Women in Sports: Barriers to Entry
The landscape of team ownership across the world is dominated by men and big capital. It is uncommon to see minorities and women in those positions of power. Based on my personal experience with team ownership in the Indoor Football League (IFL), I’ve seen the following barriers to entry, especially in male sports.
Historical Precedent: The sports industry is male-dominated, with ownership positions historically held by men. Breaking this historical precedent for women and minorities is challenging, as it requires a shift in established norms and attitudes.
Access to Capital: Acquiring controlling ownership of a professional sports team involves a substantial financial investment. Access to significant capital or financing is a barrier for women for various reasons, including limited access to networks that facilitate investment opportunities. Even younger leagues such as the NWSL and MLS are fetching high prices; In 2024 Angel City sold for a record-breaking $250 million to Disney CEO Bob Iger (Front Office Sports) and the expansion fee for San Diego’s MLS team inked for $500 million in 2023 (Sportico).
Networks and Relationships: Sports team ownership often involves intricate networks and relationships within the sports industry, which can be harder for women to access due to historical exclusion and limited representation in these circles.
Perceived Expertise: There might be perceptions or stereotypes about women's expertise or experience in sports management or ownership roles, leading to biases or doubts about their capabilities in these positions.
Limited Opportunities: Existing franchises might not openly seek or create opportunities for women to become owners due to entrenched norms or biases, resulting in a lack of available ownership openings.
Industry Culture and Gender Bias: The sports industry, like many others, can have a culture that subtly or overtly favors men in leadership positions. This can create an environment where women face additional scrutiny, challenges, or biases when attempting to enter ownership roles. “According to the Sport Integrity Global Alliance’s most recent survey in 2023, only 26.9 percent of executive positions in international sports federations are held by women” (UN Women) and that number greatly decreases when women move from executive leadership to ownership.
Addressing these barriers requires concerted efforts to promote diversity within professional sports.
Three things that can set up women for success in ownership are:
Initiatives that support women in gaining access to capital, mentorship programs
Advocating for policy changes promoting gender diversity in ownership
Fostering a more inclusive industry culture
What do you think can spur change in sports ownership?
