow in many different directions as sports evolve to find new market niches. The latest PwC (PricewaterhouseCoopers) figures predict that the sports market in North America will grow at a compound annual rate of 3.2%, rising from $71.1 billion in 2018 to 83.1 billion in 2023. Media contracts in particular are in a strong position right now, but sponsorship revenues are also predicted to do very well. This is a good sign for future job availability and potential opportunities within the industry.
• Sport Business can be fun. Those who like to travel, scouting out new locations, and visiting new cities, then a Sport Business career could be a great choice Many careers in the sport industry involve traveling around the world for various events and job responsibilities. It could be a dream come true for students who want an active lifestyle that rewards their wanderlust. If you aren’t really the traveling type, there are still plenty of opportunities for managing sport venues, teams, college and universities, and other positions that involve significantly less travel.
• The growing world of esports may be virtual, but the money made is real. For example, Forbes estimates that Cloud9 — the world’s most valuable esports competition team and company — is worth $310 million. According to Forbes, esports revenues hit $906 million in 2018 and are projected to reach $1.65 billion in annual revenue by 2021. Increased realism and a growing fan base may catapult esports to the top of the professional sports industry. Enhancements such as VR and AR technologies will make playing esports and viewing future stars of the sport more exciting and engaging, which may attract more esports participants and spectators.