Sports Industry Associations

Entertainment Industry Associations & Organizations in the United States

Industry Associations & Experts

The internet is a good source of information about players, teams, and leagues. Below are several online resources for more general sports industry research. You may also want to consult our Industry Research Guide.

NGOs

Indoor Sports Association External
Originally founded as the United States Indoor Soccer Association, this organization now represents multi-sport facilities, businesses, and service providers. It covers the United States and Canada and includes a facility locator tool.

International Association of Sports Information External
An association that works with leading sports and active recreation agencies in Australia and coordinates key information resources through its clearinghouse, using Sport Australia as the primary information hub.
National Association of Sports Commissions External
Founded in 1992 as a trade association for the sports tourism industry. It serves sports commissions, destination organizations, event owners, and industry partners. It provides resources including event owner and vendor directories.
National Federation of State High School Associations External
Provides statistics and information about participation in high school sports. Website data goes back to 2007/08, with some historical data reaching as far back as 1969.
National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) External
The governing body for Division I, II, and III college athletics. Includes resources and research on participation in university sports for both men and women.
National Sporting Goods Association External
Provides research reports, market reports, and industry surveys including a Cost of Doing Business Survey for the sporting goods industry.

NCAA External
The governing body for Division I, II, and III college athletics. Includes resources and research on participation in university sports for both men and women.
Sports Associations Directory External
Contains links to many professional and amateur sports associations.
Sports Events & Tourism Association External
A trade association for sports events and tourism in the United States. Also known as the National Association of Sports Commissions (NASC). Includes industry reports and resources.
Sports & Fitness Industry Association (SFIA) External
A leading trade association for sports and fitness brands, suppliers, retailers, and partners. Produces the Topline Participation Report, which tracks participation rates among Americans aged six and older across more than 120 sports and outdoor activities.

Industry Experts

Dennis Coates External
Professor at the University of Maryland Baltimore County who has written extensively on sports economics. His work includes research on stadium economics, sports subsidies, mega-events, and professional sports facilities.

Robert A. Baade External
Professor of Economics and Business at Lake Forest College. Examples of his sports economics research include: “Going for the Gold: The Economics of the Olympics,” Journal of Economic Perspectives 30, no. 2 (2016): 201-18 (with Victor A. Matheson) “An Analysis of the Political Economy of Bidding for the Summer Olympic Games,” in International Handbook on the Economics of Mega Sporting Events, edited by Andrew Zimbalist and Wolfgang Maennig (Edward Elgar, 2012) “Selling the Game: Estimating the Economic Impact of Professional Sports through Taxable Sales,” Southern Economic Journal 74.3 (2008): 794-810 “The Economic Impact of Mega Sports Events,” in Elgar Companion to the Economics of Sports (Edward Elgar, 2007) “A Tale of Two Stadiums: Comparing the Economic Impact of Chicago’s Wrigley Field and U.S. Cellular Field,” Geographische Rundschau International Edition 3.1 (2007): 53-8 “Estimating the Economic Impact of Natural and Social Disasters with an Application to Hurricane Katrina,” Urban Studies 44.11 (2007): 2061-76

Rod’s Sports Economics: Rodney Fort’s Sports Business Data External
Rod Fort, former economics professor at Washington State University and later Professor of Sport Management at the University of Michigan (2007). His website includes sports business data for baseball, basketball, football, and hockey.
SSRS/Luker on Trends External
A public opinion and market research firm now part of SSRS. It measures more than 35 sports and activities, including viewing, participation, media consumption, and more. Surveys are conducted year-round with U.S. residents aged 12 and older.

Stefan Szymanski External
Stephen J. Galetti Professor of Sport Management. Writes regularly about sports business and economics for Forbes and The Guardian. Publications include: “A Theory of the Evolution of Modern Sport” “Why Have Premium Sports Rights Migrated to Pay-TV in Europe but not in the US?” Handbook on the Economics of Sport (2005) Playbooks and Checkbooks: An Introduction to the Economics of Modern Sports (2009) The Comparative Economics of Sport (2010) Also co-author of Soccernomics with Simon Kuper. His work is available through RePEc (hosted by the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis).

Industry & Market Data

Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA)
BEA is the agency that publishes economic national accounts data and statistics for the U.S. government. It provides data such as consumer spending and GDP. It also publishes the monthly Survey of Current Business journal, which contains articles based on its data. For example, in March 2022 an article was published about outdoor recreation based on Outdoor Recreation Satellite Account data.
Economic Census
Produced by the Census Bureau and published according to industry sector codes. NAICS code 339920 covers establishments related to the manufacturing of sports and athletic goods (excluding clothing and shoes). Product codes also exist for golf balls and clubs, sporting and athletic goods manufacturing, etc. Athletic footwear manufacturing is classified under U.S. Industry 316219.
Economics of Professional Sports External
Duane W. Rockerbie published this study in 2009 in the Economics Department at the University of Lethbridge. It examines the unique characteristics of professional sports leagues, how they operate, and what distinguishes the sports industry from other industries. It also discusses related industries dependent on professional sports, including media, national/local/cable networks, food services, marketing, construction, transportation, and other supporting sectors.

Forbes – Lists External
Includes many sports-related lists covering teams, players, and more, including: Sports Money Index NBA Team Values NASCAR’s Most Valuable Teams MLB Team Values World’s Most Valuable Soccer Teams Most Valuable College Brand Deals Most Valuable College Football Teams Most Valuable NFL Teams NHL Team Values World’s Most Powerful Sports Agents and Agencies Examples of past lists include: Highest-Paid Athletes (2012) World’s Most Valuable Brands World’s Richest Sporting Event (2012) Power 100: The Most Influential People in Sports (2007) World’s Most Valuable Sports Teams (2012)
LA84 Foundation Library External
Founded from funds remaining after the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics. Since 2007 it has been known as the LA84 Foundation. The LA84 Sports Library holds a comprehensive sports book collection and has created a large digital archive of sports publications, many available as free full-text.

International Sports (Directory) External
Contains a directory of sports federations and associations.
Internet Public Library (IPL2): Sports Category External
Lists sports-related websites selected by IPL librarians.
Guide to Market Research for Leisure Activities External
Published for many years by Richard K. Miller & Associates (RKMA). Each chapter focuses on specific leisure activities, including sports. The 2019 edition includes 34 golf chapters, 60 spectator sports chapters, 69 recreation/participation chapters, and 74 theme chapters. Other topics include swimming, running, skiing, cycling, etc. Earlier editions (before 2008) can be found in the catalog (GV174 .L45 2008).
National Sports Law Institute (NSLI) External
Website of the National Sports Law Institute (affiliated with Marquette University’s Sports Law program). The Publications & Research section contains the Sports Law Research Website, a collection of legal and academic sites on sports law. It also includes Sports Facilities Reports comparing values of major professional sports league teams. You can also access the Marquette Sports Law Review and the official NSLI bulletin For The Record (1990–June 2011).

Nielsen Sports External
Produces sponsorship media valuation analyses to determine the market value of sports sponsorships. It collects fan data and insights to provide industry information. Content is not free but newsletters are available.
Research & Markets External
A market research company selling reports across many industries. Sports-related reports include: Sports Stadium Naming Rights Market Regional Imbalances in Sports Sponsorship Deals and Values Sponsorship Sector and Position (2021) Sports Technology Market Research (devices, eSports, smart stadiums) Global sports market forecasts to 2027 Commercial Sports & Stadiums industry reports Los Angeles City Sport Landscape MLB business profile Sports & Recreation Industry Almanac 2023
Sport Information Resource Centre (SIRC) External
Canada’s leading sports documentation and information center. SIRC provides subscription databases including SportDiscus, containing over 400,000 citations from 1975 to present, with about 1,200 new records added monthly. Covers topics such as sports management, team building, workplace health, and physical activity.
Sports Industry Group External
UK-focused sports news covering cricket, basketball, soccer, boxing, cycling, NFL, rugby, and more.

Spotrac.com External
Originally started as a fantasy sports tool but now widely used for team salaries, player valuations, and research across MLB, NBA, NFL, NHL, and MLS.
“Tackling the Hard To Find Industries: Professional Sports Franchises Are Our Playground” External
Presentation at the Special Libraries Association Annual Conference, Baltimore, MD (June 2006), discussing challenges in finding industry information using professional sports as an example.

Databases & Paid Resources

Resources marked with a lock icon are subscription sources available on-site at the Library of Congress. If you cannot visit the library, access may be available through your local public or academic library.

IBISWorld External

Provides comprehensive industry research using economic, demographic, and government data. Includes: U.S. Industry Reports (NAICS) U.S. Industry Expert Summaries Specialized Industry Reports China Industry Reports Global Industry Reports U.S. Business Environment Profiles

Lucintel External
A paid service providing reports on equipment markets such as tennis equipment, sporting goods, golf equipment, snowboards, camping equipment, ski equipment, etc.

SAGE Knowledge External

Includes over 125 encyclopedias and e-books published since 2002. Topics include African American studies, aging, anthropology, business, communications, counseling and psychotherapy, criminology, economics, education, environment, family studies, gender studies, geography, health and social welfare, history, politics, psychology, research methods, science, philosophy, theology, social issues, and sociology.

Some titles — such as Congress and the Nation, Encyclopedia of Political Science, Guide to U.S. Elections, Vital Statistics on American Politics, and Washington Information Directory — which were previously available through CQ Press Library ,are now available through SAGE Knowledge.

SBRNet External
Subscription database covering sports participation, fan markets, venues, sponsorships, and spending on sporting goods.

SportBusiness Group External
Provides sports industry analysis and data. Products include: SportBusiness International TV Sports Markets Sports Sponsorship Insider
SportBusiness – Sports Sponsorships External
Global sponsorship database containing over 24,000 sponsorship deals. Includes campaign objectives, activation details, and case studies.
Sporting Goods Intelligence External
Paid source focused on the sporting goods industry and used to compile the Sporting Goods Intelligence Directory.

SMA (Sports Markets Analytics) External
Formerly known as the Sports Business Research Network. It is a subscription database (the library does not subscribe) that covers data from 1993 to the present. It contains statistical market research data for 63 sports and 85 product categories. It includes full-text articles from more than 10 leading trade publications and reports covering U.S. and international sports marketing, sporting goods, and export/import statistics. Other topics include sports equipment, sports participation, sports broadcasting and finance, licensing, and sponsorship newsletters.

Statista External

Online statistics, market research, and business intelligence portal providing data from research organizations, businesses, and government institutions in multiple languages.

Team Marketing Report External
Since 1991, TMR has produced the annual Fan Cost Index® report for major U.S. sports leagues including MLB, NFL, NHL, and NBA.

Technavio External
Paid market forecasts such as: Global Golf Clubs Market Global Tennis Equipment Market Global Volleyball Equipment Market Global Golf Apparel, Footwear, and Accessories Market

Bloglar & Haberler

ABI/INFORM Collection External

A comprehensive business database offering ABI/INFORM Complete with more than 6,800 journals, nearly 80% of which are available in full text. This diverse solution, which provides much more than journal content, offers the right mix of content types to meet the needs of any business researcher. ABI/INFORM also covers hundreds of industries and focus areas such as petroleum, gas, mining, energy, environment, and health management and offers an ever-growing range of content worldwide. ABI/INFORM Complete provides various publication types that meet the needs of researchers, core business programs, and corporate libraries. With annual reports, company profiles downloadable from the Economist Intelligence Unit website for nearly 1,000 North American companies, market research reports, dissertations, case studies, and up-to-date news from The Wall Street Journal and Financial Times, researchers will have the tools necessary to respond to changing market conditions and prepare for emerging areas of interest.

Bloomberg Sports External
Suitable for searching sports-related news worldwide in a more business-focused way.
Business of College Sports External
A site that provides news and analysis related to the business side of college sports.

Business Source Complete External

Provides bibliographic and full-text content for thousands of important academic journals, magazines, and trade publications; it covers all disciplines of the business world, including marketing, management, MIS, POM, accounting, finance, and economics. The database also includes detailed author profiles for the more than 40,000 authors most frequently found in the database. Full-text content includes financial data, books, monographs, reference works, book summaries, conference proceedings, case studies, investment research reports, sector reports, market research reports, country reports, company profiles, SWOT analyses, faculty seminars (videos), and more. Indexing and abstracts for 1,300 academic business journals go back to 1886.

ESPN External
One of the more prominent news sources for various sports. It focuses more on the sports themselves and less on the business side, but major stories can have a large impact in the sports world.
ESPN Magazine External
Publishes web-based articles on various topics. A search related to money brings articles such as “The world’s highest-paid teams,” “The world’s highest-paid teams,” “The 200 highest-paid athletes,” and “ESPN The Magazine Sporting Intelligence Global Salary Survey,” which appear to be related to an ongoing salary research project.

Factiva External

Factiva is a large full-text publishing archive focused on global developments and the business world. It combines more than 35,000 sources from Dow Jones Interactive and Reuters Business Briefing to provide premium business content in 26 languages from 200 countries. Factiva is particularly strong in trade journals and company reports. Requires a username/password; contact reference staff for assistance.

MIT Sloan Sports Analytics Conference External
This conference is intended for professionals (executives and leading researchers) and students to discuss the increasing role of analytics in the global sports industry. The conference started in 2006, and videos of past conferences are available back to 2007.
Sporting Intelligence External
A UK-based source that provides original news stories and features about important developments in the sports world, sports law, and sports academia. They have collaborated with ESPN Magazine and other sources on salary surveys related to a subscription database on sports salaries.
The Sporting News External
One of the longest-running sports news sources; it focuses more on sports news and less on the business world.

Sports Business Daily / Sports Business Journal External
This is an extension and web presence of Street & Smith’s SportsBusiness Daily. SportsBusiness Daily provides real-time industry news to top-level decision makers in the sports world to help them make more informed business decisions.
SportsEvents Magazine External
According to its website, the mission of SportsEvents Magazine is “to help planners of amateur sporting events and competitions become effective, knowledgeable, and successful.” It also includes archives containing back issues including the “CVB/Sports Commission & Venues Guide.”
Sport Digest External
Publishes articles about sports, venues, athletes, etc. It covers recreation, college, and professional levels and the market. Examples include “Revenue from Sports Venues Fills the City,” “Sports Tourism During the Pandemic,” “Sports Sponsorships Expected to Drop by $17 Billion in 2020,” “Superdome Once Again Renovated,” and “Rookie Star Signs Partnership with Adidas.”
The Sports Economist External
A blog produced by a group of academics who apply economics to sports. Contributors include well-known names in sports business research and study: Dennis Coats, Phil Miller, Brian Goff, Brad Humphreys, Liam Lenten, Robert Macdonald, Victor Matheson, Raymond Sauer.

SportsPro Magazine External
Provides an international perspective on sports and the sports business.
SportTechie External
This brand organizes engaging physical and virtual events for people in sports; these include State of the Industry, The Future Fan: The Evolution of Participation, Sports Capital, etc.
Stadia Magazine External
An international review focusing on sports facility design, operations, and technology. Launched in 1999, it covers all aspects related to the stadium, arena, and grandstand sector—from project concepts to renovation and daily operations.
Top End Sports External
Includes international and well-known sports. In addition to sports news, it contains lists such as sports, events, best stadiums (including descriptions of more than 120 large sports stadiums).