Sports Teams and Clubs NAICS 711211

May 6, 2026 - MLB Adopts Automated Ball-Strike Reviews

• Major League Baseball’s rollout of the Automated Balls and Strikes (ABS) Challenge System marks a significant technology shift for the US sports teams and clubs industry, according to a recent report from Technology Magazine. The system combines human umpiring with real-time pitch challenges powered by T-Mobile’s 5G network and Hawk-Eye tracking technology. MLB’s adoption of ABS reflects a broader push by sports organizations to modernize gameplay, improve fairness, and enhance fan trust while preserving traditional elements of the sport. The challenge-based format also introduces new in-game strategy for teams and players. Beyond officiating, the system generates large amounts of performance data that clubs can use for analytics and player evaluation, highlighting how professional sports leagues are increasingly integrating advanced technology into operations, competition, and fan experience.
• Employment by sports teams and clubs increased 2% in February 2026 compared to a year ago, according to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Employment by sports teams and clubs has grown nearly 73% over the past 10 years, faster than the 11.5% growth in overall private employment. Average wages for nonsupervisory employees at spectator sports fell 6.2% in February 2026 year over year, to $26.48 per hour. Revenue for spectator sports, including sports teams and clubs, grew 3.3% in Q4 2025 year over year and was up 20.7% compared to the previous quarter, according to data from the Census Bureau.

• 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.
• 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.