The global sports economy was valued at $2.3 trillion as of February 2026 and is expected to grow to $3.7tn in 2030, fueled by rising fan engagement, social media footprint, media rights, sponsorship revenue, and data analytics. Beyond what happens in game play, sports are a complex business ecosystem involving marketing, analytics, finance, operations, and strategic partnerships — all core functions if you want to work in a sports organization’s front office.

Demand for expertise in sports and business is strong: the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that the sports and entertainment sector in the US is expected to grow by nearly 100,000 jobs per year until 2034.

These trends — from growing digital fan engagement to expanding global markets — make sports management skills increasingly valuable for students eager to pair business savvy with a passion for sports.

Sports in the Kogod Curriculum: Sports Management Classes, Coursework, and Connections

Kogod’s Sports Management specialization will be a 15-credit track within the Business and Entertainment major, with classes in sports analytics, revenue operations, gaming and entertainment, and front-office strategy. The program's cohort model will intentionally enroll 25–30 students per year, creating a tight-knit community with targeted internship support and direct access to decision-makers in professional and collegiate sports.

The sports management curriculum emphasizes how sports organizations “win off the field,” with coursework in data analytics, Name-Image-Likeness (NIL) strategy, sponsorship, operations, and facility management. In partnership with American University Athletics, Kogod students have the opportunity to shadow Athletics staff and leadership working sporting events in different capacities, and engaging in site visits that connect classroom concepts to live sports environments in the DC market and beyond.

What You Will Learn through Core Kogod Sports Management Classes

Students will develop a comprehensive understanding of the structure, governance, and economics of the sports industry while applying core business disciplines—such as finance, marketing, operations, and analytics—to real-world sports management challenges. Through data analysis, experiential learning, and applied projects, students will also build the skills to navigate legal and ethical issues, communicate effectively with industry stakeholders, and deliver strategic solutions for sports organizations.

Sports Management Class Spotlight: Sports Analytics

In Sports Analytics, students will learn how to gain insights from analyzing sports data through descriptive, predictive, and prescriptive analytics. Analytical work conducted primarily in R programming language. Students obtain, format, and organize sports datasets; form clear inquiries addressable through data; apply common analytics techniques; think critically about real-world implications and causality; and understand challenges in implementing analytical findings. Topics include statistical modeling, Monte Carlo simulation, predicting performance, measuring player and team value, causal inference, next-generation location data, win probability models, game theory, and sports betting analytics.

Sports Management Class Spotlight: Revenue Strategy and Growth in Sports 

Taught in the fall, Revenue Strategy and Growth in Sports will examine how sports organizations generate revenue and manage financial constraints. Focus on sponsorship development and activation, facility operations and premium seating strategies, NIL marketplace and athlete compensation models, salary cap strategy and roster construction, and revenue sharing mechanisms. Students analyze real-world revenue models used by professional and collegiate sports organizations.

Real-World Learning, Internships, and Jobs: How Kogod Prepares Students to Start a Career in Sports

Real-world learning is the sports management program’s defining feature, positioning internships and applied projects as the bridge to full-time roles in the sports industry. Students participate in live-event work, consulting projects, and industry site visits, including trips to major league franchises and DC-area professional teams, that accelerate career readiness and build job-ready portfolios.

Kogod’s Career Development, Alumni, and Industry Engagement teams maintain pipelines with professional sports teams, college athletic departments, entertainment agencies, and media properties to help students secure competitive internships and entry-level roles. Kogod students have previously worked on client consulting projects, landed internships, and secured full-time jobs with organizations like Monumental Sports, the Washington Wizards, the Washington Nationals, and more.

"The sports management program is all about giving students a combination of industry know-how and real, resume-ready experience," said program director Matthew Bakowicz. "Our focus on hands-on projects, internships, and direct engagement with industry leaders is intentional; our students graduate ready to step into front-office roles as the sports industry continues to expand and evolve."

Learning from Industry Titans: Sports Executives at Kogod Connect with Students

To demonstrate to students what long-term success in sports business looks like, Kogod draws inspiration from leaders who have built influential careers at the intersection of sports, investment, and innovation. Past events with sports business leaders include former NBA player-turned-entrepreneur Jamal Mashburn, Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ Co-chairman Ed Glazer, and Washington Spirit CEO Kim Stone.

• Former NBA All-Star Jamal Mashburn spoke candidly about transforming his basketball career into a diversified business portfolio spanning restaurant franchises, car dealerships, real estate, and hospitality. Mashburn walked students through how he evaluates deals, builds strong operating teams, and uses the same discipline that fueled his basketball career to lead in boardrooms and investment meetings.
• Ed Glazer, Co-Chairman of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and a member of the family ownership group behind Manchester United, unpacked what it means to steward two globally visible sports brands. In conversation with students, he discussed long-term thinking in franchise ownership, from stadium development and premium fan experiences to investing in real estate and automotive ventures through US Property Trust and US Auto Trust. Glazer emphasized that front-office careers demand both quantitative skills and a deep understanding of community impact, reminding students that “every decision shows up in the fan experience on game day.”
• When Kim Stone visited campus, she drew on her leadership roles with the Miami Heat, Golden State Warriors, and now as CEO of the National Women’s Soccer League’s Washington Spirit to illustrate the evolving business of live sports and entertainment. She shared how revenue strategy, venue innovation, and fan engagement come together to power major sports organizations, highlighting the unique opportunity in women’s sports as a high-growth, under-innovated space.