The sports industry is changing fast — and it is not slowing down.
Sports are being created every day. Teams are starting leagues every week. Facilities are opening up faster than ever before. With all of this expansion there has come one very real problem.
There are not enough qualified sport administrators to keep up.
What’s Inside:
- Why Emerging Sports Are Driving the Demand
- The Numbers That Prove It
- What Sport Administrators Actually Do
- Why an Event and Facility Management Degree Is the Answer
- The Career Opportunity Right in Front of You
Why Emerging Sports Are Driving the Demand
Sport administration once meant operating a football team, working at your local rec center, or even just managing an arena’s schedule. Things have changed dramatically since then. As this continues to boom, those with an online sport management degree that focuses on event and facility management will be at the front of the hiring line.
Sports such as pickleball, padel, esports, OCR and disc golf are no longer niche. They’re growing industries that need actual infrastructure, real leadership and legitimate administration expertise.
Think about pickleball. The Sports & Fitness Industry Association announced in 2025 that 24.3 million Americans play pickleball, an absolutely bonkers growth of 479% in participation over five years. That does not happen without courts to play pickleball on, tournaments to play in, and administrators working behind the scenes.
Padel is going down that path too. Globally there were 72,187 new padel courts built in 2024, bringing the total number to over 50,000 courts. Every one of those facilities needs a facility manager. Someone has to handle the bookings, the maintenance schedules, the membership programs, and the day-to-day running of the venue. As padel keeps spreading into new countries and cities, that staffing need is only going to multiply.
And what about esports? Well, the global esports market size was valued at around $2.0 billion in 2023 and is projected to reach approximately $5.18 billion by 2029. Yes, you guessed it. An entire industry that will require event producers, ops managers, and venue coordinators just like any other sporting event. Major esports tournaments now fill arenas the size of traditional sporting events, complete with ticketing, broadcasting deals, and sponsorship packages. Somebody has to manage all of that. And that somebody needs the same operational expertise as any stadium director or league administrator.
The bottom line?
Emerging sports are quickly evolving into standalone ecosystems that require staffing.
The Numbers That Prove It
The demand for sport administrators is not just anecdotal. The data is very clear.
Occupations in sports and entertainment careers are projected by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics to grow faster than the average of all occupations from 2024 to 2034. According to research.com, there will be approximately 108,900 sport management careers job openings per year when factoring in growth and replacement.
That is not a small number.
Event planners, athletic directors, facility managers and operations gurus are in high demand. As these emerging sports continue to expand — by adding venues, creating new tournaments and generating new fans — demand for qualified administrators will continue to rise.
Consider the global sports market by itself. In 2025, it was valued at $640 billion. By 2033, it is expected to reach $1.2 trillion. More sports = More infrastructure. More infrastructure = More qualified individuals needed to maintain it. Basics math.
What Sport Administrators Actually Do
Here is something that surprises a lot of people…
Sport administration doesn’t just sit behind a desk all day. Sport administration makes sure that every event, facility and league runs smoothly. Without trained and educated administrators there would be chaos.
A sport administrator working in event and facility management might be responsible for:
- Planning and hosting live events — from local tournaments to national championships
- Managing facilities — scheduling, maintenance, safety compliance, and staff coordination
- Overseeing budgets and sponsorships — ensuring events and venues are financially viable
- Coordinating with governing bodies — staying compliant with league and association regulations
- Building community programs — growing participation and managing recreational leagues
Wow. That is legitimately one diverse skill set. Business, Operations, Marketing and Leadership skills.
Most sought after professionals are individuals who have received formal training in all of these areas — not just one field of study. An event and facility management degree provides that distinction.
Why an Event and Facility Management Degree Is the Answer
The sport industry is incredibly competitive. Passion alone will not land the best roles.
When seeking new employees, employers aren’t just looking for someone with a degree. They want applied, organised knowledge of sport operations, facility management and event management. This is where a complete event and facility management degree comes into play. It gives professionals the educational foundation necessary to seek leadership roles in the fastest growing sport settings.
This matters more now than ever.
Rapid growth in emerging sports means administrators are suddenly faced with catching-up: day one operations at a brand new state-of-the-art padel facility. Planning the first regional esport tournament. Starting a community pickleball program from nothing. These are not scenarios where learning on the job will suffice. Understanding the nuts-and-bolts of event operations, risk management, facility operations, and sport governance is critical.
An event and facility management degree covers all of it.
Plus you don’t have to take time off work to take an online course. Degrees online open the doors to higher education for employed adults. You can earn — and they’re worth going into debt for.
The Career Opportunity Right in Front of You
The opportunity level right now is almost ideal for anyone who is genuinely interested in pursuing a career in sport administration.
Emerging Sports are expanding faster than skilled candidates to fill the need. Current sports organizations are expanding. New leagues, venues and events are launching annually. Early career professionals who position themselves with the correct skill set and qualifications will have opportunities abound.
To quickly recap:
- Pickleball, padel, esports, and other emerging sports are scaling at an unprecedented rate
- Facility and event infrastructure is being built to match that growth
- The BLS projects over 108,900 sport management job openings per year
- Employers are actively seeking professionals with formal training in event and facility management
- An online degree gives working professionals a practical and accessible path forward
This is not a stagnant career field. There is significant growth happening currently.
The Bottom Line
The booming industry of emerging sports is creating a once in a generation opportunity for qualified individuals to administer sport. Opportunities are growing, demand is skyrocketing, and the talent pool continues to lag behind.
Whoever fills that void first, appropriately trained and certified will determine what sport administration looks like for the next decade.
