This post provides detailed information on the sports event manager job description, including the key duties, tasks,, and responsibilities they commonly perform.
It also highlights the important requirements you may be expected to fulfill to be hired for the sports event manager role by most employers.
What Does a Sports Event Manager Do?
A sports event manager is an individual who plans, organizes, and executes sports events and other activities relating to sports, including sports games, award ceremonies, tournaments, and team dinners.
The sports event manager job description usually entails planning, organizing, and ensuring the smooth operation of different sports events, ranging from small local matches to large-scale professional sports events.
It also involves supervising all aspects of a sports event, coordinating with stakeholders, selecting venues, handling logistics, and ensuring relevant sports rules are complied with.
The sports event manager may also participate in large budget production, unforgettable experience creation for participants, stakeholders and spectators, and working with different teams, such as communications, logistics, marketing and operations.
Their duties also entail managing all non-team related events at the stadium and/or event center, selling the venue to various events, such as all-star games, boat shows, business conferences, road shows, and similar events.
A sports event manager’s responsibilities can be as simple as performing basic logistic tasks, such as managing volunteers, ensuring basic event setup, and coordinating schedules.
Their duties can also be complex, such as carrying out financial and risk management functions, creating event budgets, securing sponsorships, managing crises, and negotiating contracts.
They are also expected to be the first people to arrive at an event and one of the last to depart, ensuring that attendees have everything they need, like food and drink, and spending time sorting out seating arrangements or putting up stands.
Sports event managers utilize various types of tools and technologies in performing their work, including management software (comprehensive platforms, specialized software, mobile apps, etc.), and project management tools, including collaboration, organization, and communication tools.
Others are fan engagement technologies (social media, live streaming, Augmented and Virtual Reality – AR/VR), CRM, data analysis, AI and Machine Learning, and Virtual Event Platforms.
The role of a sports event manager may also involve organizing the complicated processes that make spectacular events achievable, brainstorming ideas concerning provisions, entertainment, location, and décor, and establishing a budget for the venue.
A sports event manager may report to a banqueting or hospitality manager, department manager, or a general manager, depending on the particular organizational structure they work in.
They may also report to the facility manager in some cases, especially when dealing with aspects related to venue.
In larger operations, sports event managers usually report to an operations manager or event director, according to the reporting structure of their organization and the event’s complexity.
Where Do Sports Event Managers Work?
Sports event managers have the opportunity of working across various sectors, including major sports leagues and sports complexes or educational institutions.
Some event managers may work for community clubs or fields, professional stadia, professional training grounds, and indoor arenas, such as netball and basketball organizations.
Others may decide to be an independent sports event manager who runs their very own sports event management business.
Sports Event Manager Training and Certification
To work as a sports event manager usually requires having a Bachelor’s degree in Sports management, Business Administration, or in other related field.
You will then have to take up some internship, voluntary, or entry-level positions with sports events companies or organizations involved in planning and organizing events to gain valuable knowledge, skills, and experience in event management.
Having obtained appreciable amount of work experience over a few years, you will then be able to work as a an assistant event manager, which can then give you the opportunity to be hired for the role of a sports event manager.
You can also enhance your career by completing the Certified Sports Event Professional (CSEP) certification program, which is highly regarded within the industry. Â
Sports Event Manager Job Description Example/Sample/Template
The sports event manager job description may consist of the following duties, tasks, and responsibilities, depending on the organization they work for:
- Handle scheduling, budgeting, marketing, and logistics to minimize expenses for the project
- Create an all-inclusive event plan and set goals for the event; set up a budget and explain the timeline for completion of tasks
- Secure partnerships and sponsorships with external bodies to guarantee the financial success of the event using communication and negotiation skills and the ability to develop long-lasting rapports with potential partners and sponsors
- Arrange sports events, such as games, tournaments, and team dinners, ensuring availability of good venue spaces
- Ensure venue is secured, transportation and accommodations are available for athletes and staff, and necessary equipment and supplies are provided
- Work together with team coaches and parents to arrange award ceremonies or team dinners that go well with budget
- Make schedules for free-will donors, such as ushers, allowance staff, and ticket supervisors
- Market and promote events using marketing strategies, promotional materials, and media outlets, and manage ticket sales and event’s online presence through social media and digital platforms
- Collaborate with event personnel to plan transportation paths and lodging spots for staff, sports teams, and event attendees
- Ensure everything runs smoothly by collaborating with different professionals, including operations staff, venue managers, and marketing specialists
- Make plans with security personnel and other staff for potential emergencies so they can respond quickly to fire outbreaks, extreme weather conditions, and medical emergencies
- Coordinate with sports marketing professionals in making flyers, print or digital advertisement materials, and setting up purchasing channels for event attendees to buy tickets
- Manage event set-up and cleanup activities to ensure the environment is well prepared for the event, and also negotiate price points with event contractors
- Research and present creative event formats, design and entertainment alternatives that meet assigned budget
- Work with a number of internal stakeholders and vendors, such as event promoters, audio-visual companies, exhibit companies, merchandise salespersons, and other related service providers to develop and deliver successful event programs
- Maintain thorough knowledge of sports venues, hotels, entertainment industry, attractions, alternating sites, restaurants, free time activities, caterers, speakers, florists, ground transportation, shopping, available materials, vendors, photographers, and outside services.
- Build and maintain relationships with colleges and universities, local military installations, high school athletic teams, and civic organizations to recruit volunteers for athletic events.
Sports Event Manager Requirements: Skills, Knowledge, and Abilities for Career Success
The sports event manager requires certain skills, industry knowledge, and a number of personal attributes to be successful on the job and career, and to qualify for hiring by most employers, including:
- Communication: Sports event managers should be able to communicate visibly and effectively with various stakeholders, including staff, attendees, vendors, media, and sponsors, explaining organized ideas and disciplined directions to them.This will help enhance teamwork and organize everyone involved to understand their roles and reduce misunderstandings.
- Problem-solving: Challenges and obstructions are sure to come in sports event planning and it’s the event manager’s responsibility to get through these problems and resolve the issues. Therefore, problem-solving skills need to be active to avoid delays and interruptions if sudden problems occur. In such a situation, the event manager needs to stay calm under pressure, develop emergency plans, and make confident decisions as fast as possible.
- Effective time management: Sports event managers have to perform numerous tasks and meet tight deadlines without getting worn out. Effective time management ensures multitasking ability, increases productivity rate, and ensures ability to prioritize tasks. To avoid being overwhelmed and keep progress stable, large projects need to be broken into manageable steps.
- Attention to detail: Sports event managers need this skill to be able to organize a great sports event. They should keep an eye on everyone involved in making the event a success, and assess situations fast, making perfect decisions and anticipating results. The ability to give much attention to detail is the gateway to delivering an event that is problem-free and a way to ensure that nothing is left undone.
- Organizational skills: This is perhaps the most important skill to possess as the role of a sports event manager centers on it. Having excellent organizational skills is vital in handling complicated sports events, prioritizing tasks, delegating responsibilities effectively, and managing time wisely. The skills will also help in dealing with tight deadlines, managing different projects simultaneously, and maintaining apparent communication with stakeholders using a high level of structure and planning.
- Leadership: Being a leader is also part of being a sports event manager because you have a lot of people and the entire event to lead. You will have staff members that are inspired and diligent when your role as a sports event manager centers on great leadership skills. With this skill and addition of team management, you will develop the ability to perfectly motivate and direct staff.
- Networking: Good networking ability will help sports event managers develop and nurture a strong group of contacts within the event industry, such as fellow planners, suppliers, entertainers, and venue managers. Having a network of contacts is a valuable way to source reliable services fast, discuss better deals, and gain inner knowledge of the latest trends or available opportunities. A well-organized network doesn’t just help solve instant challenges but also provide ongoing professional support and collaboration, and it can go further to significantly easing the event planning process.
- Technology: Technological proficiency is essential in today’s fast-changing event industry. Sports event managers need to get familiar with event management software to streamline logistics, planning and budgeting by automating repetitive tasks. Knowledge of technology is a way that accuracy can be improved, team collaboration enhanced, and time saved. You will expand your service offerings and reach wider audiences with the knowledge of hybrid events, webinars, live streams, and event apps, among others.
- Negotiation: Sports event managers need the ability to effectively negotiate with suppliers, entertainers, venues operators, and caterers in securing the best possible deals. The confidence to communicate value, understand the other party’s needs, and secure mutually beneficial results is all achievable with effective negotiation skills. Good emotional intelligence, such as knowing when to push, when to pause, and how to maintain positive supplier rapports for future partnerships are required.
- Stress management: With multiple stakeholders to interact with and tight deadlines to meet, sports event management job is obviously one of the most stressful professions. Having good stress management ability will impact your performance, your team, and the event’s success. For sports event managers to prevent burnout and keep at their best especially when things don’t go according to plans, they need to stay calm under pressure, make clear decisions, and lead with self-confidence.
- Budgeting: Budgeting is the most important and challenging skills for a sports event manager required when delivering a special event. Sports event managers should work with clear financial boundaries and stay within budget no matter the size of the event. Budgeting is also about allocating resources wisely across various areas including staffing, venues, production, catering, and entertainment.
- Adaptability: Because there must be market trends and technological changes, sports event managers need to get adapted to these new changes and learn how to react quickly to them. There are also changes in staffing, vendor, and climate that require adaptability skills in order to cope with the new challenges.
- Creativity: Creativity is a very important skill that sports events managers need to utilize in order to come up with original and engaging ideas for the theme, activity, and entertainment events. Using social media and technology to enhance the event experience is very crucial among sports event managers so as to reach a wider audience. For sports event managers to promote creativity, they need to learn how to brainstorm, research, and experiment.
Download sports event manager job description template (pdf).
Sports Event Manager Job Description for Resume
If you have worked before as a sports event manager or are presently working in that role and are making a resume or CV for a new job, then you can create a compelling Professional Experience for your resume by applying the sample sports event manager job description provided above.
You can express the duties and responsibilities you have carried out as a sports event manager in your resume’s Professional Experience by utilizing the ones provided in the above sports event manager job description example.
This will show to the recruiter/employer that you have been successful working as a sports event manager, which can boost your chances of getting the new job, especially if it requires someone with some sports event management work experience.
Conclusion
This post has provided detailed coverage of the sports event manager job description, highlighting the major responsibilities and duties that they typically perform.
It also provided information on the skills and training needed to be successful on the sports event manager job and career, and to gain employment.
This post is useful to individuals interested in the sports event management career to learn all about the duties and responsibilities of the role.
It is also helpful to employers in making effective job descriptions for the sports event manager position, for use in hiring competent candidates for the role.
They can actually apply the sports event manager job description template provided on this page.
