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Is the Sports Industry Missing Out on $31 Trillion?

December 03, 2024 • Estimated Reading Time: 5 minutes

Pre-match briefing

Welcome to December, where the days are shorter, the games are longer, and my ability to remember what day it is has officially vanished—let’s get into it: This week we’ll be looking at Larissa Holmes’ talk about how to appeal to women in sports and we’ll see what the scout has in store for us:

  • Athlete of the week: Ellyse Perry

  • Venue of the week: CPKC Stadium

  • Kit of the week: Germany (World Cup)

  • Sport of the week: Ringette

Kick-off
⛹️‍♀️ Unlocking the Power of Women in Sports

Women control 85% of global consumer spending, which is over $31 trillion annually. So getting the time and attention of women is crucial for any industry, especially sports where women can spend on equipment, mothers can sign their kids up for lessons, and families can make outings to pro-level games. But to do this, we must first understand how women connect with sports.

According to Larissa Holmes, founder of Active Coterie, sports are currently misrepresented to women with so much focus on competition and technical abilities rather than the social and growth aspects.

She identified three key motivators that inspire women to engage in sports:

  1. A focus on continual learning and a growth mindset

  2. A commitment to personal well-being to keep mind and body balanced

  3. Opportunities for meaningful connection through shared activities

It’s no secret that there is so much more that happens in sports outside the game itself and tapping into these elements can make sports much more powerful as a tool to build communities - especially for underrepresented people.

These insights raise some interesting questions about how sports could evolve to create more inclusive experiences. What are your thoughts? For women especially, how does the community aspect of sports impact your experience?

Scout’s Overview
📡 🚨 Weekly Sports Radar: Ringette

Ringette is a team-based ice sport primarily played by women. Invented in Canada in 1963, it combines elements of ice hockey and lacrosse but has unique rules and equipment. Players use straight sticks (no blade) to pass and shoot a rubber ring instead of a puck.

With no body checking, no offsides, and limited solo play due to mandatory passing across blue lines, ringette is a fast-paced sport that resembles the quick offense and defense of basketball.

Athlete of the week: Ellyse Perry

Venue of the week: CPKC Stadium

Ellyse Perry is an Australian sports star celebrated for her exceptional talent in both cricket and football, making her one of the world's most versatile athletes.

Fun Fact: She’s played for the Australian national football AND cricket team.

CPKC Stadium, home of the Kansas City Current, is a football stadium in Kansas, which opened in March of this year.

Fun Fact: This is the world's first stadium built exclusively for a professional women's sports team.

🧤 Fit Check: Germany Women's World Cup kit (2023)

While the 2023 Women’s World Cup has numerous jaw-dropping kits, this one was our personal favorite. Check other kits out from this tournament!

Keep sending us your suggestions for next week’s fit check!

From the bench
🗞️ In case you were injured:

  • Sports legend Don Bradman’s cap was sold for nearly £250,000

  • 10 police officers were injured due to fan violence at a German football game

🎯 In over-time:

📊 Analyst’s corner:

  • A study estimated that total TV time will decline by 15-20% by 2040 due to the rise of Gen Z and Gen Alpha’s social media usage.

  • 27% of fans 18 or older have found new rooting interests in sports through gambling

If you enjoyed reading The Gameplan, consider forwarding it to your friends & family! If you have some ideas, email us at [email protected].

Signing out,
Wasay (brother #2)

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