Although esports and traditional sports may seem worlds apart, both activities are popular with students interested in exercising their competitive spirit. Most people are already familiar with the major sports that typically define collegiate athletics, such as basketball, baseball, football, tennis, golf, and track and field. College sports also include popular intramural and recreational games, such as pickleball, Frisbee golf, ultimate Frisbee, darts, foosball, and Slamball. No matter your level of athleticism, there’s probably a sport for you. Additionally, a new breed of competition has recently revealed itself in the video game world. Electronic sports, or esports, have taken the […]

Since its debut in the 1980s, esports has drawn increasing numbers of players and spectators. In 1980, the first official esports tournament took place in Los Angeles, when 10,000 gamers faced off in Atari’s Space Invaders Championship. Today, millions of people around the globe watch esports games. Modern technology allows gamers and streamers to play or watch from anywhere with an internet connection. With millions of viewers interested in watching the very best at their games, professional esports athletes — Olof “olofmeister” Kajbjer Gustafsson, Ian “Crimsix” Porter, and others — draw huge crowds and sizable cash prizes. Members of teams […]

Tables of Contents Why are college athletes not getting paid by their schools?How do student athlete scholarships work?What are the pros and cons of compensation for college athletes?Keeping education at the center of college sports Since its inception in 1906, the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) has governed intercollegiate sports and enforced a rule prohibiting college athletes to be paid. Football, basketball, and a handful of other college sports began to generate tremendous revenue for many schools in the mid-20th century, yet the NCAA continued to prohibit payments to athletes. The NCAA justified the restriction by claiming it was necessary […]

Dennis “Thresh” Fong is considered the first professional video game player in history, heavily responsible for putting competitive esports on the map following a five-year undefeated run in his game of choice, Quake, in the 1990s. After winning the 1997 Red Annihilation Quake Tournament, he was rewarded with a red Ferrari 328 GTS convertible that had belonged to one of Quake’s creators. Esports has witnessed explosive growth in recent years, including a spike in new fans and worldwide cultural acclaim. According to Newzoo, the number of regular viewers of esports events jumped from about 400,000 in 2018 to about half […]

Tables of Contents Athletes and Social Media Benefits of Social Media for Sports Organizations How to Succeed in Using Social Media in Sports Marketing Social Media in College Sports Social Media and the Role of Sports Business Management Social media and sports go together like peanut butter and jelly: According to the 2020 Sprout Social Index, 45% of consumers are most likely to be on social media while watching sports events, topped only by their use of social media to mark personal milestones at 50%, but ahead of their use during natural disasters and holidays (each at 42%). The Global […]

Sports entertain millions of people every year, but the world of sports goes far beyond engaging fans. The industry represents an enormous business landscape, especially in the United States. Media and television rights, ticket sales, apparel sales, and sponsorships add up to an estimated domestic value of approximately $75 billion, according to Forbes. As sports have grown from pastimes to multibillion-dollar businesses, so has the need for business-minded employees in the front offices of leagues, brands, and franchises. Marketing, sales, public relations, management, information technology, and human resources are all disciplines applied to the world of sports. How does someone […]

The United States sports industry has gained $13 billion in value between 2014 and 2019, and there’s no reason to think that’s going to change anytime soon. The “Big Four” sports leagues –– the National Football League (NFL), the National Basketball Association (NBA), Major League Baseball (MLB), and the National Hockey League (NHL) –– are the dominant forces in the marketplace, each bringing in billions of dollars every season. Increasingly, collegiate athletics and smaller leagues, such as Major League Soccer (MLS), the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA), and the Arena Football League (AFL), have found their space in the market. […]

AsthmaCervical spine/neck injuryExertional sicklingHeat illness (heat stroke)Mental healthMisuse of opioids/amphetaminesMisuse of performance-enhancing drugs/supplementsSudden cardiac arrestTraumatic brain injuries and concussions It is important for schools to verify that their sports staff (coaches, athletic trainers, and nurses) are adequately trained and educated on injury prevention and treatment. Even those who aren’t hands-on in the coaching or athletic training process may find it useful to be up-to-date on their injury prevention and treatment methods to accurately report and analyze the games’ events. The American College of Sports Medicine also reports that 96% of Americans believe it is important for a student-athlete to be […]

Sports is a multibillion-dollar industry. Even smaller teams routinely surpass $1 million in annual revenue. How do teams manage to convince thousands of people to support them? The answer lies in sports marketing. Sports marketers have become a crucial part of teams’ efforts to sell their brands. Combining online and offline marketing methods has allowed these organizations to reach consumers in new ways. A skilled sports marketer can turn an unknown team into the local favorite. Why Sports Teams Require Marketing Generally, marketing entails building brand awareness and attracting potential consumers to a product or service. While sports marketing still […]