Sport Is Racing Toward a $3.7 Trillion Future. Travel and Women’s Sport Will Decide Who Wins.

The global sports economy is entering a transformative era, projected to grow from $2.3 trillion to $3.7 trillion by 2030. This shift is being defined by a $2.35 billion surge in women’s professional sports and a travel sector that now accounts for 60% of the industry’s future growth.

The End of the Broadcast Era. For decades, the sports growth story was a simple narrative of expanding broadcast deals and soaring sponsorship headlines. Today, the industry is entering a more complex phase, one shaped less by the spectacle on the screen and more by the movement of people.

A $3.7 Trillion Valuation. The World Economic Forum estimates the sports economy is currently worth $2.3 trillion, with a trajectory toward $3.7 trillion by the end of the decade. This growth is increasingly decoupled from traditional media; it is being driven by fans getting on planes, booking hotels, and choosing where to spend their time and physical presence.

The Mobility Factor. Travel is expected to account for approximately 60 percent of all future industry growth. International tournaments and destination-led events are no longer just games; they are economic engines for cities and governments competing for tourism revenue and global visibility.

The Women’s Sport Catalyst. Accelerating this shift is the rapid institutionalisation of women’s sport. Global revenues have tripled to $2.35 billion in just a few years, characterised by rising attendance and improving broadcast exposure. Crucially, women’s competitions are creating entirely new calendars and travel patterns that expand the total market rather than merely competing for existing fan hours.

The Grassroots Foundation. Beneath the elite level sits the participation economy. Grassroots sport feeds the entire system, from elite pathways to long-term commercial demand. Where participation grows, the ecosystem becomes resilient; where it falls, the commercial pipeline eventually weakens.