The Top Sports Management MBA
Online Programs

An online Master of Business Administration in sports management prepares students to enter the sports entertainment industry, which generates over $425 billion per year. Sports managers are responsible for the day-to-day operations of one or more sports franchises and the business end of sports. An MBA sports management online degree guarantees that students are ready to handle the responsibilities of running a team, directing a sports facility or recreational area or being a ticket coordinator.

Top MBA online programs teach students how to create, manage and maintain a successful sports franchise. Sports managers ensure that their teams have the funding they need as well as the best players and coaches. They need to know how to make crucial decisions to help them find talent, negotiate deals and sign players. From the best online MBA sports management programs, they learn to manage workers and lead effectively.

How can I tell if an online MBA sports management degree is right for me?

A sports management MBA online will interest those are interested in management, athletics and marketing.

Some additional traits that are common amongst many online MBA sports management students include:

• A proclivity for establishing and maintaining interpersonal relationships
• An aptitude for performing general physical activities
• A flair for coaching and developing others
• A desire for communicating with supervisors, peers, or subordinates
• An inclination for communicating with persons outside organization

How long does it take to earn an MBA online sports management degree?

A sports management MBA degree online takes approximately the same time to earn as any other MBA online. To earn this degree it normally requires 2 years of full-time education. But, students are able to finish the degree under a timeframe that suits their schedule at some schools that have part-time or accelerated programs.

What are the prerequisites and admission requirements for MBA sports management schools online?

An undergraduate degree is normally required before students can enroll in online MBA sports management programs. Some schools that have an MBA sports management online program favor applicants who have degrees in subjects including business management, sports administration, business administration, and finance.

The following criteria are also used by many online MBA in sports management programs in making admissions decisions including:

• Essays
• Work experience
• Academic transcripts
• Graduate Management Admission Test scores (GMAT)

What courses will I take in sports management MBA programs online?

All accredited online sports management MBA schools begin instruction with a basic foundation of business and management principles in the first year. Courses include financing, accounting, marketing and managing. Students seeking an online Master of Business Administration in sports management also need to take courses in leadership skills, policy and strategy.

Once the core principles have been taught, schools with high online sports management MBA rankings continue the education with courses that focus specifically on sports management. Classes might include sports leadership and ethics, research in sports studies, dynamics of coaching and economics of sports. Top online MBA in sports management programs expose students to the strategies and policies that will make their sports teams successful. Furthermore, most sports management MBA schools online encourage their students to participate in internships in sports marketing, management or communications.

In addition to coursework, internships are also done by some students in online sports management MBA programs. Such an internship can prove important in that it not only gives students an opportunity to practically apply the business and sports management skills they are learning in an actual business setting, but it can also serve as an introduction into a particular business or company.

What are the best online MBA in sports management books I should consider reading?

Some books students wanting to pursue sports management MBA careers may find on point are:

1. The Business of Sports (Scott Rosner and Kenneth L. Shropshire) – This comprehensive book covers the basics of professional, Olympic and collegiate sports management.

2. Sports, Inc.: 100 Years of Sports Business (Phil Schaaf) – Schaaf reflects on the beginnings of sports as a global entertainment phenomenon and predicts its future.

3. Blocking and Tackling Your Way to Management Success (Alan Simon) –Written in an enjoyable tone, Simon offers 40 real-life sports management lessons, all involving people and events relating to the Pittsburg Steelers.

4. Sport Facility Management (Robin Ammon Jr., Richard M. Southall and David A. Blair) – This book focuses on how to manage a stadium, arena or other sports facility.

5. The Ultimate Guide to Sports Marketing (Stedman Graham, Lisa Neirotti and Joe Goldblatt) –Graham, Neirotti and Goldblatt expose the real business behind marketing sports figures and teams.

What are my future job prospects if I pursue sports management MBA jobs?

The median sports management MBA salary is a little over $55,000 because the profession includes a broad range of jobs, from team owners to ticket sales coordinators. Some specific jobs and their salaries include:

• Assistant Athletic Director – $69,432
• Campus Recreation Director – $62,031
• Event Director – $98,037
• Intramural Coordinator – $42,852

Because the profession is so broadly defined, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics has no record of how many sports managers exist. Nevertheless, interest in earning a sports management MBA online is on the rise for the simple reason that sports are entertaining, and the management of sports appears just as glamorous and fun, regardless of reality. Plus, with ticket sales, marketing deals and merchandising bringing in hundreds of billions of dollars each year, those with an MBA online sports management degree stand to make an impressive amount of money.

Many employers favor graduates who have studied from a program that has been accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business. AACSB accredited sports management MBA programs are believed to provide students with a quality education.