Challenges that the Sports Industry is Facing in the UK

David Banks
Authored by David Banks
Posted Tuesday, November 20, 2018 - 10:40pm

The sports industry in the UK has grown significantly over the past 10 years. There are now ample opportunities, along with a healthier interest in sports across the country. However, as much as the industry has progressed, there are still numerous challenges faced within the sector. Here, we’ll look at just some of the challenges the sports industry is facing in the UK today.

Funding

Like most sectors, funding remains a challenge within the sporting sector, both for those looking to break into the industry, and for community sport organisations looking for help with ongoing running costs. Preference tends to be given to larger organisations, as well as to elite events and athletes, rather than smaller community sporting projects.

Some sporting sectors have seen an increase in funding, such as cycling. However, there is still a struggle to attract corporate marketing budgets, especially due to the doping scandals in certain types of sports.

Legalities

Another major challenge in the industry, is the legalities. There are a lot of diverse regulatory frameworks in place which mean the law and commerce are very much intertwined. It can be difficult for start-ups in particular, to understand and abide by these complex laws. One of the most recent changes in legislation includes the adoption of the UK Governance Code. This applies to every sports body which receives public funding.

So, it’s worth seeking advice from sports law experts before attempting to set up a commerce sporting business.

Attracting fans to physically attend matches and events

Although the football industry is currently booming, some sectors are struggling to due to technology. Organisations and clubs are struggling to attract millennials in particular due to how prevalent technology has become.

These days, more young people choose to stay home in front of their TV’s, laptops, tablets or smartphones rather than heading out to a local game. So, the challenge of getting the younger generation out and away from technology is tough for sporting businesses. 

Lack of volunteers

Getting a sports club or organisation set up is just one challenge but keeping them afloat is another. We already discussed the issue of funding above, something the sports industry is currently struggling with. This means, a lot of clubs and organisations rely upon the help of volunteers. However, the number of volunteers has dwindled significantly over the years.

So, the supply of volunteers isn’t currently meeting up with demand. It’s not simply a case of getting volunteers on board either. It’s more to do with the statutory requirements and time commitments involved. This again highlights the need for expert legal advice in the sector.

As you can see, there are many challenges the sports sector faces in the UK today. Although it has certainly come a long way over the years, smaller clubs and organisations are the ones which are currently struggling. Work needs to be done to address the above challenges if the sports sector is truly going to thrive.

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