Rpc Series: Horizon Scanning The Business Of Sport 

Over the coming month sports specialist international law firm and Sport Industry Group partner RPC will be exploring some of the key trends within the business of sport in a special content series.  

From the “metaverse” to financial restructuring, maternity rights in sport to monetisation of data, RPC will be looking at some of the key issues likely to impact sports organisations in the near future, and the commercial opportunities they bring. 

Here is a sneak preview of what is to come… 

After the significant changes hitting the sports industry in recent years, there are few signs suggesting that we are about to slow down. The opportunities and challenges may develop, but the need to keep an eye on the horizon remains key. 

In support of the industry, over the next few months, we will be publishing a series of content pieces highlighting key areas around: 

Sport’s role in furthering Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and the importance of getting it right for your business. We will explore some key issues relating to the professionalisation of women’s participation in sport. For example, do you know what your nearest professional WSL, or Premier 15s, or VNSL team’s maternity or shared parental leave policy is for players? What about frameworks for addressing the impact of menstruation on sports performance? And the much-discussed issue of gender pay disparity.  

Money matters: As many sports organisations remain on a trajectory of recovery from COVID-19, we will explore the role restructuring can have in helping organisations to address financial concerns. We will also look at the different ways in which organisations might seek to raise funds in the current economic climate. 

Metaverse   

Looking for an escape from (physical) reality? The more fully formed instants of the new paradigm metaverse/s may not yet be with us, but the precursors are, and so is the hype. We will explore the commercialisation of rights in the metaverse, possible activations, alongside questions around brand protection. 

Partnership trends   

Are partnership activations for gambling entities on the way out in the UK, and would rightsholders be ready? Will fan token partnerships continue to generate significant revenues, and what other trends will we see? 

Monetising data 

Statistical sports data and the ability to monetise is not a new phenomenon. But the landscape is changing as individuals, clubs and organisations see opportunities to benefit from the gold rush of the sports data market. We will also look at the role of personal data, and how it can be permissibly used by partnership and marketing teams on both sides of commercial collaborations to maximise fan engagement (and increase revenues). 

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