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Sports Franchises in the US - Market Research Report (2014-2029)

Michal Dalal Michal Dalal New York, United States Last Updated: October 2024 NAICS 71121a

Revenue

$44.5bn

2024

$45.1bn

Past 5-Year Growth

Profit

$X.Xbn

Employees

65,881

Businesses

1,255

Wages

$XX.Xbn

Sports Franchises in the US industry analysis

Sports franchises have navigated a complex landscape in recent years, grappling with shifting consumer preferences and economic challenges. Sports franchises have pumped significant capital into enhancing stadium experiences in an attempt to attract more fans and justify rising ticket prices. Despite these improvements, a limited number of families earning over $100,000 has hindered attendance at live events, prompting concerns about the long-term viability of traditional revenue streams. Television broadcasting remains a substantial revenue source, particularly for teams in large metropolitan areas that command high viewership. As athletes continue to negotiate lucrative contracts, the financial management of franchises becomes increasingly critical to maintaining stable profit amid high operational costs. Revenue has expanded at a CAGR of 0.3% over the years to 2024, including a contraction of 0.7% that year, to total $45.1 billion.

Trends and Insights

  • High ticket prices are keeping fans out of the stands, which hurts sports franchises' bottom lines. With prices climbing, many opt to catch the game from their couch, leaving potential revenue from ticket sales and concessions on the table.
  • Revenue-sharing has promoted growth. Teams in the same organizations and leagues pool their earnings from admissions and merchandise, then split evenly among all teams in the league.
  • Large cities are often home to multiple major league teams. California and New York both are home to many teams in every major sport.
  • There are many big and small sports franchises since the industry remains extremely fragmented. US sports teams have been long established and it’s rare to create a new franchise to compete.

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  • Market estimates from 2014-2029
  • Critical performance data and rankings
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Industry Statistics and Trends

Market size and recent performance (2014-2029)

Industry revenue has grown at a CAGR of 0.7 % over the past five years, to reach an estimated $44.5bn in 2024.

Trends and Insights

Investing in upgrades to attract spectators

  • Events tickets are a discretionary purchase for consumers, so a boost in per capita disposable income helps increase ticket, concession and merchandise sales.
  • Additional trends and insights available with purchase
Sports Franchises in the US
Revenue (2014-2029)
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry outlook (2024-2029)

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

Trends and Insights

Renovations and improvements to stadiums will increase fan interest

  • Investment in stadiums, arenas and their respective technologies and amenities will continue to be a major trend. This investment has proven successful since it helps fans justify spending to experience new facilities' luxuries.

Biggest companies in the Sports Franchises in the US

Company
Market Share (%)
2023
Revenue ($short_0)
2023
Profit ($short_0)
2023
Profit Margin (%)
2023

There are no companies that hold a large enough market share in the Sports Franchises in the US industry for IBISWorld to include in this product.

Products & Services Segmentation

Sports Franchises in the US
Products & Services
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry revenue is measured across several distinct product and services lines, including Ticket sales, Advertising and Broadcasting and other media rights. Ticket sales is the largest segment of the Sports Franchises in the US.

Trends and Insights

Advertising has become a vital source of income for sports teams

  • Advertising for sports franchises involves selling promotional space within stadiums, on jerseys and during broadcasts to brands seeking exposure. From stadium naming rights to arena banners, corporations pay hefty endorsement sums for the opportunity to insert their brand names into densely populated, widely viewed events.
  • More insights available in the full report

Table of Contents

About this industry

Industry definition

This industry comprises sports teams or clubs that participate in live professional or semiprofessional sporting events (e.g. baseball, basketball, football, hockey, soccer and other team sports) before a paying audience. The sports franchises included in this industry may or may not operate their own facilities for staging games or other spectator sports events.

What's included in this industry?

Ticket salesAdvertisingBroadcasting and other media rightsConcessionsMerchandiseLicensing of rights to use property

Companies

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

Related Terms

COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT (CBA)REVENUE-SHARINGSALARY CAPLUXURY TAX

Industry Code

NAICS 2017

NAICS 711211 - Sports Franchises in the US

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

High ticket prices are keeping fans out of the stands, which hurts sports franchises' bottom lines. With prices climbing, many opt to catch the game from their couch, leaving...

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 (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Employees, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Businesses, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Profit, including historical (2014-2024)
  • 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

Revenue-sharing has promoted growth. Teams in the same organizations and leagues pool their earnings from admissions and merchandise, then split evenly among all teams in the...

In this chapter

  • Products & Services
  • Major Markets

Key metrics

  • Largest market segment and value in 2024
  • Product innovation level

Charts

  • Products & services segmentation in 2024
  • Major market segmentation in 2024

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

Large cities are often home to multiple major league teams. California and New York both are home to many teams in every major sport.

In this chapter (1)

  • Business Locations

Charts

  • Share of revenue, establishment, wages and employment in each state
  • Share of population compared to establishments in each region in 2024

Tables

  • Number and share of establishments in each state in 2024
  • Number and share of revenue each state accounts for in 2024
  • Number and share of wages each state accounts for in 2024
  • Number and share of employees in each state in 2024

Detailed analysis

  • Geographic spread of the industry across North America, 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

There are many big and small sports franchises since the industry remains extremely fragmented. US sports teams have been long established and it’s rare to create a new franc...

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 2019-2024
  • 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

There are no major players in the Sports Franchises industry. With so many teams operating as individual enterprises, there are few prominent leaders.

In this chapter

  • Market Share Concentration
  • Companies
  • Company Spotlights

Charts

  • Industry market share by company in 2020 through 2024
  • Major companies in the industry, including market share, revenue, profit and profit margin in 2024

Detailed analysis

    External Environment

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

    Analyst insights

    Most teams operate within a league that provides them with structure, ensuring fair play and competition. These organizations set regulations, dictate rules, make financial a...

    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 (2014-2029) 
    • Assistance historical data and forecast (2014-2029) 

    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

    Despite economic hurdles, sports franchises have kept profit stable. Fans continue to support their favorite teams, allowing franchises to invest in venues, marketing and tal...

    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 2024
    • Average sector operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
    • Investment vs. share of economy

    Data tables

    • Industry Multiples (2017-2022)
    • Industry Tax Structure (2017-2022)
    • Income Statement (2017-2022)
    • Balance Sheet (2017-2022)
    • Liquidity Ratios (2017-2022)
    • Coverage Ratios (2017-2022)
    • Leverage Ratios  (2017-2022)
    • Operating Ratios (2017-2022)
    • Cash Flow & Debt Service Ratios (2014-2029)
    • Revenue per Employee (2014-2029)
    • Revenue per Enterprise (2014-2029)
    • Employees per Establishment (2014-2029)
    • Employees per Enterprise (2014-2029)
    • Average Wage (2014-2029)
    • Wages/Revenue (2014-2029)
    • Establishments per Enterprise (2014-2029)
    • IVA/Revenue (2014-2029)
    • Imports/Demand (2014-2029)
    • Exports/Revenue (2014-2029)

    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 (2014-2029)
    • IVA (2014-2029)
    • Establishments (2014-2029)
    • Enterprises (2014-2029)
    • Employment (2014-2029)
    • Exports (2014-2029)
    • Imports (2014-2029)
    • Wages (2014-2029)

    Top Questions Answered

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

    What is the market size of the Sports Franchises in the US industry in United States in 2024?

    The market size of the Sports Franchises in the US industry in United States is $44.5bn in 2024.

    How many businesses are there in the Sports Franchises in the US industry in 2024?

    There are 1,255 businesses in the Sports Franchises in the US industry in United States, which has grown at a CAGR of 9.1 % between 2019 and 2024.

    Has the Sports Franchises in the US industry in United States grown or declined over the past 5 years?

    The market size of the Sports Franchises in the US industry in United States has been growing at a CAGR of 0.7 % between 2019 and 2024.

    What is the forecast growth of the Sports Franchises in the US industry in United States over the next 5 years?

    Over the next five years, the Sports Franchises in the US industry in United States is expected to grow.

    What does the Sports Franchises in the US in United States include?

    Ticket sales and Advertising are part of the Sports Franchises in the US industry.

    How competitive is the Sports Franchises in the US industry in United States?

    The level of competition is high and steady in the Sports Franchises in the US industry in United States.

    Related Industries

    Widen your competitive advantage with related industries

    Competitors

    • Racing & Individual Sports in the US
    • Ski & Snowboard Resorts in the US
    • Golf Driving Ranges & Family Fun Centers in the US
    • Concert & Event Promotion in the US

    Complementors

    • Television Production in the US
    • Television Broadcasting in the US
    • Celebrity & Sports Agents in the US

    International industries

    • Spectator Sports in Canada
    • Sports and Physical Recreation Clubs in Australia
    • Sports and Physical Recreation Clubs in New Zealand
    • Sports Clubs in the UK

    View all industries in United States

    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 the US include: 

    • US Census Bureau
    • US Bureau of Labor Statistics
    • US International Trade 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.

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