Sports Facility Managers

Employers

Sports facility managers may work for single team, a multisports arena or stadium, or they may work for a city or state organization, such as a parks and recreation department. According to the market research group IBISWorld, there were approximately 9,736 indoor sports facilities management businesses, with 33,313 employees, in 2019.

Starting Out

Graduates of programs in sports administration and sports facility management usually find jobs through internships, personal contacts, or job listings in career services departments.

Entry-level jobs may be in facility management or in a related field. Most organizations promote from within, so it is common for someone with a bachelor's or graduate degree in facility management who is working in, for example, public relations, to be considered first for an opening in the sports facility department. Associate- or assistant-level positions are the most likely entry point for graduates, but those with exceptional education and experience may qualify for managerial positions after graduation, although this is rare. As the field becomes more popular, it will be increasingly difficult to enter a sports facility management position without a bachelor's degree and a solid internship experience, at the very least.

Those who find entry-level jobs are helped by mentors. Mentoring is an industry-supported method in which an older, experienced member of a facility management team helps a younger, less-experienced individual to learn the ropes. This process helps the person learn and aids the organization by reducing problems caused by inexperienced beginners.