A career in sports is alluring, but you can think beyond becoming a footballer or a baseball pro. The industry is among the most rapidly growing ones, and big money is at stake. Unconventional career options such as product management are emerging strong in the field. The demand for sports product managers is all set to grow, with clubs and governing bodies developing new products and using innovative technology to offer information and entertainment to fans.
The game is literally changing as media is no longer consumed the conventional way, and social media leads to increased democratization and globalization. Sports management becomes a lucrative career option because these professionals can help the industry keep pace with the changing trends. Let us explain what you can expect to do after choosing a career as a sports product manager.
DEALING WITH DISRUPTIONS
Traditionally, many people managing clubs and governing bodies are volunteers, fans, or players. While these professionals are enthusiastic about their roles, they seldom have the knowledge and skills to deal with disruption. Moreover, they have no idea about understanding the target audience, segmenting them, and developing product strategy. Product managers are trained and educated to cover these fronts and keep businesses afloat even during disruptions. They work with agility to adapt to a constant stream of new sports, new forms of engagement between clubs and fans, and new ways of viewing sports.
CATERING TO FANS’ EXPECTATIONS
Another factor setting apart professional sports product managers is their ability to understand fans’ expectations and cater to them. Sports clubs can no longer take audience loyalty for granted as they are spoiled for choice. Sending out flyers or emails to buy tickets for the next games or renew season tickets is hardly enough. Product managers dig deep with market research, leverage data to gain insights, and use them to develop relevant product strategies. They ensure maximum engagement levels for fans to keep them interested in the long run.
MEASURING WHAT REALLY MATTERS
Surprisingly, sports clubs make a lot more money with broadcast rights and sponsorship than by selling tickets to fans. But they are still significant as they create an ambiance that sells. Product managers can help clubs pick the right Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), measure them, and improve on them. A robust product approach can even guide senior management in building relevant products for a specific audience to achieve success.
Professional product management can be highly beneficial in the sports world. Not surprisingly, more and more teams and clubs want to bring sports product managers on board. The demand translates into excellent career opportunities for your professionals looking to do something different in the world of sports.
