Sports Teams and Clubs Revenue Benchmarks
The average sports teams and clubs business in the United States generates $49.2M in annual revenue, according to the U.S. Census Bureau Statistics of U.S. Businesses (SUSB 2021). There are 1,112 sports teams and clubs businesses in the U.S., employing 57,059 workers with an average profit margin of 12.0%. The average employee in this industry earns $266K per year (Bureau of Labor Statistics QCEW 2023).
What Does a Sports Teams and Clubs Business Actually Do?
Pro sports franchises — MLB, NBA, NFL, NHL, MLS, WNBA, minor leagues. Revenue split between gate, media rights, sponsorship.
Who buys: Ticket buyers, TV networks (media rights), sponsors, merchandise buyers.
Average Revenue
$49.2M
per year
Profit Margin
12.0%
industry average
Revenue / Employee
$959K
per year
Total Businesses
1,112
in the US
Est. Owner Income
$5.9M
small business avg
Labor Cost
40.0%
of revenue
Avg Employee Wage
$266K
per year (BLS)
Market Saturation
0.3
firms per 100K people
How Much Do Sports Teams and Clubs Charge?
Professional and semi-pro sports franchises earn on gate, media rights, sponsorship, merchandise. Media rights dominate at top tier.
| Service | Typical range |
|---|---|
MLB average revenue per season | $300M–700M |
NBA average revenue per season | $300M–500M |
Minor league team revenue | $3M–20M |
Semi-pro team revenue | $50,000–500,000 |
Ranges based on industry rate surveys and typical published pricing. Actual quotes vary by city, business size, and job complexity.
Complete sports teams and clubs business plan
A 12-section data-backed business plan for a sports teams and clubs business — executive summary, market analysis, competitive landscape, revenue model, 3-year financial projections, operations, marketing, staffing, funding request. Pre-populated with real Census, IRS, and BLS data on this industry. Free to view.
Cost Structure — Where Every $100 in Revenue Goes
Approximate P&L breakdown for the sports teams and clubs industry. Labor share and net profit are grounded in Census SUSB and IRS SOI data. Other lines are split using sector-typical ratios.
| Category | Per $100 revenue | Per typical business | What's in it |
|---|---|---|---|
Production & performer costs | $14 | $7.1M | Talent fees, equipment rentals, production supplies, licensing/royalties. |
Wages & benefits | $40 | $19.7M | Payroll for all employees at the business (owner comp not included for small owner-operators). |
Rent & facilities | $10 | $4.7M | Rent or mortgage on business location plus utilities tied to the space. |
Marketing & advertising | $5 | $2.4M | Google/Meta ads, SEO, print, referral fees, event sponsorships. |
Other operating costs | $19 | $9.5M | Insurance, ticketing fees, venue maintenance, security. |
Net profit | $12 | $5.9M | What remains for the owner or shareholders after all business expenses. |
Directionally accurate for a typical business in the industry. Individual businesses vary widely — a franchise may run a very different cost mix from an independent, and older established businesses often have lower labor share than newer ones.
Average Revenue by Business Size
Industry Dynamics (Census BDS 2023)
New Business Rate
14.91%
openings/year
Closure Rate
11.76%
closings/year
Net Job Growth
+12.5%
annual
Businesses Closed
408
in 2023
Firm Count Trend
Should You Start a Sports Teams and Clubs Business?
Startup Cost
$50K – $250K
Break-Even
0 months
5-Year Survival Rate
50.0%
Related Industries
Frequently Asked Questions
- What does a sports teams and clubs business do?
- Pro sports franchises — MLB, NBA, NFL, NHL, MLS, WNBA, minor leagues. Revenue split between gate, media rights, sponsorship. Ticket buyers, TV networks (media rights), sponsors, merchandise buyers.
- How much do sports teams and clubs charge?
- Professional and semi-pro sports franchises earn on gate, media rights, sponsorship, merchandise. Media rights dominate at top tier. See the pricing table above for typical rates by service type.
- How much does the average sports teams and clubs make per year?
- The average sports teams and clubs business generates $49.2M in annual revenue, based on U.S. Census Bureau data (SUSB 2021). After expenses, the estimated owner profit is $5.9M per year at a 12.0% profit margin.
- How many sports teams and clubs businesses are there in the US?
- There are 1,112 sports teams and clubs businesses operating in the United States, employing a total of 57,059 workers.
- How much does it cost to start a sports teams and clubs business?
- Startup costs for a sports teams and clubs business typically range from $50K to $250K, with a 5-year survival rate of 50.0%.
- What is the average salary in the sports teams and clubs industry?
- The average employee in the sports teams and clubs industry earns $266K per year, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics data (QCEW 2023).
Industry Growth & Survival
The sports teams and clubs industry is actively growing — adding jobs at a net rate of 12.5% per year. New establishments are opening faster than existing ones close (14.9% entry vs 11.8% exit), indicating healthy demand.
Approximately 53% of sports teams and clubs businesses survive their first 5 years. This is near the national average (~50%), with typical business risk. In 2023, 408 firms in this industry closed permanently.
Employment & Wages
The average employee in the sports teams and clubs industry earns $265,815/year. This is significantly above the national average of ~$65K, reflecting the skilled nature of this work. With 3,473 establishments employing 109,252 people, the typical business has about 31 employees.
Industry Trend (2000–2023)
The sports teams and clubs industry has grown 20% since 2000 (from 3,264 to 3,933 firms).
See full historical statistics →Compare Sports Teams and Clubs revenue with other industries: