Sports Teams and Clubs NAICS 711211

Mar 6, 2026 - Sports Betting Revenue Rises

• Sportsbook revenue grew by 22% in the US in 2025 over 2024, reaching $16.9 billion, according to data from the American Gaming Association (AGA) reported by ESPN. AGA data showed that Americans legally bet $166.9 billion in 2025, an increase of 11% year over year, with the top sports betting markets remaining New York, Illinois, and New Jersey. The AGA noted that prediction markets offering sports contracts outside state and tribal regulatory frameworks are becoming more prevalent. Per the AGA, prediction markets offering sports event contracts have diverted more than $500 million in potential sports betting tax revenue to date.
• Employment by sports teams and clubs increased 7.8% in November 2025 compared to a year ago, according to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Employment by sports teams and clubs has grown 73.9% over the past 10 years, faster than the 12.5% growth in overall private employment. Average wages for nonsupervisory employees at spectator sports fell 4.6% in November 2025 year over year, to $27.34 per hour. Revenue for spectator sports, including sports teams and clubs, decreased 0.7% in Q2 2025 year over year and was up 16.9% compared to the previous quarter, according to data from the Census Bureau.

• The US sports teams and clubs industry is projected to grow at a CAGR of 5.77% between 2025 and 2029, according to a forecast from Inforum and the Interindustry Economic Research Fund, Inc. The expected growth rate is faster than the overall economy's projected growth. The arts, entertainment, and recreation industries, which include sports teams and clubs, are largely driven by spending by US households and tourists, foreign students, and other visitors. Consumer sentiment is expected to improve in the forecast period, which bodes well for the sector. Further increases in tariffs and decreases in immigrant labor supplies may push price levels higher and postpone improvement of inflation. The slow rise of employment and higher consumption prices may limit expansion of real disposable income to about 1.8% in 2025 and 1.6% in 2026.
• According to a report in Front Office Sports, pro sports team valuations are expected to keep rising in 2026, reinforcing the transformation of teams and clubs into institutional-grade assets. In 2025 alone, change-of-control sales reset records twice, with the Boston Celtics valued at $6.1 billion and the Los Angeles Lakers at $10 billion, while a minority sale valued the New York Giants above $10 billion. According to the Ross-Arctos Sports Franchise Index cited by Front Office Sports, franchises across the NBA, NFL, MLB, and NHL have delivered 13.2% annualized returns over the past 20 years and 16.9% in the past year, outperforming most asset classes. Scarcity of teams, long-term media-rights certainty (including the NBA’s $77 billion deal and the NFL’s $111 billion agreements), and sophisticated league governance are driving investor confidence. For teams and clubs, this has accelerated minority-stake sales, private equity participation, and multi-stage ownership structures, enabling liquidity while preserving control and supporting continued valuation growth.