If you are reading this, then there are likely two things we can safely assume. One is that you are a sports fan, as let’s face it, the majority of people living today have a passing interest in at least one of the major, or minor, sports out there. The second assumption is that no matter your financial position, whether you only just about make ends meet or you have billions of dollars safely stored away like Jeff Bezos or Elon Musk, you will be interested in making more money for yourself and your loved ones.
Join Robinhood – Learn to invest. Win $20,000 towards tuition
So what are some of the ways that you can link these two, and make money through the sports industry? Well, the most obvious way is through gambling. This has become easier than it ever has been before, as there are literally thousands of sports betting websites out there right now, all of which offer odds on every single match or game that happens, in both major leagues and obscure ones that very few people have heard of.
Of course, this is an inherently risky way of trying to generate income. You have to dedicate a lot of time, effort and money into this venture, to make it worthwhile. Betting on one or two games a day won’t cut it, you’ll have to spend hours and hours researching, and become an expert on spread betting to make it worthwhile. Yes, occasionally people strike lucky and make an absolute fortune on one bet, like the Leicester City fans who placed £5 on them to win the Premier League back at the beginning of the 2015/16 season, getting odds of 5000/1. Amazingly, the bet came in, netting the gentleman a cool £20,000 for his smart, or lucky, one-off bet.
There are other ways of generating income and funds through investing in the sports industry that might be deemed as safer than a big 5000/1 gamble. Let’s look into some of these methods below.
Advertising can be a key
Whenever we watch sport, whether in person at the ground or arenas, or on television, you cannot miss the huge amount of advertising that is on show during the games/matches. Hoardings surrounding the pitch. Companies front and centre on the player’s shirts. Heck, even the stands or the stadiums as a whole are named after a company that has purchased the naming rights. Sports events are no longer just spectacles to see your favourite players or teams compete, now they are also a huge investment opportunity.
Therefore, purchasing some advertising space with a club can be a great way to generate revenue. You are getting the name of your company out there, potentially in front of millions of people watching on from their homes all over the planet. Of course, buying advertising space for the big franchises might be difficult as their prices will surely be very high, but smaller clubs will always be looking to sell advertising space, so could be a great area to invest, to potentially see some great returns.
Invest at the grassroots, and play the long game
Buying shares in the top sports franchises around the world is not only incredibly expensive but also very difficult to do. Very few clubs give the average fan the chance to invest, instead preferring to focus on a small number of large investors.
That is why it can be a wise decision to think smaller and to find teams that who aren’t necessarily a huge name right now, but with a few wise decisions both on and off the field, could soon become the next big thing. Therefore, by investing early on, when share prices are much lower, you could stand to make a small fortune if they then progress through the leagues. It requires patience, but it is a great way to make a healthy income through the sports industry.
Become a dedicated influencer for your team
This is an avenue that even 10 years ago wouldn’t have been an option, but with the rise of the impact social media has these days, especially in the sports industry, becoming an influencer can be a great way to make money.
Fans who aren’t able to attend matches in person will always be looking for additional content to consume, so they can feel like they are just as dedicated to their team as the person who has season tickets. That’s where the influencer comes on, as they can create content by being a fanatic, talking about every aspect of the team from individual players, recent results, and upcoming fixtures.
It again requires dedication, and a USP to appeal to fans. But get it right, and you could be looking at a huge income via the avenue of being a social media influencer.
Comments