Torrens University Australia Reveals State Of Play In The Growing Sport Industry

Sport in Australia is big business, and the industry’s growth is fuelling demand for professional talent in fields ranging from sports management to marketing and branding, through to public relations, administration, and event coordination, according to Torrens University Australia and others.

“The global sports industry’s revenue is estimated to be worth approximately US$145 billion,[1] while the Australian market is worth more than $27 billion,[2]” said Mark Falvo, general manager – business, education, ELICOS, International – ‎Laureate International Universities.

“Increasingly, the industry requires qualified professionals to drive the business side of its performance, which is why both the Bachelor of Business (Sports Management) and the Master of Business Administration (Sports Management) programs aim to create leaders who will add value across all sporting codes,” he added.

The Australian Sports Commission has found more than 17 million Australians aged over 15 (87 per cent) participated in a sport or physical activity in the past year[3], spending more than $10.7 billion on participation fees in the process, while recent data from IBISWorld reveal the nation’s sports sector’s 2016 revenue was $10.5 billion, while the sports administrative industry – including broadcasting rights, ticket sales, sponsorship and advertising – had revenue of $3.6 billion, which is forecast to rise by six per cent per year to 2020.[4]

“In response to demand from across the sector, Torrens University Australia is preparing the next generation of sports management professionals with its innovative Bachelor of Sports Management and Master of Business Administration (Sports Management) programs, helping students commence careers in sports advertising, marketing, membership, sponsorship, broadcasting, ticket sales and promoting the game,” said Mr Falvo.

Recognising the increasingly global nature of professional sport, and drawing on its worldwide connections throughout the Laureate International Universities network, students of Torrens University Australia’s Sports Management programs are given the opportunity to study overseas at Real Madrid Graduate School. As part of this program, later this month, eight incredibly talented Master of Business Administration (Sports Management) students will join almost 200 international students for the iconic White Week (20-24 February) residential program at Real Madrid Graduate School, one of Torrens’ partner institutions which is affiliated with the famous Real Madrid Football Club, as well as additional workshops, assessments and site visits during the preceding week.

“Our partnerships with Real Madrid Graduate School and the Adelaide United Football Club, are just two examples of Torrens University Australia’s genuine commitment to forging industry connections with leading organisations for the direct benefit of our students,” explained Mr Falvo.

“Designed to be a fully immersive experience, highlights of the visit will include tours of elite tennis, golf and racing facilities in Madrid, as well as attending a Real Madrid football match. Students will have case studies to solve, classes to attend and a group assessment task to present to an expert panel before the official White Week program begins, incorporating meetings with senior football staff, coaches, players, and the club’s General Manager,” explained Mr Falvo.

Those interested in the Bachelor of Business (Sports Management) or the Master of Business Administration (Sports Management) at Torrens University Australia should visit http://www.torrens.edu.au/courses/sports-management

Flexible, online delivery of both courses allows time poor undergraduates and professionals, club administrators and even sports players to easily fit study into their work and life schedules.

A collaboration between Universidad Europea de Madrid and the Real Madrid Football Club, Real Madrid Graduate School was launched in 2006 to address the growing role of sport in global economies – and is today recognised for delivering one of the world’s top 10 Sports Management MBA programs[5].

[1] Price Waterhouse Coopers Global Sports Market Outlook: http://www.pwc.com/gx/en/hospitality-leisure/changing-the-game-outlook-for-the-global-sports-market-to-2015.jhtml

[2] Phil Ruthven, IBISWorld Sport in Australia (2014) http://secure.ausport.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0010/627517/Sport_in_Australia_July_2014.pdf

[3] Australian Sports Commission, AusPlay 2016

[4] IBISWorld Sports Administrative Services in Australia, 2016

[5] Real Madrid’s Sports Management MBA was nominated one of the 10 Best Master’s Degrees in Sports Management in the world by Sports Business Magazine 2015 and nominated Best Master’s Degree in Sports Management in Spain in El Mundo newspaper’s 2015 ranking.