Dedicated publication shines the spotlight on all aspects of the $39.5 billion sports licensing sector.
According to data from Licensing International’s recent Global Licensing Industry Study, the sports category was the third largest property type in 2023, responsible for 11% of global sales revenue from licensed merchandise and services. The category reached $39.5 billion, growing 5.6% compared to 2022.
It will be interesting to see how this year’s summer of sporting brilliance affects those figures – we know that the Licensing Sports Book team won’t have been the only ones glued to the TV throughout the EUROs and then the Paris Olympic and Paralympic Games, and then experiencing that bereft feeling once they were over.
Of course, we’re now back into the domestic seasons for both football (with Fulham already testing our patience) and rugby, while the Autumn Internationals and Six Nations for the latter are also on the horizon.
Next July will also see Women’s EURO 2025 held in Switzerland and, with women’s sport on an upward trajectory, this could prove to be a pivotal moment in consumer products terms, too. Women’s Super League clubs saw a 50% revenue increase during the 2022/23 season (according to the Deloitte Annual Review of Football Finance) following on from the England Lionesses’ EURO 2022 triumph. The Deloitte Sports Business Group is forecasting average club income to reach £52 million for the 2023/24 season, and £68 million for the 2024/25 campaign.
This issue also sees us take a look at sustainability in sport and how clubs and organisations are balancing sporting success with some pretty ambitious climate goals. It’s sporting sustainability on a grand scale – and you can read more on pages 36-37.
Speaking of grand scales, both Brand Licensing Europe (pages 42-47) and the Sports Merchandise and Licensing Show (pages 48-49) will further highlight trends, opportunities and success stories in the sporting sector. Part of the potential comes from how the sports category can intersect with celebrity, fashion, lifestyle and more, as Licensing International president, Maura Regan points out in this issue. Coupled with the passion of the fans, it seems like a recipe for success.
We hope you enjoy the issue and we look forward to catching up again at BLE or SMLS.
You can read the full issue of Licensing Sports Book Autumn 2024 by clicking here.
