As Darwin’s philosophy on the survival of the fittest suggests, competitiveness is our innate nature. The history of mankind exemplifies the modern doctrine of Darwinian evolution; the popularity of gladiator games lasted over a thousand years principally because of mankind’s basic and innate desire to fight and win.  

The innate desire to compete is what has allowed the sports industry to grow exponentially over the years. Whether it be actively competing as an athlete or vicariously experiencing the competition as a spectator, sports trigger and stimulate one of the most basic instincts of mankind: a desire to compete and win. It is such psychology of sports that has always fascinated me as an athlete. As a competitive soccer student-athlete, I feel inexplicable catharsis every time I am on the field. My understanding of competition has naturally guided me to find interest in the business of sports, the field that I not only practice but also appreciate greatly. 

Sports industry is revolutionizing. What used to be perceived as a pastime has now become a thriving business. The Premier League, for instance, generates 275 million dollars of revenue annually. And the global landscape of sports continues to evolve and expand especially with the advancement of technology. Not only has technology improved the operations of sporting events, by providing the athletes with state-of-the-art athletic wearable technology and teams with Video Assistant Referees (VAR) for more accurate and fair rulings, but also it offers a more immersive experience for the fans and spectators through various mobile platforms and real-time data analytics. 

The future of sports business is going to transform even more rapidly as the advancement of sports technology is changing spectator behaviors. Sports fans, especially of the younger generations, are seeking more dynamic sporting experiences. Subsequently, sports that require long playtime, such as football, baseball, and soccer, will lose their spectatorship and fan base as younger generations demand much more fast-paced sports such as basketball or a more immersive genre such as E-sports, in which they become the actual competitors. Hence, for all genres of sports to flourish, appropriate modifications to rules will need to be made to expedite the flow of the games or innovative experiences will need to be added to enhance the quality of spectatorship.