Landing a career in the competitive world of sports management requires a good grounding in academic qualifications, as well as hands-on experience obtained through internships and networking. According to Business Week, sports are a $200 billion-plus business in the United States - and as such, working in sports management involves a lot more than just discussing last night's game. "This is not SportsCenter, this is much more Outside the Lines," Lee Igel of New York University's Tisch Center for Hospitality, Tourism & Sports Management said. A sports management career involves understanding and applying the principles of good management to the "business of sports", he added. A number of schools around the country offer sports management programs - and places are highly sought-after. When looking at potential schools, the site said, it is worth remembering that different parts of the country have better links to sports - and therefore potential internships and jobs - than others. New York, Los Angeles and Boston all have good industry connections, as do cities like Indianapolis, home of the Pacers, the Colts and USA swimming. States like Connecticut - the base of sports broadcaster ESPN - may offer also offer healthy networking prospects. According to the Department of Labor, sports management posts can cover marketing, public outreach, event booking and fundraising.  |