The business side of sports isn’t just the established terrain of NFL, NBA, and MLB teams and their billionaire owners. Entrepreneurs are launching dynamic new businesses that are transforming the broader sports landscape. What are the up-and-coming opportunities and high-growth areas for start-ups today?

This book is for anyone who dreams of starting a sports business. Christopher Mumford explores the state of the game in data analytics, sports betting, eSports, youth sports, fitness, and the fan experience. He surveys the key players in each sector, identifying possibilities and constraints for new entrants. Interviews with figures such as the creator of a “Bloomberg platform for soccer,” a professional sports bettor, and the founder of a fantasy-sports-focused analytics company add vital insight. Mumford also shares the stories of his own sports start-ups and offers advice based on these experiences.

Sports Entrepreneurship details practical step-by-step methods for turning an idea into an enterprise. Mumford guides readers through an actionable framework: map out interests and goals, recognize opportunities, get feedback from users, and accelerate growth. Written for a broad audience, from practitioners seeking to jump-start their next big idea to students in sports management and entrepreneurship, this book is an indispensable guide to new opportunities in the sports industry.

Christopher Mumford teaches sports entrepreneurship and innovation as a professor of practice at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He has founded several businesses over the last twenty-five years. His current projects include starting a pro soccer team that anchors an entertainment district and implementing peak performance practices with college and pro athletes.