In recent years, hospitality and sports have grown in tandem. According to Global Market Insights’ Sports Tourism Market Report, sports tourism is expected to reach approximately $1.33 trillion globally by 2032, with a compound annual growth rate of 10%. Les Roches, one of the world’s most popular institutions in hospitality management and luxury tourism education, declared the launch of a new Bachelor of Science (BSc) in Sports Business Management aimed to craft for sports enthusiasts, professional athletes, and business-minded individuals aspiring to careers in sports tourism and sports business.
This four-year program will be based at the Marbella campus in Spain’s Costa del Sol, a region renowned for hosting over 90 golf courses in a 60 km radius, with two months of immersion at the Crans-Montana campus in Switzerland home to major sports associations as well as two weeks at the newly established Abu Dhabi campus in the vibrant Zayed Sports City in a historic building which seamlessly blends tradition with modernity and a popular destination for hundreds of sports events such the FIFA Club World Cups, the Asian Cups, The Arabic Gulf Cups, the Special Olympics World Summer Games, the International Athletes Meet, and American Rodeos, amongst others.
What is Sports Business Management?
Designed for students with industry-specific skills as well as adaptable, transferable competencies, the Bachelor of Science in Sports Business Management offers targeted education in fields such as sports marketing and leadership, finance, data analytics, entrepreneurship, nutrition and performance, science and techniques in sports, and legal frameworks, as well as analytics into the evolving landscape of sports, including e-sports and sustainable practices by experiential learning, applied projects, and internships, graduates will be prepared leading in diverse roles across the sports sector, from managing professional teams to developing new business ventures in sports.
The program includes an initial immersion in the Sports Lab, where students will lead and manage real sports clubs and function as professional organisations. Under faculty mentorship, they’ll assume real-world responsibilities, including participating in university-level competitions and managing all aspects of club operations, from logistics, marketing, and communications to financial management, sponsorship acquisition, and event organisation.
Programme Structure
Courses include:
- Global Sports Management
- Sports Marketing and Leadership
- Sports Operations & Sustainability
- Sports Business Management Immersion
- Real World Application Work-Based Research or Academic Deep Dive)
Benefits of BSc in Sports Business Management
- The program provides direct exposure to the sports industry and leading industry partners, providing students with valuable networking opportunities and insights into the operation of professional sports organizations, visits to sports facilities, meetings with industry professionals, and workshops led by key partners.
- Les Roches also offers this degree a curriculum that allows students to tailor their training to the sports industry’s most in-demand areas, including technology and data, as well as health and wellness.
- Moreover, the program can be completed in a flexible hybrid format (online and immersion weeks), ideal for active professional athletes seeking an academic foundation to transition into the business world.
- Over four years, students will develop themselves in both the sports and business ecosystems, graduating with not only theoretical knowledge but also practical experience and a comprehensive portfolio of academic projects that will add significant value to their future job opportunities.
- Students will improve key transferable competencies, strategic thinking, leadership, and cross-functional communication skills through hands-on management experience and direct mentorship.
- Students will get a chance to attend Exclusive Workshops and Guest Speakers, Participate in international student competitions, Simulation-based learning with innovative software applications, Sports Science Sessions (performance & nutrition), Sports Technology and Innovation data analytics, wearable tech, Sports Immersion Activities and mini-tournaments, Industry Networking Events.
Carlos Díez de la Lastra, CEO of Les Roches, said: “With this BSc in Sports Business Management, Les Roches continues to lead in an industry that is constantly reinventing itself. Our new academic offering is marked by strong specialisation, and we remain committed to this direction. We aim to channel the passion that defines top athletes into business leadership to develop the future leaders of the global sports industry. The academic structure of this program reflects our commitment to merging sports experience with business acumen, providing an entry path for both sports enthusiasts and elite athletes, as well as business professionals eager to explore this field.”
One of the key highlights of this program is its emphasis on industry exposure. Les Roches remarks on the importance of practical experience and networking in today’s competitive job market. As such, students will have ample opportunities to attend sporting events, network with industry professionals, and visit various facilities. With a rich history of providing top-notch education in the fields of hospitality and business, Les Roches is well-positioned to deliver a high-quality BSc in Sports Business Management.
