Sports Marketing Information

College of Business, Stephen F. Austin State University

Note : Sports Marketing (MKT 358) is normally offered every Fall and Spring Semester and may be offered in one of the Summer Semesters as well. To be able to take the Sports Marketing class, each student will need to take MKT 351 (Principles of Marketing) before enrolling in MKT 358.

The sports industry has become a major economic force in the United States. It is estimated that the sports industry generates approximately $200 billion dollars of revenue per year in the United States. It is also estimated that there are approximately 4.5 million sports-related jobs in marketing, entrepreneurship, administration, representation, and media. Some of the specific sports job titles include: event suppliers, event management and marketing, sports marketing, sports media, sports sponsorship, athlete services, sports commissions, sports lawyers, sports manufacturers, sports distributors, sports facilities and facilities suppliers, teams, leagues, college athletics, sports finance, etc. Students at SFA can prepare to work in this field through the available course in sports marketing as well as through related courses, which can be taken as part of a minor in sports marketing or a major in marketing with emphasis in sports marketing.

The minor in sports marketing and the emphasis in sports marketing within the marketing major provide students with an overview of marketing concepts, theories and practices in relation to the sports industry. Specific coverage of sports marketing topics is included along with general marketing concepts that are of use to sports marketers. The program also covers business and marketing strategies in the context of sports, the growing emphasis on the globalization of sports marketing, current research in sports marketing, and ethical issues in sports marketing.

Students completing the sports marketing minor or the emphasis in sports marketing within the marketing major can find sports-related jobs in marketing, entrepreneurship, administration, representation, and media.

Two courses are currently offered that focuses specifically on sports marketing :

MKT 358 Sports Marketing - Marketing concepts, theories, and practices in the sports industry. Topics include the unique qualities of the sports industry in relation to business and marketing strategy, including product, promotion, pricing, and distribution practices of sports marketing. Prerequisite: MKT 351.

MKT 362: Sports Promotion - Concepts, techniques, research and strategy in sports promotion and advertising in the sports industry. Prerequesite: MKT 358.

The sports marketing minor consists of :

MKT 351 (Principles of Marketing), 352 (Advertising), 358 (Sports Marketing), and 362 (Sports Promotion); three hours in a sports marketing special problems course (MKT 475) or in a sports marketing internship (MKT 486); and ECO 359 (Sports Economics).

The marketing major with an emphasis in sports marketing consists of the requirements for a BBA (which include MKT 351 Principles of Marketing) plus :

MKT 355 (Consumer Behavior), MKT 358 (Sports Marketing), MKT 452 (International Marketing), MKT 362 (Sports Promotion), MKT 455 (Marketing Research), and MKT 457 (Strategic Marketing)and three hours in a sports marketing special problems course (MKT 475) or in a sports marketing internship (MKT 486).