The average human being loves sports, even if not actively engaging in it. This is evident in the number of tickets sold during world tournaments, including the World Cups and Olympics.
As interesting as these are, they don’t come cheap. The costs involved in putting it together can add up quickly. Look at some of the most expensive sports in modern times.
What is the Most Expensive Sport to Play?
Football readily comes to mind as the most expensive to be played. That’s rightly so because according to Statista, it’s a billion-dollar industry, with the Real Madrid club dominating with a valuation of $6.6 billion.
If you think the soccer teams are one way to look at it; wait until you see the investments. The MetLife Stadium, which is the home stadium of the New York Jets and the New York Giants was estimated at $1.6 billion in construction costs.
Top athletes also put in the work to ensure that the investments are worth it.
Cristiano Ronaldo is famed for saying “I am not a perfectionist, but I like to feel that things are done well. More important than that, I feel an endless need to learn, to improve, to evolve, not only to please the coach and the fans but also to feel satisfied with myself.“
So, yes, football is one to come to mind when the question of “what is the most expensive sport to play” is asked.
Are there More Expensive Sports?
Besides football or soccer, there are a couple of other sporting events that can cause a bank break-in. Present a list of some of the extras:
Formula One
This pinnacle of car racing is unarguably one of the most expensive. The arrangements that go into choosing sports cars from top manufacturers like Ferrari and the additional equipment make it so.
Formula One is also regarded as an expensive sport because of these reasons:
- Million of dollars committed to research and development.
- Budgets for servicing the cars.
- Hosting and sponsorship costs also run into millions of dollars.
Muhammad Ali, a World Heavyweight Champion Boxer once said that “Champions aren’t made in the gyms. Champions are made from something they have deep inside them – a desire, a dream, a vision.”
Truly, one needs to have a competitive spirit to survive in the field of play.
What is the Most Expensive Sport: Tennis
While all eyes are on the racetrack and the stadiums, more funds are being sunk into the courts. Tennis makes the list of the most expensive sports in the world because of the costs attributed to the equipment.
The equipment used ranges from footwear to rackets and balls. As Statista has it, the sale of racquets dropped to $81.6 million in 2017 and would pick up in subsequent years. It hit $88.6 million in 2019 and was $110.5 in 2023.
In addition, tennis is valued so much because of the investments in other areas. A look at the payouts shows billions of dollars paid out in prize money over the years. Novak Djokovic won the most, amounting to $181.6 million, as of February 2024.
Speaking of tennis, the investments in the athletes are paying off. Leading players include Jannik Sinner, Alexander Zverev, Carlos Alcaraz and Taylor Fritz. Seeing the prospects in the industry, it’s time to groom a young tennis player, who would go on to compete in the big games. The training and coaching sessions have a way of boosting the morale of such athletes not to remain steadfast. Besides, backing underdogs as this one can offer punters better odds.
Polo
In a world where football tournaments, car races and tennis dominate; it’s interesting to still find genuine interest in polo. This horserace doesn’t come cheap, even though it looks simple to the eyes.
Heavy funding goes into maintaining horses and nurturing them to good health. On the field, costs skyrocket due to the maintenance of the tracks.
Not leaving out the fact that some animals are more equal than others. Some horses are costlier, especially the thoroughbreds, which are faster than the rest.
What is the Most Expensive Sport
At face value, some sports aren’t worth more than a million dollars. On deeper research, it’s clear why they are expensive.
These are some parameters used in adjudging whether a sport is costly or not:
Cost of Equipment
The cost of acquiring and maintaining the equipment used in sporting activities adds up quickly. A good amount of the money is allocated to the construction of tracks, and the buying of gears.
Prize Money
The prize money paid to winners also comes into the picture. The higher the payout, the higher the investments made into the sport.
Training-related Costs
The cost of training the athletes, as well as the payments for coaching services also feature.
Logistics
The most expensive sport requires heavy investments in logistics, especially frequent travel to and from the event locations.
Conclusion
Organizing sporting events or tournaments doesn’t come cheap. From football/soccer to tennis, Formula One to horse races, the story is the same – they’re expensive. Thus, it requires more than just hard work and athletic build to participate here. Heavy funding is also needed.
