Like many industries, the sports sector goes through a lot of changes each year. Below are some of the latest trends in the sports industry:
1. Introduction of New Sports
Over the past few years, the industry has seen the introduction of more than one sport. Traditionally, the most popular sports were football, basketball, athletics, and the likes. However, the industry has gone through a lot of changes, including the introduction of E-gaming. E-gaming is the use of electronics like computers to partake in sporting activities. In recent years, e-gaming has become such a phenomenon that it has become a significant part of the sports industry.
For one, colleges and the national sports association now recognize e-gaming as a sport. So much that there are competitions recognized in the world that involve e-gaming. Colleges are even offering scholarships for e-gaming like it has been the custom with sports like basketball, soccer, and football.
Another emerging sport is drone racing. Drones are relatively new inventions. A drone can be defined as an aerial vehicle or aircraft that is unmanned. This means that it functions without a pilot on board. It is, therefore, from a ground station using devices like remotes. The sports industry has seen the emergence of drone racing as a sport. Currently, drone racing has its national league system, which shows how much positive reception it has received in the industry.
The fitness Industry Association has also seen the growth of BMX racing as a sport. BMX racing is a form of off-road bicycle racing. The off-road tracks that are purposely built for the sport are made up of a starting gate, a drift racecourse that consists of several jumps and rollers as well as a finish line. The sport started as a fun activity that bike and motorcycle enthusiasts invented, and it is currently a major sport in the industry.
2. Sports and Gambling
Gambling has become a major part of the sports industry. Originally, people would gamble in traditional sports only. However, currently, gambling has made its way to all kinds of sports. The emergence of betting apps for different types of sports like football has seen the growth of the collaboration of the two sectors.
Apart from football or basketball, you can now even place bets on horse races which is particularly popular in the UK. There are two main types of horse races – Flat Racing and National Hunt Racing and just like with other “normal” sports, you have to consider different factors like the age, weight or form of the horse to have a higher betting accuracy.
Sports and gambling have meshed well together so much that different states have begun lifting their bans against such types of gambling. This means that sports-related gambling is currently legalized in several states. Unlike casino gambling, this is referred to as an activity that is socially approved. The use of betting apps has also made the activity safer than the latter.
3. Sporting policies and regulations
The sports world has also become subject to a lot of scrutinies. As the industry continues to grow, more people have their eyes set on how the industry functions, its regulations and policies. For this reason, it has become more vigilant when it comes to rules. An example is the fact that sports organizations are being held accountable for how they spend the money they receive from sponsors.
The sports industry is also paying more attention to their regulations on safety. For several years, the industry has faced backlash on its safety regulations. As much as they have decided to take a strong stand on the issue, discussions of safety in sport organizations like the NBA and the NFL have escalated.
Currently, the industry is working towards protecting their players more and compensating them generously in the event of accidents that are directly related to the game. These are a few of the trends in sports policies and regulations.
4. Sports and Politics
Recently, politics has become ingrained in the sports industry more than normal. A lot of the political moves in different countries are impacting the sports industry significantly. For instance, some countries are using sporting activities to make political deals. For example, countries are partnering to host major sporting events as a way of benefiting economically from the events.
The increased interest in the sporting industry can be attributed to the fact that it is one of the fastest-growing and is worth a lot of money. The states recognize this very fact that the sports industry plays a great role in the economy of the country.
