4B044E - The Business of Sport (Online) 01 Sep 2026 - 31 Aug 2032 | Version 1

Associated Module Information

Module Code: 4B044E
Module Title: The Business of Sport (Online)
Faculty: Faculty of Life Sciences and Education
Faculty Group: Sport
Faculty Sub Group: Sports Coaching
Module Leader: Adam Sherratt
Module Team:
First Intended Intake: SEP 2026 Final Year of Intake:
Date Closed:
Credit Value: 30 Credit Level: 4
Language: English
Percentage of Module Taught in Welsh: 0
Equivalent Module:
HECOS codes: 100097 - sports management
HECOS Code Weighting: 100

Document Version Information

Version 1
Valid From 01 Sep 2026
Valid To 31 Aug 2032

Module Aims

  • To develop students’ understanding of the structure, governance, and commercial dynamics of the global sports industry. 

  • To enable students to explore and critically reflect on the role of sport as a business within diverse social, economic, and political contexts. 

  • To foster students’ ability to apply strategic thinking to contemporary challenges in sport business, including revenue generation, stakeholder engagement, and innovation. 

Content Summary

This module introduces you to the global sports industry, exploring its structure, key revenue streams, governance frameworks, and stakeholder dynamics. It provides foundational knowledge of how sport operates as a business, including consumer behaviour, data-informed decision-making, and emerging trends shaping the sector. 

As part of the Level 4 curriculum, The Business of Sport sets the stage for deeper exploration in later modules such as Sports Finance & Analytics and Strategic Sports Development. It supports you in developing commercial awareness and strategic thinking, essential for careers in sport management, marketing, and policy. 

Distinctive features include the integration of real-world case studies, use of industry data, and a focus on contemporary challenges. The module culminates in a written report assessment, encouraging students to critically analyse current business strategies within sport organisations. 

Learning and Teaching Methods

Activity Type Hours
Problem/Challenge Based Learning 56
Guided Study 104
Placement 50
Formative assessment 30
Summative assessment 60
Total Hours Selected 300

Learning Outcomes

# Learning Outcome
LO1 Explain the structure, revenue streams, and stakeholder roles within the global sports industry, and discuss how these influence business decision-making in sport organisations.
LO2 Identify emerging trends and challenges in the sport business sector and outline strategic responses used by organisations to adapt and innovate.

Module Requisites

N/A

Assessment Criteria

Assessment Category Assessment Type Description Duration Word Count Weight (%) Best of? Pass Mark
Asynchronous Assessment Student Choice Student Choice 6 800 30 No 40
Asynchronous Assessment Portfolio Portfolio (Sport Business strategy report) 0 3000 70 No 40

Assessment Matrix

Assessment Type Learning Outcomes
LO1 LO2
Student Choice
Portfolio

Reading List

Leadership in Sport Governance, by O'Boyle, Ian; McLeod, Joshua; Takos, Nick, 2025 

 | Essential 

Reshaping the future of sports with artificial intelligence: Challenges and opportunities in performance enhancement, fan engagement, and strategic decision-making - in Engineering applications of artificial intelligence, by Xu, Ting; Baghaei, S., 2025-02-15 

 | Recommended 

Do stakeholders matter in strategic decision making of a sports organization?/Stakeholders sao importantes na tomada de decisao estrategica em uma organizacao desportiva?/?Los stakeholders son importantes en la toma de decision estrategica en una organizacion deportiva? - in Revista de administraça~o de empre^sas, by Marques Miragaia, Dina Alexandra; Ferreira, Joao; Carreira, Andre, 2014-11-01 

 | Recommended 

Learning How to Make Decisions in a Nonprofit Sport Organization: An Application of Strategic Decision-Making Theory - in Case studies in sport management, by Lachance, Erik L., 2023-01-01 

 | Recommended 

Sport entrepreneurship and innovation, by Ratten, Vanessa; Ferreira, Joa~o J. M., 2017 

 | Essential 

Governance, Regulation and Management of Global Sport Organisations, by Bayle, Emmanuel, 2025 

 | Essential 

Sport funding and finance, by Bob Stewart, 2015 

 | Essential 

International sport marketing : issues and practice, by Desbordes, Michel; Richelieu, Andre´, 2019 

 | Recommended 

The impact of the metaverse on the future business of professional football clubs – A prospective study - in Technological forecasting & social change, by Heidemann, Gerrit; Schmidt, Sascha L.; von der Gracht, Heiko A.; Beiderbeck, Daniel, 2024-11 

 | Recommended 

An examination of women's sport sponsorship: a case study of female Australian Rules football - in Journal of marketing management, by Morgan, Ashlee, 2019-11-22 

 | Recommended 

Sport funding and finance, by Bob Stewart, 2015 

 | Essential 

International cases in the business of sport., by Chadwick, Simon; Arthur, Dave; Beech, John G., 2015 

 | Essential 

Routledge handbook of football business and management, by Chadwick, Simon; Parnell, Daniel; Widdop, Paul; Anagnostopoulos, Christos, 2019 

 | Recommended 

The sport business handbook : insights from 100+ leaders who shaped 50 years of the industry, by Horrow, Richard B.; Burton, Rick; Schrag, Myles., 2020 

 | Essential 

The business of sport management, by John Beech 

 | Essential 

Routledge handbook of international sport business, edited by Aila Ahonen; Mark Dodds; Kevin Heisey, 2018 

 | Essential