NAICS 711211 Quarterly Industry Report
Sports Teams and Clubs
Comprehensive industry research for valuation professionals, business owners, buyers, and lenders
NAICS Code: 711211Sector: Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation (71)Updated: Q1 2026
About This Report
Fair Market Value compiles this NAICS 711211 industry report using data from the U.S. Census Bureau[7], the Bureau of Labor Statistics[6], and the Small Business Administration[8]. Our research team analyzes gate revenue, media rights valuations, and sponsorship yields to build valuation benchmarks for sports team operations. This report on NAICS 711211 is updated quarterly to reflect franchise valuation trends and media contract developments.
Industry Snapshot
Key metrics for the sports teams and clubs industry.
NAICS Sector
71
Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation
Industry Definition & Overview
Sports Teams and Clubs (NAICS 711211) encompasses establishments primarily engaged in participating in live sporting events before a paying audience. These organizations operate professional and semiprofessional athletic teams across sports including football, baseball, basketball, hockey, soccer, and other competitive disciplines. Revenue comes from gate receipts, media rights fees, sponsorship agreements, merchandise licensing, food and beverage concessions, and premium seating sales.
Major professional leagues generate the bulk of industry revenue through national broadcast contracts and local media deals worth billions annually. Minor league and semiprofessional teams depend more heavily on local ticket sales, regional sponsorships, and community engagement. Franchise valuations have risen sharply, driven by media rights escalation and private equity investment in professional sports ownership groups. Salary caps and collective bargaining agreements shape labor costs in the major North American leagues. Stadium naming rights deals and luxury suite sales add further revenue layers for franchise owners.
The Census Bureau[5] tracks spectator sports revenue, while the Bureau of Labor Statistics[6] reports employment for athletes, coaches, and sports operations staff. Team operations span front office management, scouting, player development, marketing, and game-day event production. Geographic distribution follows population centers, with franchises in every major metropolitan area. Minor league teams extend into smaller markets, serving as player development affiliates and community entertainment anchors.
What's Included in This Industry
- Professional football, baseball, basketball, and hockey team operations
- Minor league and development team management
- Soccer, lacrosse, and niche sport professional franchises
- Game-day event production and fan experience management
- Player scouting, drafting, and development programs
- Media rights negotiation and broadcast revenue management
- Corporate sponsorship and naming rights sales
- Merchandise licensing and retail operations
- Premium seating and suite sales programs
- Community relations and youth sports outreach
NAICS Classification Hierarchy
| Level | Description | Code |
|---|---|---|
| Sector | Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation | 71 |
| Subsector | Performing Arts, Spectator Sports, and Related Industries | 711 |
| Industry Group | Spectator Sports | 7112 |
| NAICS Industry | Spectator Sports | 71121 |
| National Industry | Sports Teams and Clubs | 711211 |
Related NAICS Codes
| Code | Description | Relationship |
|---|---|---|
| 711212 | Racetracks | Racetracks host competitive events and share the spectator sports audience, but generate revenue through wagering handle rather than team-based gate receipts |
| 711219 | Other Spectator Sports | Other spectator sports including individual competition events share venue types and broadcast distribution channels with team-based franchise leagues |
| 711310 | Promoters of Performing Arts, Sports, and Similar Events with Facilities | Event promoters with facilities own the arenas and stadiums where sports teams play home games under lease or revenue-sharing arrangements |
| 711410 | Agents and Managers for Artists, Athletes, Entertainers, and Other Public Figures | Sports agents represent athletes in contract negotiations with teams, directly affecting roster construction and salary budget allocation |
| 713940 | Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers | Fitness and recreational sports centers develop amateur athletes who enter professional pipelines through college and minor league systems |
| 516120 | Television Broadcasting Stations | Television broadcasters purchase media rights from sports leagues, generating the broadcast revenue that represents the largest income source for many teams |
Geographic Concentration
Top states by share of national establishments.
| # | State | % Est. | Total Est. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | 12.9% | 177 |
| 2 | Florida | 9.8% | 134 |
| 3 | Texas | 6.2% | 85 |
| 4 | Illinois | 4.5% | 62 |
| 5 | New York | 4.5% | 61 |
| 6 | Pennsylvania | 4.2% | 57 |
| 7 | North Carolina | 3.1% | 43 |
| 8 | Virginia | 3.1% | 42 |
| 9 | Georgia | 2.8% | 39 |
| 10 | Michigan | 2.8% | 38 |
% Of Establishments
0%
13%
Source: County Business Patterns, U.S. Census Bureau[3]
SBA Lending Summary
296
Total SBA Loans
$203.8M
Total Loan Volume
$689K
Average Loan Size
12 yrs
Average Loan Term
10.33%
Average Interest Rate
2,480
Jobs Supported
Source: SBA 7(a) Program Data, U.S. Small Business Administration — FY 2025[4]
Key Insight: The SBA size standard[9] for NAICS 711211 is $47 million in average annual receipts, classifying teams below this revenue threshold as small businesses for federal programs. Smaller teams can access SBA 7(a) loans[10] for operational expenses and working capital, while SBA 504 loans[11] support training facility and office real estate. Most major professional franchises exceed the threshold, but many minor league and semiprofessional teams qualify.
Top SBA Lenders
| # | Lender | Loans | Volume | Avg Loan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Regions Bank | 16 | $42.4M | $2.6M |
| 2 | Live Oak Banking Company | 8 | $40.0M | $5.0M |
| 3 | Hanover Community Bank | 8 | $32.0M | $4.0M |
| 4 | Port 51 Lending LLC | 8 | $23.1M | $2.9M |
| 5 | U.S. Bank, National Association | 16 | $11.3M | $709K |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this industry.
What types of businesses fall under NAICS 711211?
NAICS 711211 covers professional and semiprofessional sports teams. This includes NFL, MLB, NBA, NHL, and MLS franchises, minor league baseball and hockey teams, independent league clubs, and semiprofessional teams in various sports.
How is NAICS 711211 different from 711212?
NAICS 711211 covers team-based sports competitions, while 711212 covers racetracks hosting individual or vehicle-based racing events. Teams compete in leagues; racetracks host events, per Census Bureau classifications[12].
What is the SBA size standard for sports teams?
The SBA sets the size standard for NAICS 711211 at $47 million in average annual receipts. Teams below this threshold qualify as small businesses, per the SBA size standards table[9]. Most major league franchises exceed the threshold.
What NAICS codes are related to sports teams?
Related codes include 711212 (racetracks), 711219 (other spectator sports), 711310 (venue operators), 711410 (sports agents), 713940 (fitness centers), and 516120 (broadcasting). Each connects through competition, venue, or media relationships.
What industries are closely related to sports teams?
Closely related industries include arena operations (711310), sports agency (711410), broadcasting (516120), racetracks (711212), and advertising (541810) for sponsorship management.
What activities are included in sports team operations?
Activities include game production, player scouting and development, media rights management, sponsorship sales, merchandise licensing, premium seating programs, and community outreach. The Census Bureau[5] tracks spectator sports revenue.
Can sports teams get SBA loans?
Where are sports teams concentrated in the United States?
Major professional franchises operate in the 30 largest metropolitan areas. Minor league teams extend into smaller markets across the Southeast, Midwest, and Pacific Northwest. Every state except a few hosts at least one professional or semiprofessional team, per Census Bureau County Business Patterns[13].
Sources & References
Government datasets and editorial sources used in this report.
- [1]U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages bls.gov
- [2]U.S. Census Bureau, Economic Census census.gov
- [3]U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns census.gov
- [4]U.S. Small Business Administration, SBA 7(a) Loan Program Data data.sba.gov
- [5]Census Bureau data.census.gov
- [6]Bureau of Labor Statistics bls.gov
- [7]U.S. Census Bureau census.gov
- [8]Small Business Administration sba.gov
- [9]SBA size standard sba.gov
- [10]SBA 7(a) loans sba.gov
- [11]SBA 504 loans sba.gov
- [12]Census Bureau classifications census.gov
- [13]Census Bureau County Business Patterns census.gov
Disclaimer
This publication has been prepared by Fair Market Value (“Fair Market Value”) for informational purposes only. It is provided on an “as-is” and “as available” basis. Fair Market Value makes no representations or warranties, express or implied, regarding the merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, completeness, or accuracy of the data or information contained herein. This publication is not intended to be, and should not be construed as, professional financial, legal, tax, or investment advice. Users should consult with qualified professionals before making any financial or business decisions based on the information presented.
To the extent permitted by law, Fair Market Value disclaims all liability for loss or damage, direct and indirect, suffered or incurred by any person resulting from the use of, or reliance upon, the data in this publication.
Copyright © 2026 Fair Market Value. All rights reserved. All data, information, articles, graphs, and content contained in this publication are copyrighted works and Fair Market Value hereby reserves all rights. No part of this publication may be copied, reproduced, republished, uploaded to a third party, or distributed without the prior written permission of Fair Market Value.