During a recent panel discussion at the SBJ mega week in New York, insights on the untapped potential of women’s sports investment opportunities were shared. The discussion was led by Chris Smith, who facilitated an engaging conversation among industry experts.
Growth Potential in Women’s Sports
Kara Nortman, managing partner at Monarch Collective, drew an interesting analogy between women’s sports and emerging markets. According to a Deloitte report from when Monarch was launched in 2023, the value of women’s sports was estimated at approximately $500 million. This figure has surged, with Deloitte now estimating the market’s value at about $2.35 billion.
Future Market Comparisons
Nortman provocatively suggested that women’s sports could potentially eclipse the men’s market, valued at half a trillion dollars, particularly in areas such as sponsorship and creative rights initiatives. “When I’m trying to be provocative, so I’ll do that right now, I’d say that women’s sports in our lifetime could be bigger than the half-a-trillion-dollar men’s market, specifically around the sponsorship and partnership revenue and doing more creative things with rights,” remarked Nortman.
Unique Sponsorship Opportunities
Adding to the praise for women’s sports investment, Jason Wright, managing partner at Ariel Investments, emphasized the unique sponsorship potential. He pointed out that female athletes often possess a wider reach and greater credibility among consumers compared to their male counterparts. Wright stated, “When I think about the live-work-play real estate investments that comes around sports anchored venues where women play, the opportunities for sponsorship assets and retail are larger than they are for the men’s side because of the expanse of the types of things consumers in women’s sports and women’s athletes can get behind.”
