As we enter the second quarter of the 21st century, we use the traces of the past 25 years to hypothesize what the next few decades could bring. In the spotlight of this occasional series is the impending future of sports. Two and a half decades ago, the idea that athletes in college could be compensated, that Major League Baseball would have a pitch clock, or that live sports could be broadcast on streaming platforms was alien. Picture the transformation in the sporting landscape by the time we reach 2050, another 25 years down the line.
It has been projected that, while the fundamental rules of the games themselves will largely remain intact, the influence of technological advancement and financial factors will be significant in shaping the future of professional and collegiate sports. Sports infrastructure, such as stadiums, will be built with an emphasis on sustainability and investment potential in real estate. Virtual Reality technology stands to greatly enhance how spectators experience games.
There is an anticipated surge in women’s sports; the scope for expansion is immense. The traditional way in which fans engage with sports is set to undergo radical change. A major challenge that professional teams will face in the future is finding innovative ways to encourage fans to attend games physically, as the appeal of high-definition televisions and the convenience of live streaming services threatens to keep them at home.
With the introduction of the 12-team College Football Playoff, the long-term viability of current bowl games is uncertain. Looking back 25 years, the Bowl Championship Series was just beginning to be used as a method of determining a national champion. It appears that professional sports are likely to continue and intensify their overseas investments.
Consider the milestone of 2005, when the NFL hosted its first regular-season game abroad. In the present year, five games were played in foreign markets, marking the NFL’s debut in Brazil. The coming quarter-century will see the NFL schedule eight games outside U.S. territories, including one in Spain and a potential game featuring the Steelers in Ireland.
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell envisions that there will be nearly one game a week, or 16 games annually, being played outside U.S borders. If we discuss the possibility of establishing permanent professional league franchises outside North American territories, it is clear that technology will play a crucial role in such developments. Mexico City, due to its geographic proximity to southern states, could emerge as a pivotal player in the globalization of professional sports.
The propensity of cities such as Mexico City to attract existing or new franchises could mirror the allure that Las Vegas displayed in the previous decade when it extended its reach into the realms of hockey, football, and tentatively, baseball by 2028. The architectural design of new stadiums and arenas will prioritize environmental considerations. Climate change, accompanied by increasingly higher temperatures, will necessitate the construction of dome-covered stadiums and other indoor facilities.
Real estate will play a significant part in the planning and execution of new sports venue projects. The WNBA, currently experiencing a financial growth spurt due in part to the addition of star rookie Caitlin Clark, is one of the quickest expanding leagues with the collective value of its 12 teams crossing the $1 billion mark.
The National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) has also noted a surge in both revenue and popularity, further testament to the undeniable rise of women’s sports. Another sports entity that is swiftly gaining traction is flag football. A perhaps not-so-distant future where a woman is at the helm as head coach in men’s sports is increasingly imaginable.
Paradoxically, America’s oldest sport – baseball – might notably contract over the next quarter-century. This cause for concern hints at the balance between progress and tradition that all sports will need to navigate moving forward, challenging their inspirational and recreational values on one end with business and technology on the other.
In retrospect, projecting the exact future of sports is as difficult as predicting a champion in a much-anticipated game. But, if the past 25 years offer any indication, the future could witness a convergence of tradition and innovation, catalyzed by technological advancements and modified by cultural and environmental shifts.
The world will continue to look forward as sports evolve, paving the way while leaving effects far beyond stadiums and broadcast platforms. It will more than just a change in how the games are played or how they are watched. It will be as much a social journey as it is a technological one where each step drives humanity forward in unexpected ways.
As we stand at the cusp of this new sporting era, we carry with us the lessons of the past while bracing for the dynamics of the future. In 2050, we may reminisce about how outlandish the emergence of a pitch clock in Major League Baseball seemed, in much the same way we now look back at the days when payment to college athletes was considered an alien concept.
The organic growth and evolution of sports is reflected just as much on the field as it is off it. Competitors evolve, rules adapt, and formats change, but at their core, sports serve an unchanged purpose – to enthrall, inspire and unite. As we lean into the future, it’s clear that this journey is only just beginning.