there’s a place for everyone in sports
and for some, that place doubles as a career
When we think about careers in sports, we probably think more about the athletes than anything.
But the truth is that the sports world runs on an entire ecosystem of people behind the scenes.
And once you start noticing those roles, you realize how many different ways you can be part of the sports world.
While your career and your passions don’t have to always be one, I’ve been inspired by some of the people i’ve seen merge the two.
I’ve especially noticed it here on Substack. There are so many incredible sports writers sharing thoughtful analysis, storytelling, and perspectives on the games they love. It’s been really fun discovering new voices and seeing how many different ways people are building careers or passions around sports.
But that’s just one corner of culture.
From brand experience managers and social media teams to photographers and event operators, there are so many people helping shape the behind the scenes.
So I figured this week it might be cool to explore what a career in sports might look like.
Brand Experience Manager
Sports teams and clubs are some of the most recognizable brands in the world. Every time fans walk into a stadium, watch a game, or interact with a team online, they’re stepping into that brand experience.
And that experience doesn’t just happen on its own.
There are people behind the scenes thinking about how everything feels for the fans, from the visuals and storytelling to the atmosphere on game day. It’s about creating something that makes people feel connected to the team.
When you think about it that way, sports are about so much more than the game itself. They’re about identity, community, and the moments fans remember long after the score.
I’ve been following Tianna Marie on social media, where she documents her dream job as a Brand Experience Manager for the Detroit Pistons. Earlier in the year, she shared a fan experience they created for kids, and it was honestly the cutest thing. It was such a great reminder that someone is actually designing those moments fans get to experience.
New York Knicks x New York or Nowhere x Chase also did something similar with Best Friends Night at MSG. They celebrated friendship and fan energy including a friendship bracelet giveaway.
Social Media Manager
Another role I’ve been noticing more lately is social media manager.
Sports have always been about community, but social media has completely changed how fans interact with teams. The conversation doesn’t just happen in the stadium anymore, it’s happening online all day long.
From game-day highlights and behind the scenes moments with athletes, social media teams help give fans a closer perspective even when they’re watching from home.
In a lot of ways, social media managers become the voice of the team online. They’re the ones capturing the personality of the players, the excitement of the fans, and the little moments that make sports culture feel alive.
And when you think about it, those posts are often the things fans remember just as much as the games themselves.
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Sports Photographer / Videographer
Some of the most iconic moments in sports aren’t just remembered because they happened, they’re remembered because someone captured them at exactly the right time.
From game winning celebrations to sideline reactions, photographers and videographers are constantly watching the game through a different lens.
In many ways, they’re the people responsible for documenting sports history as it unfolds.
And like a lot of the roles behind the scenes in sports, it’s a reminder that the culture around the game is built by so many people whose names we might not always know, but whose work we see every day.
And while those were some of the roles that really draw fans into the experience, they’re still just a small (but really important) part of how a team actually works.
Behind every game is an entire ecosystem of people making it happen, from operations teams and analysts to media staff and coordinators. It’s a reminder that sports aren’t just built by the athletes on the field, but by so many different roles working behind the scenes.
And of course, an honorable mention has to go to commentators, the voices we hear narrating the game as it happens. Someone joked that every broadcast should have one die-hard fan from each team in the booth instead.
Which honestly sounds hilarious… until you imagine what that would sound like during a rivalry game.
Anyway whether you’re on the field, behind the camera, running a team’s social media, or just watching from the stands, sports have a way of bringing people together.
And the more I learn about the world behind the game, the more it reminds me that there really is a place for everyone in sports.
And if you happen to be someone exploring that path right now, I came across a few interesting roles recently that show just how wide the sports ecosystem really is:
Just a small reminder that the sports world is a lot bigger than what we see on the field.