Sophie Goldschmidt

The Business of Sports and Entertainment

Dong Wang, Sophie Goldschmidt, Robert Rankin, David Shoemaker, Chatri Sityodtong, Jim Small

Asian sports markets are pivoting from traditional B2B licensing to direct B2C engagement, driven by global giants like the NBA and CPH who leverage localized infrastructure and digital tools to tap into a region holding 56% of the world's population. Organizations are capitalizing on this shift through specific innovations such as the NBA's Dongguan academy, One Championship's cultural storytelling, and CPH's strategy of linking stadium profitability to major events like UFC fights and the Olympics. Despite challenges regarding shifting consumer attention toward e-sports and varying league ownership models, the sector forecasts significant expansion fueled by a rising middle class and upcoming host events from 2019 to 2022.