Sports Event Planning

Sports Event Planning, also called sports event marketing, is one of the most high-profile and potentially lucrative of the types of special events.

Here are a few examples of high-profile, globally-recognized sports events:

• Super Bowl
• Orange Bowl
• Rose Bowl (and you get the idea on the Bowl Games)
• The US Open
• Masters Golf Tournament
• NBA All-Stars
• Kentucky Derby
• Indy 500
• Boston Marathon
• Race for the Cure

....and so on!

As mentioned on the "Special Event Planning" page, many of these events fall into numerous categories that we discuss on this website. For example, "Race for the Cure" qualifies as a fundraiser, a special event, and a sporting event. Don't get caught up in the terminoligy; these categories are just to give you a basic introduction to a very large industry.

While there are many planning opportunities within each of the above-mentioned sports events, and they are perfectly realistic to aim for, more than likely you need a little bit more experience before attempting to apply for these incredible jobs.

Local Events That Might Need You
In the meantime, there are numerous opportunities to gain sports event planning experience where you live. It's impossible to list every kind of event out there; know your market, know your area, and begin researching! But here are some ideas to get your creative juices flowing:

• Local football, hockey, basketball, and any kind of sporting event.

• Ski and Snowboard Events: if you live in a location that's accessible to ski resorts, you have many opportunities to break into the world of sports event planning. There are any number of events, from numerous ski and snowboard races and expeditions to product introduction. Many ski resorts kick off the season by some kind of "welcome to winter" or "bring on the snow!" kind of events; and end the season with a bash too.

• Water Events: if you live near the ocean or a large lake, there are likely all kinds of events happening all the time! Boat races and sailing regattas, jet ski races, water-ski competitions, and so on.

• Athletic Events: regardless of where you live, there is likely a large variety of marathons, triathlons, bike races, skating competitions, hockey games, golf tournaments, swim meets, and any other event where healthy and active people compete.

• Animal Events: thanks movies like "Best in Show," the general public has now joined in on the dog show phenomenon! Dog shows are big business, as are horse shows, stock shows, and rodeos.

....and the list goes on!


Who plans these events? How do I find these jobs?
That is a good, although complex question. It all depends on the sporting event. For the larger events, such as the Super Bowl and Boston Marathon, there are planners who work year-round on that event.

For the smaller events, mainly the local events, there are more than likely associations or committees that are in charge of these events. For many of the smaller events, these committees are made up of strictly volunteers. While these are not job opportunities, this is a FANTASTIC way to gain some experience if you are starting out with none!

**For more details on how to find these associations and how to ensure that you find a career in event planning, go to Career Planning .***

There are many, many opportunities in the world of sports event planning, for the right people who are willing to take the necessary steps to get there! Nothing worth succeeding at comes overnight. Plan your course, stay the path, and before you know it you'll be an established sports event planner!

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