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Sport in Australia - Market Research Report (2013-2028)

Levi Duane-Davis Levi Duane-Davis Melbourne, Australia Last Updated: October 2023 ANZSIC X0028

Revenue

$17.8bn

2023-24

$17.8bn

Past 5-Year Growth

Profit

$X.Xbn

Employees

91,473

Businesses

13,046

Wages

$X.Xbn

Sport in Australia industry analysis

The widespread popularity of sport in Australia is a major driver for the entities that make up the Australian Sport sector. The sector's largest segment is sports administration, which deals with game rules, training and code promotion through marketing and broadcast deals. Sports administration has provided the sector with its main source of growth over the past few years, stemming largely from the surging value of new broadcast rights deals for organisations like the AFL, NRL and Cricket Australia. Mounting competition for broadcast rights among free-to-air TV channels, and streaming and pay-TV services has also supported revenue, but has raised the sector's reliance on broadcast agreements.
The strengthening popularity of online gambling has pushed up many major sporting codes' reliance on gambling revenue through a variety of sources, like product fees, corporate sponsorships and advertising revenue. Higher discretionary income has also accelerated the sector’s reliance on gambling revenue, particularly as other forms of discretionary spending were restricted during the COVID-19 pandemic. Government measures in response to the pandemic included cancelling many sporting events and competitions, and capacity restrictions on crowds at events that were permitted to go ahead, holding back revenue growth. Industry revenue is expected to climb at an annualised 2.1% over the five years through 2023-24, to $17.8 billion. This includes an anticipated increase of 4.3% in the current year, as sporting sector participation continues to strengthen.
The Sport sector will continue expanding over the coming years. If government regulation increases as authorities attempt to reduce problem gambling, this will affect the performance of bookmaking operations. On the other hand, sports administrations are set to benefit from further growth in broadcast rights deals, particularly as global streaming platforms like Paramount and Amazon enter the market for broadcast rights and drive up competition. Overall, sector revenue is forecast to rise at an annualised 2.8% over the five years through 2028-29, to $20.4 billion.

Trends and Insights

  • The soaring value of broadcast rights has bolstered revenue for several sporting organisations. The Sports Administrative Services industry has been the fastest growing industry in the Sport sector, largely due to the surging value of broadcast rights deals.
  • The spiking value of broadcast deals is driving up demand for sports administrations. Broadcast deals drive revenue for many organisations, affording them a much larger market share than those without access to such deals.
  • Business location is closely linked to population distribution. The eastern states of Australia dominate the sports landscape, with most of the Australian population located in New South Wales, Victoria and Queensland.
  • The variety of industries within the Sport sector tends to reduce the risks associated with volatile discretionary spending. A large array of businesses and industries have kept market concentration low over recent years.

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  • Critical performance data and rankings
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Industry Statistics and Trends

Market size and recent performance (2013-2028)

Industry revenue has grown at a CAGR of 2.1 % over the past five years, to reach an estimated $17.8bn in 2023.

Trends and Insights

Most industries in the Sport sector have grown over recent years, led by sports administration

  • The Sport sector is extremely popular with Australian consumers, as the variety of sports and functions caters to a range of demographics.
  • Additional trends and insights available with purchase
Sport in Australia
Revenue (2013-2028)
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry outlook (2024-2029)

Market size is projected to grow over the next five years.

Trends and Insights

Broadcast rights will continue to expand in value, supporting sector revenue

  • Sports administrations are set to further widen their revenue derived from broadcast rights over the next few years.

Biggest companies in the Sport in Australia

Company
Market Share (%)
2024
Revenue ($m)
2024
AFL
1,072.8
Tennis Australia
647.9
Melbourne Cricket Club
206.0

To view the market share and analysis for all 3 top companies in this industry, view purchase options.

Products & Services Segmentation

Sport in Australia
Products & Services
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry revenue is measured across several distinct product and services lines, including Sports administrations, Sports clubs and Sports facilities. Sports administrations is the largest segment of the Sport in Australia.

Trends and Insights

The soaring value of broadcast deals is driving up revenue for sports administrations

  • Sports administrations deal with game rules, training, competition regulation and code promotion through marketing and broadcast deals. Administration bodies differ in stature depending on the popularity of the sport with spectators.
  • More insights available in the full report

Table of Contents

About this industry

Industry definition

Businesses in this sector are involved in sports administration, instruction or betting activities, or operating sports clubs or facilities.

What's included in this industry?

Sports InstructorsSports and Physical Recreation ClubsSports and Recreation Facilities OperationSports Administrative Services Sports Betting

Companies

AFLTennis AustraliaMelbourne Cricket Club

Purchase this report to view all 3 major companies in this industry.

Related Terms

DOPINGANTI-SIPHONINGFEDERATION INTERNATIONALE DE FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION

Industry Code

ANZSIC 2006

ANZSIC 91 - Sport in Australia

Performance

Get an indication of the industry's health through historical, current and forward-looking trends in the performance indicators that make or break businesses.

Analyst insights

The soaring value of broadcast rights has bolstered revenue for several sporting organisations. The Sports Administrative Services industry has been the fastest growing indus...

In this chapter (4)

  • Current Performance
  • Outlook
  • Volatility
  • Life Cycle

Key metrics

  • Annual Revenue, Recent Growth, Forecast, Revenue Volatility
  • Number of Employees, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Employee
  • Number of Businesses, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Business
  • Total Profit, Profit Margin, Profit per Business

Charts

  • Revenue, including historical (2013-2022) and forecast (2023-2028)
  • Employees, including historical (2013-2022) and forecast (2023-2028)
  • Businesses, including historical (2013-2022) and forecast (2023-2028)
  • Profit, including historical (2013-2023)
  • Industry Volatility vs. Revenue Growth
  • Industry Life Cycle

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in supply, demand and current events that are driving current industry performance
  • Expected trends, economic factors and ongoing events that drive the industry's outlook
  • Key success factors for businesses to overcome volatility
  • How contribution to GDP, industry saturation, innovation, consolidation, and technology and systems influence the industry's life cycle phase.

Products and Markets

Learn about an industry's products and services, markets and trends in international trade.

Analyst insight

The spiking value of broadcast deals is driving up demand for sports administrations. Broadcast deals drive revenue for many organisations, affording them a much larger marke...

In this chapter

  • Products & Services
  • Major Markets

Key metrics

  • Largest market segment and value in 2023
  • Product innovation level

Charts

  • Products & services segmentation in 2023
  • Major market segmentation in 2023

Detailed analysis

  • Trends impacting the recent performance of the industry's various segments
  • Innovations in the industry's product or service offering, specialization or delivery method
  • Key factors that successful businesses consider in their offerings
  • Buying segments and key trends influencing demand for industry products and services

Geographic Breakdown

Discover where business activity is most concentrated in an industry and the factors driving these trends to find opportunities and conduct regional benchmarking.

Analyst insights

Business location is closely linked to population distribution. The eastern states of Australia dominate the sports landscape, with most of the Australian population located ...

In this chapter (1)

  • Business Locations

Charts

  • Share of revenue, establishment, wages and employment in each region
  • Share of population compared to establishments in each region in 2023

Tables

  • Number and share of establishments in each region in 2023
  • Number and share of revenue each region accounts for in 2023
  • Number and share of wages each region accounts for in 2023
  • Number and share of employees in each region in 2023

Detailed analysis

  • Geographic spread of the industry across Asia Pacific, and trends associated with changes in the business landscape
  • Key success factors for businesses to use location to their advantage

Competitive Forces

Get data and insights on what's driving competition in an industry and the challenges industry operators and new entrants may face, with analysis built around Porter's Five Forces framework.

Analyst insights

The variety of industries within the Sport sector tends to reduce the risks associated with volatile discretionary spending. A large array of businesses and industries have k...

In this chapter (4)

  • Concentration
  • Barriers to Entry
  • Substitutes
  • Buyer & Supplier Analysis

Key metrics

  • Industry concentration level
  • Industry competition level and trend
  • Barriers to entry level and trend
  • Substitutes level and trend
  • Buyer power level and trend
  • Supplier power level and trend

Charts

  • Market share concentration among the top 4 suppliers from 2018-2023
  • Supply chain including upstream supplying industries and downstream buying industries, flow chart

Detailed analysis

  • Factors impacting the industry’s level of concentration, such as business distribution, new entrants, or merger and acquisition activity.
  • Key success factors for businesses to manage the competitive environment of the industry.
  • Challenges that potential industry entrants face such as legal, start-up costs, differentiation, labor/capital intensity and capital expenses.
  • Key success factors for potential entrants to overcome barriers to entry.
  • Competitive threats from potential substitutes for the industry’s own products and services.
  • Key success factors for how successful businesses can compete with substitutes.
  • Advantages that buyers have to keep favorable purchasing conditions.
  • Advantages that suppliers have to maintain favorable selling conditions.
  • Key success factors for how businesses can navigate buyer and supplier power.

Companies

Learn about the performance of the top companies in the industry.

Analyst insights

The Australian Football League continues to be the sole major player in the sports sector. The AFL is the only company with a market share above 5%, largely due to its high s...

In this chapter

  • Market Share Concentration
  • Companies
  • Company Spotlights

Charts

  • Industry market share by company in 2019 through 2023
  • Major companies in the industry, including market share, revenue, profit and profit margin in 2023
  • Overview of AFL's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2017 through 2023
  • Overview of Tennis Australia's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2017 through 2023
  • Overview of Melbourne Cricket Club's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2017 through 2023

Detailed analysis

  • Description and key data for AFL, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description and key data for Tennis Australia, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description and key data for Melbourne Cricket Club, and factors influencing its performance in the industry

External Environment

Understand the demographic, economic and regulatory factors that shape how businesses in an industry perform.   

Analyst insights

The COVID-19 pandemic and associated recovery have driven up revenue volatility. Despite strong growth, the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic heavily interrupted the sector’s ...

In this chapter

  • External Drivers
  • Regulation & Policy
  • Assistance

Key metrics

  • Regulation & policy level and trend
  • Assistance level and trend

Charts

  • Regulation & Policy historical data and forecast (2013-2028) 
  • Assistance historical data and forecast (2013-2028) 

Detailed analysis

  • Demographic and macroeconomic factors influencing the industry, including Regulation & Policy and Assistance
  • Major types of regulations, regulatory bodies, industry standards or specific regulations impacting requirements for industry operators
  • Key governmental and non-governmental groups or policies that may provide some relief for industry operators.

Financial Benchmarks

View average costs for industry operators and compare financial data against an industry's financial benchmarks over time. 

Analyst insights

Greater engagement and spectator participation has driven up profit margins over recent years. Although different industries within the Sport sector operate with widely varyi...

In this chapter

  • Cost Structure
  • Financial Ratios
  • Key Ratios

Key metrics

  • Profit margin, and how it compares to the sector-wide margin
  • Average wages, and how it compares to the sector-wide average wage
  • Largest cost component as a percentage of revenue
  • Industry average ratios for days' receivables, industry coverage and debt-to-net-worth ratio

Charts

  • Average industry operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2023
  • Average sector operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2023
  • Investment vs. share of economy

Data tables

  • Cash Flow & Debt Service Ratios (2013-2028)
  • Revenue per Employee (2013-2028)
  • Revenue per Enterprise (2013-2028)
  • Employees per Establishment (2013-2028)
  • Employees per Enterprise (2013-2028)
  • Average Wage (2013-2028)
  • Wages/Revenue (2013-2028)
  • Establishments per Enterprise (2013-2028)
  • IVA/Revenue (2013-2028)
  • Imports/Demand (2013-2028)
  • Exports/Revenue (2013-2028)

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in the cost component for industry operators and their impact on industry costs and profitability 

Key Statistics

Industry Data

Data Tables

Including values and annual change:

  • Revenue (2013-2028)
  • IVA (2013-2028)
  • Establishments (2013-2028)
  • Enterprises (2013-2028)
  • Employment (2013-2028)
  • Exports (2013-2028)
  • Imports (2013-2028)
  • Wages (2013-2028)

Top Questions Answered

Unlock comprehensive answers and precise data upon purchase. View purchase options.

What is the market size of the Sport industry in Australia in 2024?

The market size of the Sport industry in Australia is $17.8bn in 2024.

How many businesses are there in the Sport in Australia industry in 2023?

There are 13,046 businesses in the Sport industry in Australia, which has grown at a CAGR of 5.0 % between 2018 and 2023.

Has the Sport industry in Australia grown or declined over the past 5 years?

The market size of the Sport industry in Australia has been growing at a CAGR of 2.1 % between 2018 and 2023.

What is the forecast growth of the Sport industry in Australia over the next 5 years?

Over the next five years, the Sport industry in Australia is expected to grow.

What are the biggest companies in the Sport market in Australia?

The biggest companies operating in the Sport market in Australia are AFL, Tennis Australia and Melbourne Cricket Club

What does the Sport in Australia include?

Sports Instructors and Sports and Physical Recreation Clubs are part of the Sport industry.

Which companies have the highest market share in the Sport in Australia?

The company holding the most market share in Australia is AFL.

How competitive is the Sport industry in Australia?

The level of competition is low and increasing in the Sport industry in Australia.

Related Industries

Widen your competitive advantage with related industries

Competitors

  • There are no industries to display.

Complementors

  • Sports Administrative Services in Australia
  • Horse and Sports Betting in Australia
  • Sports Instructors in Australia
  • Sports and Physical Recreation Clubs in Australia
  • Sports and Recreation Facilities Operation in Australia

International industries

  • Global Sports Betting & Lotteries
  • Sports Franchises in the US
  • Spectator Sports in Canada
  • Sports Facilities in the UK
  • Sportvereine

View all industries in Australia

Methodology

How are IBISWorld reports created?

IBISWorld has been a leading provider of trusted industry research for over 50 years to the most successful companies worldwide. With offices in Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany and China, we are proud to have local teams of analysts that conduct research, data analysis and forecasting to produce data-driven industry reports.

Our analysts start with official, verified and publicly available sources of data to build the most accurate picture of each industry. Analysts then leverage their expertise and knowledge of the local markets to synthesize trends into digestible content for IBISWorld readers. Finally, each report is reviewed by one of IBISWorld’s editors, who provide quality assurance to ensure accuracy and readability.

IBISWorld relies on human-verified data and human-written analysis to compile each standard industry report. We do not use generative AI tools to write insights, although members can choose to leverage AI-based tools within the platform to generate additional analysis formats.

What data sources do IBISWorld analysts use?

Each industry report incorporates data and research from government databases, industry-specific sources, industry contacts, and our own proprietary database of statistics and analysis to provide balanced, independent and accurate insights.

Key data sources in Australia include:

  • Australian Bureau of Statistics
  • Australian Taxation Office
  • Australian Securities & Investments Commission

Analysts also use industry specific sources to complement catch-all sources, although their perspective may focus on a particular organization or representative body, rather than a clear overview of all industry operations. However, when balanced against other perspectives, industry-specific sources provide insights into industry trends.

These sources include:

  • Industry and trade associations
  • Industry federations or regulators
  • Major industry players annual or quarterly filings

Finally, IBISWorld’s global data scientists maintain a proprietary database of macroeconomic and demand drivers, which our analysts use to help inform industry data and trends. They also maintain a database of statistics and analysis on thousands of industries, which has been built over our more than 50-year history and offers comprehensive insights into long-term trends.

How does IBISWorld forecast its data?

IBISWorld’s analysts and data scientists use the sources above to create forecasts for our proprietary datasets and industry statistics. Depending on the dataset, they may use regression analysis, multivariate analysis, time-series analysis or exponential smoothing techniques to project future data for the industry or driver. Additionally, analysts will leverage their local knowledge of industry operating and regulatory conditions to impart their best judgment on the forecast model.

IBISWorld prides itself on being a trusted, independent source of data, with over 50 years of experience building and maintaining rich datasets and forecasting tools. We are proud to be the keystone source of industry information for thousands of companies across the world.

Learn more about our methodology and data sourcing on the Help Center.