Sports and sporting games have evolved into a powerful economic force, contributing significantly to the global economy.
Recent projections indicate that the sports industry is set to generate $1.3 trillion worldwide in 2023. The US ranks first among the nations, generating $520 billion in revenue this year alone.
Check out these mind-blowing revenue statistics in the sports industry to understand how it navigates its way to success through challenging times.
Editors Choice
- In 2027, the global sports market is projected to exceed $623.63 billion in market value.
- The sports industry generated $700 billion in 2014, with sports apparel, equipment, and footwear dominating revenue share.
- The Covid-19 outbreak caused a 15.4% downturn in the sports industry in 2020.
- The Participatory Sports segment had a market value of over $280 billion in 2020, emerging as the largest market contributor.
- The North American sports market generated over $71 billion in revenue in 2018, making it one of the largest in the world.
- Europe, Middle East, and Africa (EMEA) had the highest market share in the sports industry, generating over $60 billion in revenue in 2013.
- The media rights market saw an increase of $11.64 billion in revenue from 2006 to 2018.
- Sports betting and lottery contributed $194 billion to the sports industry’s revenue in 2021.
- Companies pay $6.5 million for a 30-second spot during the Super Bowl advertising.
How Much Revenue Does the Sports Industry Generate?
With over $512.14 billion in revenue in 2023, the global sports market grew a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.2%, exceeding last year’s $486.61 billion revenue.
Here are the top 10 most profitable sports in the world that dominates the sports industry:
- Soccer: $50 billion a year
- American Football: $17 Billion revenue a year
- Basketball: $7 Billion a year
- Cricket: $3.5 Million a year
- Formula 1: $1.4 Billion
- Wrestling: $1.27 Billion
- Boxing: $1 Billion
- MMA: $1.5 Billion
- Tennis: $700 Million
- MotoGP: $300 Million
Sports Industry Revenue Statistics by Year
The sports industry has stood the test of time, weathering various challenges and adapting to changing landscapes.
In 2019, the industry was heavily hit by COVID-19; from a $458.8 billion market value, the sports industry declined to $354.96 billion in 2021.
Let’s explore the journey of the sports industry, highlighting its ability to survive and thrive throughout the years.
1. In 2027, the projected value of the global sports market is expected to exceed $623.63 billion.
(The Business Research Company, Statista)
Despite the Russia-Ukraine war and barely recovering from COVID-19, the global sports market has remained resilient in the following years.
Statistics show that the sports industry has an increase of the economic value of $25.55 billion with an average annual growth rate of 5.2% from 2022-2023.
With the increase in popularity and demand, the sports market’s revenue will continue to increase in the following years. Below is an overview of the projection:
2. TV broadcasting contracts alone generated $50 billion worldwide in sports media rights in 2019.
(Statscore, NBC Sports)
In 2019, the value of media sports rights was estimated at $22.42 billion in the United States.
Television rights contribute significantly to the revenue streams of the world’s leading leagues: such as the NFL ($4.52 billion), NBA ($3.12 billion), and MLB ($1.65 billion).
TV rights form a shared income to all world’s top leagues; here are the 10 most profitable sports franchises in the world:
- Dallas Cowboys, $5 billion (NFL)
- New York Yankees, $4.6 billion (MLB)
- Real Madrid, $4.24 billion (Soccer)
- Barcelona, $4.02 billion (Soccer)
- New York Knicks, $4 billion (NBA)
- Manchester United, $3.81 billion (Soccer)
- New England Patriots, $3.8 billion (NFL)
- Los Angeles Lakers, $3.7 billion (NBA)
- Golden State Warriors, $3.5 billion (NBA)
- New York Giants, $3.3 billion (NFL)
3. Because of the COVID-19 outbreak, the sports industry faced a 15.4% downturn in 2020.
(The Business Research Company, Casino)
In 2019, the global sports market reached nearly $458.8 billion, but because of COVID-19, the market started to decline to $388.3 billion in 2020.
Many professional leagues canceled their season due to government protocols and safety. Hence, the sports industry lost $70.5 billion of market capitalization in 2020.
To give you an overview of how ticket sales alone can cause a downturn. Below are the expected revenue loss of some sports leagues:
4. The Participatory Sports segment emerged as the most significant market contributor, with more than $280 billion in market value in 2020.
(The Business Research Company)
Fitness and health were a booming business in 2020: people trying to stay active during the pandemic.
Participatory sports were massive for the industry, with 72.1% market shares in 2020: fitness and recreational sports were the largest segments in the industry, at 39.9%.
As the world starts to be normal and heal from the outbreak, the industry expects to reach more than $500 billion in 2025.
Sports Industry Revenue by Country Statistics
The sports industry is shaped by the athletes, teams, and organizations within it and by the countries that support and nurture its growth.
Let’s explore how countries around the world play a vital role in the financial prosperity of the sports industry:
5. ‘Gate revenues’ ranked 1st as the top revenue contributor in the US sports industry.
(Statista, Betsperts)
The US has hosted prestigious events in history with over 900 stadiums; the United States was recognized as the country with the most stadiums.
In 2018, North America had an estimated $71 billion in revenue. Gate receipt is one of the most generated revenues in the sports market, with $19.2 billion in revenue on ticket sales alone.
Watching in their NHL stadiums are worth $200-$500 per person, highlighting just how much sports tickets contribute to their industry.
6. The United States tops Newzoo’s list as the country with the most game revenue, generating $46.4 billion.
(Newzoo)
With the country’s vast amount of arenas and stadiums, the US held the most popular sports events. Out of 209.8 million players, the US generated $46.4 billion in-game revenue alone.
They were ranked 1st by Newzoo’s top 10 list for the country with the most game revenue, defeating China with a $2.4 billion difference.
This table features the top 10 countries and their estimated game revenues:
| Markets | Revenue (USD) | Players |
| United States | 46.4 Billion | 209.8 Million |
| China | 44.0 Billion | 744.1 Million |
| Japan | 19.1 Billion | 77.1 Million |
| South Korea | 7.4 Billion | 34.1 Million |
| Germany | 6.5 Billion | 49.5 Million |
| United Kingdom | 5.5 Billion | 38.5 Million |
| France | 4.1 Billion | 38.8 Million |
| Canada | 3.3 Billion | 22.0M |
| Italy | 3.1 Billion | 36.1M |
| Brazil | 2.6 Billion | 102.6M |
7. The media rights market generated a total of $11.64 billion in revenue from 2006-2018.
(Statista)
The media rights market ascends as the most valuable segment in US sports. Fees paid by radio, television, or internet broadcasters are the few generated revenues of the sports industry.
The statistics behind the media devices such as cable and streaming show how valuable they are, as this sector has increased in size in a decade, from $8.5 billion in 2006 to $20.14 billion in 2018.
8. With more than $71 billion in revenue in 2018, the North American sports market is one of the largest in the world.
(Statista, The Football Lovers)
In ticket sales alone, North America produced $19.2 billion in revenue. Gate receipts represent one of the largest revenue segments in the sports market.
The sports league with the most revenue in 2018 was the NFL; they generated over 83% of the market revenue with $16 billion.
This graph represents the North American sports market size over the years (in Billion US dollars).
Sports Industry Revenue Trends Statistics
In the world of sports, keeping up with the latest trends is essential for achieving success.
Esports, one of the booming trends in 2022, generated $1.38 billion in revenue globally.
Based on records, China owns 33.33% of the export revenue in the world.
In this part of the article, we will explore how these trends in the past years have contributed to the growth and prosperity of the sports industry.
9. Sports betting is now legal in some form in 33 states, and $85 billion of legal wagers have been made with licensed US sportsbooks.
(iGaming Businesses)
With over 100 million gamblers or 43% of the US adult population, US sports betting has become the state of play where people put their bets on the US sportsbook.
Over the past 12 months, from January 30, 2023, US-licensed sportsbooks have generated over $6.3 billion in gross wins, just under 90% of this generated through online/mobile channels.
10. With a $194 billion valuation, sports betting and lottery have become one of the top contributors to the sports industry’s revenue in 2021.
(Statista)
3 years into the pandemic, the lottery and sports betting industry has remained relatively unaffected by the global chaos caused by COVID-19.
In 2022, there was an increase in revenue from the previous year’s total of $172.89 billion, and it will be expected to reach $231 billion in the following years.
11. The Sports NFT market was valued at $1.4 billion due to increased demand in 2021.
(Bankless Times)
The NFT sports market, sports memorabilia, trading cards, and audio/video clips of notable sports moments have experienced rapid growth in the sports industry.
The value of the market in 2021 reached $1.4 billion, representing 5.3% of the $26 billion sports memorabilia market.
With a surge in popularity, the market is expected to grow 36.6% in 2021 and 2032, reaching $41.6 billion.
12. Companies pay $6.5 million for Super Bowl advertising for a 30-second spot.
(Front Office Sports, The Street)
With more than 112 million viewers and a 100,000 stadium capacity, it’s no surprise that companies are fighting over a 30-second advertisement in the Superbowl.
With technological advancement and the increase in popularity of sports, the cost per ad will continue to rise over the years.
The table below shows the price of ads in the Super Bowl over the years:
| Year | Cost | Today’s Cost |
| 1967 | $42,500 | $372,390.34 |
| 1970 | $78,000 | $588,327.06 |
| 1975 | $107,000 | $582,046.19 |
| 1980 | $222,000 | $788,463.71 |
| 1985 | $525,000 | $1,427,917.05 |
| 1990 | $700,000 | $1,567,394.80 |
| 1995 | $1.2 million | $2,304,370.08 |
| 2000 | $2 million | $3,399,012.78 |
| 2005 | $2.4 million | $3,718,221.28 |
| 2010 | $3 million | $4,026,328.10 |
| 2015 | $4.25 million | $5,247,656.29 |
| 2021 | $5.5 million | $5,940,150.20 |
| 2022 | $6.5 million | — |
| 2023 | $7 million | — |
In 2023, the 30 seconds ad will cost $7 million, that is $233,333 per second!
13. Global Fitness Tracker is set to reach $114.36 million by 2028
(Fortune Business Insights)
Due to COVID-19, sales of fitness monitoring devices have increased, marking a positive impact on the industry.
In 2020, companies like Apple and Garmin had an increase in revenue by 20% because of fitness tracker sales.
With a projected annual growth rate of 15.4%, rising demands, and changing market trends, the market is anticipated to expand from $36.34 billion in 2020 to $114.36 billion by 2028.
Bottom Line
The sports industry is known for its dynamic nature, constantly evolving with new trends and innovations.
In today’s fast-paced world, staying ahead of these trends is crucial for organizations and individuals looking to thrive in the sports business.
Despite challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic, the sports industry showcased resilience and is poised to benefit from steady economic growth.
Frequently Ask Questions
How much money is generated by the sports industry?
In 2023, the sports market is $512.14 billion with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.2%.
Which sports generate the most revenue?
The National Football League (NFL), the biggest league of the sport, generated $17.19 Billion in the recent season due to multi-billion dollars TV broadcasting deals and sponsorship deals.
What is the growth rate of the sports industry?
The worldwide sports market grew steadily, with an average annual growth rate of 5.2%. It went up from $486.61 billion in 2022 to $512.14 billion in 2023.
What is the worth of the sports industry?
According to Kearney’s study of sports teams, leagues, and federations, the worth of the global sports industry is between €350 billion and €450 billion.
List of Sources
