Growth of sports sponsorship
The sports sponsorship market was estimated at 64.8 billion U.S. dollars in 2021. The industry is projected to grow at 7.5 percent until 2030, reaching a value of 112.2 billion U.S. dollars.
Find more statistics at Statista
Types of sponsorship opportunities
Sports sponsors come in many forms, depending on what the team or league needs and the sponsor’s offer.
Here are some common sponsorship opportunities:
Financial sponsorship
This is the most direct form of sponsorship, with cash contributions supporting equipment, travel, and operations. Sponsors often get prominent logo placement and recognition for their support.
In-kind sponsorship
In-kind sponsors donate goods or services rather than cash to support youth sports. Youth sports donations can include equipment, uniforms, sportswear, or venue rentals. Like financial sponsors, in-kind sponsors usually get recognition and promotions.
Events sponsorship
Sponsoring an event means supporting a specific tournament, competition, or other sporting events. Sponsors can get their logos on event materials, banners, and signage and engage with attendees through product demonstrations.
Measuring the success of your sponsorship
To evaluate the effectiveness of your youth sports sponsorships, it’s important to establish measurable objectives and track your progress over time.
Consider the following metrics when assessing the success of your sponsorship activations:
- Brand visibility: Measure the number of impressions your brand receives through logo placement on uniforms, banners, and promotional materials. Track social media mentions and website traffic generated through your sponsorship.
- Community engagement: Assess the level of community involvement and support generated through your sponsorship. This can include attendance at sponsored events, interactions with your brand at these events, and positive feedback from team members, parents, and spectators.
- Return on investment (ROI): Calculate the financial return on your sponsorship investment. This can include increased sales, new customers, or other tangible benefits directly attributed to your sponsorship activities.
- Sponsor satisfaction: Gather feedback from your sponsored team or league to gauge their satisfaction with the partnership. This can help identify areas for improvement and inform future sponsorship decisions.