Having a Slice of the Football Cake: A Thriving Career — Part 2
In part 1, we laid the foundation for the football business as a $3 billion industry that is growing annually. We also established that it is a passionate sport and has the power to connect people across different cultures as well as save lives. Furthermore, many individuals can have successful careers in this space. This article continues with the last piece and the various jobs available in the football world. You should read up on the first three sectors covering a football career path here.
3. Stadia and Operations
Stadium and operations include professionals and organizations that provide live entertainment during football matches and other events. Gate revenue is a major source of revenue for professional teams. The advent of broadcast media has expanded the options for fans to follow their favorite teams.
There is fierce competition for fans’ hearts and minds, and the stadium has become a multi-faceted venue for entertainment, retail, food, and business development. Stadia are now more than just a place to watch a game, but also a hub for entertainment and commerce. Teams have used the stadium to create unique fan experiences with interactive activities and exclusive merchandise, while also providing an avenue for sponsors to reach their target audiences.
Possible jobs — Food service, catering, ticketing, safety, security, facilities, administration, human resources, information technology, events, logistics, customer relationship management, engineering, venue management, ground maintenance, procurement, etc. The goal is to create a great experience at the stadium.
4. Football Products and Merchandise
In this sector, football fashion and products such as footwear, kits, and training equipment are dedicated to clubs, coaches, and players who are at the heart of the game.
Today, most branded football products are sold online and through retail chains directly to soccer players, coaches, specialists, and consumers.
Jobs in Football is interested in showcasing the story behind the latest developments in football products, as well as how these can benefit players to improve performance, prevent injuries, use more eco-friendly materials, as well as the latest technology to manufacture products of high-quality for all types of athletes.
With football’s popularity and strong links to fashion, merchandise, and apparel, the products & apparel side of the game also provides multiple employment opportunities and roles.
Possible Jobs — Clothing & Apparel, Equipment & Training, Merchandise, Retail, Design & Development, Branding, Manufacturing & Production etc.
5. Education, Governance, and Community
The football education and personal development sector is dedicated to providing education and training programs for professionals who want to work in the football industry. These programs are available for children, undergraduates, and professionals already active in football.
The sector also focuses on the governance of the game. As the laws of football are constantly evolving, it is crucial to have the right people in place to ensure that the sport is safe and fair for everyone involved.
Finally, the sector is committed to community development. Football is a powerful tool for social change, and the sector works to encourage participation and development at all levels, from grassroots to elite.
Possible jobs — Football Education, Refereeing, Stakeholder Relationship Management, Regulations, Supporters, Personal Development and Training, etc.
The rise of technology in sports (e.g. VAR) will make these sectors to continually expand and more jobs to be created in the coming years.
Covid’s Impact on the Beautiful Game
According to a report, funded by the UK Research Institute (UKRI) and European Social Research Council (ESRC), English football clubs lost £1bn in revenue due to Covid-19. The football world faced severe financial challenges and many top clubs had to lay many of their staff.
The top European clubs decided to take action by creating the Super League to revive their financial situation which caused severe backlash from the European football governing body and the football fans all around the world.
The “Super League” clubs decided to pull out of the plan and it seems all is back to the status quo of the UEFA Champions League. The tussle for control of European club football shows that football is not just a sport of passion but a sport of great wealth.
As the effect of the pandemic clears away, it is imperative to look at ways to cement football as the number 1 sport in the world. Many football entities took advantage of the pandemic and grew their digital footprint. This strategy gave rise to digital consumption. For this game to truly grow, some bottlenecks must be removed.
Bottlenecks hindering Growth
These roles have huge opportunities but many factors stop people from taking advantage of these opportunities, but we will highlight three. They are:
To be continued….
