Sport industry in Australia - statistics & facts
Australia is a proud sporting nation, with a long history of playing team sports such as cricket, rugby, and netball since British colonialization. However, the country has also managed to cultivate its own unique sporting identity. Australian rules football, colloquially known as 'footy', was developed in the 19th century and is now one of the country’s most popular sports, both in terms of spectator attendance and participation. Aside from team sports, individual sports and fitness activities like walking and working out at the gym are also popular physical activities in the country as Australians embrace a healthier lifestyle.
Due to this active lifestyle, the sports industry in Australia has shown considerable growth. The industry value added from this industry has been substantial, drawn from increased revenues from the professional sports leagues, a growth in the number of gyms and fitness centers nationwide, as well as an expanding health and fitness market.
The future of the Australian sports industry looks bright. With the country’s natural love of sports, combined with a heightened focus on individual health and fitness, this industry is on track to maintain its growth rates in the near future.
Due to this active lifestyle, the sports industry in Australia has shown considerable growth. The industry value added from this industry has been substantial, drawn from increased revenues from the professional sports leagues, a growth in the number of gyms and fitness centers nationwide, as well as an expanding health and fitness market.
Spectator sports
Australians’ love of sports has been beneficial to the country’s sports leagues, with most showing a substantial growth in revenue over the last decade. The revenue of the Australian Football League, home of Australian rules football, has doubled since 2012, making it the most lucrative sport in the nation. The National Rugby League’s revenue has also increased considerably, more than tripling its revenue from 2012. Of the three major sports leagues in the country, only Cricket Australia has seen a relative stagnation in revenue in recent years, due to lower broadcast revenue and higher player costs.Sports and recreation
The sports and recreation industry in Australia has been growing steadily over the past few years. As such, the total industry-value added from this industry has more than doubled since 2010. Many markets have looked to capitalize on this growth, like the health and fitness segment of the app market in Australia, which has seen consistent expansion in recent years and is expected to continue growing in the near future. More and more Australians have been opting to join gyms over the past few years, meaning the number of fitness centers and gyms has risen steadily, despite many businesses being forced to close temporarily during lockdown periods in 2020.The future of the Australian sports industry looks bright. With the country’s natural love of sports, combined with a heightened focus on individual health and fitness, this industry is on track to maintain its growth rates in the near future.
