Sports Management in India is already a multi-billion dollar industry and with the ever-increasing corporate investment, media rights, international athletes and the number of leagues running, there is a need for efficient Sports Management Companies and sports management professionals to ensure the smooth functioning of the sports industry in India.
We have compiled a list of some of the biggest sports management companies in India. Kindly note that the order of mention does not define the companies’ rankings.
1. IMG-Reliance
India’s one of the largest companies Reliance Industries collaborated with IMG in a joint venture to promote and develop sports, entertainment and fashion in India. This joint venture offers a tremendous opportunity for IMG and Reliance to leverage each other’s strengths and accelerates the growth of the IMG and Reliance brands in India. Using their combined brands, resources, experience, and operational expertise they have successfully created a formidable business platform.
IMG, originally, International Management Group, is a global sports, other events and talent management company based in New York City.
IMG and Reliance announced their joint venture in 2010 to develop, market and manage sports and entertainment in India.
Their service includes Consulting, Licensing, Events, Talent Representation & Management and Sponsorship Management.
Note: IMG Reliance rebranded as RISE Worldwide in January 2021.
The RISE Worldwide portfolio includes sports and sponsorship consulting, fashion and sustainability platform building, athlete talent management, licensing, broadcast production, lifestyle and entertainment
2. Sporty Solutionz
Sporty Solutionz Pvt. Ltd. (SSPL) is one of India’s most respected full-service sports marketing companies with a capacity for innovation that is helping to transform the industry. These innovations have enhanced every area of sports marketing including the distribution of sports rights, host broadcast, digital media, programme production, event operations, brand development, sponsorship and online entertainment.
Sporty Solutionz, based in Noida (Delhi NCR), has around 100 employees in 10 offices across six countries, including the US, Singapore, Pakistan, UAE, Bangladesh and India.
SSPL successfully delivered its first own property in 2013 – a six-city-based franchise league in badminton – the Indian Badminton League (IBL). It went on to become the second biggest sports brand in India, next only to the Indian Premier League (IPL).
Their services include Media Rights, Intellectual Property Creation, TV Production, Sponsorship, Sales, Marketing, Content Sales, Sports Event Management, Talent Representation and Consultancy.
3. Baseline Ventures
Baseline Ventures was founded in 2014. It is one of the leading companies in sports, events, entertainment and licensing with offices in Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru and Singapore.
Baseline Ventures is funded by a US-based corporate venture fund.
Pro Volleyball, the professional Volleyball League of India is co-owned by Baseline and Volleyball Federation of India (VFI).
Services: Talent Management, Event Management, Global Brand Partnerships and Sponsorships, Licensing, Negotiating and Distributing Media Rights.
4. Rhiti Sports
Established in 2007, Rhiti Sports provides access to a world of opportunity, with one overriding common purpose: To create value for stakeholders. As a fully integrated sports marketing & management company, they open a window to an unparalleled global network of industry experts, media distribution organizations, rights holders, athletes, events, original content, experiential zones, movie production, live entertainment and brands for our clients.
They also started a new venture – Rhiti Charitable Foundation in the year 2010, with the idea of giving an opportunity to young athletes from cities with limited exposure to sports facilities.
They lend their expertise to a wide range of services such as sports consultancy, conceptualization, athlete representation, sports asset management & marketing, event management, media rights distribution, sponsorship, live entertainment and original content production services.
5. Procam International
Procam International was founded in 1988 by Anil Singh and Vivek B. Singh. Procam International aims to elevate and enliven the professional face of sports and players. With an open, transparent culture founded on an unshakeable core of integrity, Procam offers turnkey solutions for the wide spectrum of services required to successfully conduct premium sporting events. Procam International has pioneered crafting sporting events in India, boasting massive participation of supreme calibre in 50 events held worldwide.
Procam International organizes various sports events across the globe.
Their flagship event – Tata Mumbai Marathon is the largest marathon in Asia and India’s richest race. In 2020, more than 50000 people participated in the run!
They also conduct marathons in other parts of India like Delhi, Bengaluru and Kolkata. Along with this, they have also expanded into organizing leagues and events of different sports like Cricket, Tennis, Squash, Horseracing and PI Powerboat.
Also read: 15 Careers in Sports Management 2020
6. JSW Sports
JSW Sports is the sports arm of the JSW Group, a $14 billion conglomerate with a global presence across India, the USA, South America, Europe & Africa. It was established in 2012 with the aim to play a leading role in creating a sporting culture in India by maximizing the potential of Indian sports and athletes.
They own popular Indian sports franchise Bengaluru FC in Indian Super League, Haryana Steelers in Pro Kabaddi League and jointly own Delhi Capitals in Indian Premier League in partnership with GMR Sports Pvt. Ltd.
JSW Sports run its flagship program called Sports for Excellence (SEP) which currently supports 49 athletes across four disciplines. The SEP provides financial support to these athletes, while also providing opportunities to train under world-class coaches at Olympic training facilities.
7. Sportz Village
Sportz Village Xp, formerly known as SportzConsult is a Mumbai-based Sports Management Company founded in 2003.
The company operates through two business divisions, EduSports for the schools business and SportzConsult for the corporate’s business. EduSports focuses on a delivery-centric sports instruction model at K-12 schools. This business currently covers 350,000+ children across 500+ schools in India.
Through its SportzConsult business, SportzVillage leverages its network across the sports ecosystem and its execution capabilities to provide services to corporate & government clients. Their prime focus is on Grassroot Development and Sports Marketing.
Over the last 8 years, they have delivered more than 500 sports events in 100+ cities, creating opportunities to play for more than 1 million people every year.
8. IOS Sports and Entertainment
Founded in 2005, Infinity Optimal Solutions Pvt. Ltd. (IOS) is one of India’s leading Sports and Entertainment companies dedicated to building and managing world-renowned talent, content and infrastructure. The company is headquartered in New Delhi and Mumbai. Infinity Optimal Solution has a highly experienced, skilled and professional team, united and motivated by their passion for sports and entertainment.
They are a one-stop agency for the development and management of a diverse portfolio of sports and entertainment properties. Their services include Sports Events and Operations, Sports Marketing, Client Servicing and In-Film branding.
9. Sportz Interactive
Sportz Interactive is one of India’s leading sports digital solutions companies. It is the first sports-focused content and technology solutions company in Asia. It was founded in 2002 with a vision to “revolutionize the sports fan experience across consumption points by creating best-in-class products.” Today, with a team of more than 400, the company covers more than 40 sports worldwide with an in-depth focus on cricket, football and many other global sports.
They have worked with several major sports brands like FIFA, Bundesliga, STAR Sports, Pro Kabaddi, Indian Super League, FOX Sports Asia, ESPN Cricinfo, Procam International, The International Cricket Council, Yahoo!, PUMA, The Times of India, NDTV, Fairfax Australia, and European Professional Club Rugby amongst several other marquee sports properties.
Their work includes Data Analytics, Data Visualization, Gaming & Social Media Innovations, Web & Mobile products, Content Management and Video Solutions.
10. ITW Consulting
ITW Consulting Private Limited features among one of the top leading consulting and sports management companies in India.
ITW specializes in crafting and executing multi-faceted brand management solutions & celebrity management across a vast number of areas – Sports, Entertainment and Media.
With a global presence and in-depth understanding of the International Sports and Media market, they help clients build stronger brand visibility, media buying, awareness and recall a wider target audience. Having worked with a diverse range of brands, ITW has expertise in sponsorship management, sponsorship activation and event management, which has earned them an esteemed reputation in the field of sports management and marketing.
They provide services like Sports Investment Consulting, Franchise & League Development, Licensing Advisory, Rights Acquisition & Sales, Athlete Management and Hospitality Management.
11. SportzLive
Sportzlive is a company based out of Delhi, primarily focussed on investing and creating Sports IPR’s in the Indian Sub Continent Market. Their enduring belief is that the Indian market is ready for a sports ecosystem, which will support the creation of these properties, eventually enhancing the quality of that specific sport played in the region.
SportzLive owns the rights for Cue Slam, a global professional league incorporating pool and snooker in an exciting new format. SportzLive also holds the exclusive license rights for the Premier Badminton League in India, amongst the highest prize money tournament in the world and the rights of Volleyball leagues in India. Its other portfolio includes regional sports leagues, sports academies, talent management and other emerging products and ideas.
12. Frontfoot Sports
Frontfoot Sports is a sports management company based out of India. It was started in Sep 2009 and today, Frontfoot have operations in 5 major cities across India i.e. Bangalore, Delhi, Hyderabad, Mumbai and Pune.
They offer a complete sports solution for the Corporate. They organize both Inter and Intra Corporate tournaments across India. Frontfoot’s area of expertise is diverse, offering companies an opportunity to build strong businesses by aligning their brand values of sports, also providing wide range of sportswear, equipment and other sporting goods to the corporate houses.
They have organized 500+ Tournaments with 1,00,000+ participants and have had 600+ clients across India.
13. Percept Limited
Founded in 1984, Percept Limited, an entertainment, media and communications company, is at an enviable leadership position today, with a team of over 400 people and 32 offices in India and the Middle East and capitalized billings of INR 9.35 billion (FY’18).
Percept Sport, the Strategic Business Unit of Percept Sports & Entertainment, is India’s primary Sports Marketing and Management agency. Founded in 1995, Percept Sport has managed a wide array of sports events & properties across the globe including Cricket, Football, Soccer, Tennis, Boxing, Wrestling, Baseball, Cycling and Golf to emerge as India’s leading Sports Marketing & Management agency. Key services offered by Percept Sport encompass sponsorship management, athlete management, licensing & merchandising, sports consultancy, and the management & execution of sport-based events. Over the past 16 years Percept Sport has created and marketed a multitude of innovative 360-degree sporting events and experiences to brands and consumers alike.
Percept operates in 3 core business domains:
1. Marketing Communication Services
2. Assets – Filmed Content & Non-Filmed Intellectual Content
3. Digital – – Intellectual Properties in the Digital Media and Mobile Value-Added Services
14. GMR Sports Pvt Ltd
GMR Sports Pvt. Ltd is a sub-division of the global brand GMR Group. GMR Sports was initiated in 2008 as a part of GMR Group with the belief that sports provide a connection with the community at large. Cricket is one of the most celebrated sports in the nation, and to be associated with it was their first venture in the sports world.
GMR Sports co-owns the Indian Premier League franchise Delhi Capitals in partnership with JSW Sports. After being the sole owner of the team for 10 years, they decided to partner with JSW to take reach greater heights.
They also own the Uttar Pradesh (UP) franchise of the Pro-Kabaddi league – UP Yoddha.
15. Cornerstone
Established in 2008, Cornerstone is one of India’s leading talent management agencies in the sports and entertainment sphere. They work with brands to deliver unique and varied solutions ranging from celebrity associations, sponsorships, IP development and affiliations as well as brand activations.
CSE Consulting LLP is a sister concern to Cornerstone, a full-service licensing and new-media marketing agency focused on the sports and entertainment arena.
They manage and look after the commercial interest of talents like Virat Kohli, Sunil Chettri, Vinesh Phogat, Harmanpreet Kaur, KL Rahul and many more.
Their services include Talent Management, Licensing & Merchandising, Digital Solutions, Sponsorships and Intellectual Property.
16. Gameplan Sports Pvt. Ltd.
Set up in 1998, Gameplan Sports Pvt. Ltd. Is one of India’s foremost corporate branding agencies, working primarily in the fields of sports and literature. They seek to present innovative and cost-effective ideas that give sponsors maximum exposure.
Less than a year after its birth, during the 1999 ICC World Cup, Gameplan made its presence felt in media circles by bringing some of the biggest names in the sport to the drawing rooms of readers in the subcontinent, West Asia and Great Britain through syndicated columns.
Several corporate houses gained immense mileage by getting their logos positioned prominently within these columns and therefore into the sports pages of many of the most widely-circulated publications in the country.
Their activities include marketing and management of international and domestic sponsorship rights in India; marketing and management of Indian and international cricket tournaments, player endorsements, syndicating content in print and electronic media, in-stadia advertising, 3-D signs, event management – in more than just sport – event promotions, hospitality and Insignia memorabilia.
17. DNA
DNA Entertainment Networks Private Limited is India’s leading event management company.
They are credited with managing large-format sports properties like IPL, Pro Kabbadi, ISL amongst others. Over a period of time, they have also expanded the company operations into Corporate and other special events.
18. PMG: Professional Management Group
Realizing the growing popularity of cricket and other sports in the country and understanding the potential for brands in it, PMG came into inception in 1985.
Started by the legendary cricketer Sunil Gavaskar and advertising professional Sumedh Shah, PMG has over the years developed and innovated in diverse fields in the industry helping clients successfully leverage the world of sports to promote corporate and marketing objectives. In India, PMG has been a frontrunner in successfully establishing the synergy between sports, business and communication in various media, with several firsts to its credit.
Services:-
- Athlete Management
- Sponsorship and Consulting
- Media and Content
- Event Management
- Sports PR
19. TCM: Twenty-First Century Media
It is one of India’s biggest and premier Sports Marketing & Management, company Twenty First Century Media Pvt. Ltd. (TCM), which was founded by sports journalist and entrepreneur Lokesh Sharma in 1993.
Since then TCM has worked with world cricket for over two decades and managed the sponsorship of over 1000 cricket matches globally including Cricket World Cups, Asia Cups, IPL and International matches in India, West Indies, South Africa, Australia, UAE and England.
Besides cricket, TCM has been involved in various other sports including Hockey, Football, Badminton, Kabaddi, and Golf and also managed Indian and international Sporting talents.
TCM has also provided expertise in areas of Sports Consultancy, In-Stadia advertising, Talent management, Content Creation, Sponsorship Acquisition and Management, Event Management, Advertising Sales, Ideation, Hospitality Management, Branding and Dressing of Venues.
20. Games Unlimited
Established in 2006 and headquartered in Bangalore, Gaames Group of Companies is now one of the largest Sports Management organizations in India It started as a Talent Management Agency. However, over the years the company emerged with a differentiated approach, an unerring emphasis on fostering relationships and an unmatched personal touch, they stand today as India’s most diversified sporting conglomerate with an array of business verticals and a plethora of satisfied clients.
From managing India’s largest pool of cricketing stars to running bespoke sporting academies, providing strategic consulting services to promoters, sponsors, administrators and sporting franchise owners to running licensing programs for the world’s most coveted sporting properties, Games Unlimited has expertise over various verticals in sports business.
21. Mashal Sports
Mashal Sports is the organizing company of the Pro Kabaddi League. It was founded in 1994 by Anand Mahindra and Charu Sharma with a vision to make kabaddi more available to the Indian audience. Their path-breaking initiative was backed by international broadcasting giant STAR India.
After extensive research and market study, they launched the inaugural edition of Pro Kabaddi with the player auctions on 20th May 2014. The games were brought to home audiences live on the STAR India Network of which Mashal Sports is now an integral part.
22. RN Sports Marketing
Rishi Narain Sports Marketing (RNSM) is a sports marketing and management company.
RNSM organizes India Golf Expo (South Asia’s largest gathering for the golf industry), publishes Golf Digest India (the Indian edition of the world’s most widely-read golf monthly), and organizes professional, amateur and corporate golf tournaments across India, the rest of Asia, Europe and the USA. Over the years, they have raised and managed an estimated $70 million in sponsorships.
23. Dream Sports Group
If you are a cricket lover, there is no chance you do not know Dream 11. They are the pioneers of fantasy sports in India and today it is one of the biggest sports companies in India. Dream 11 crossed the 4,000cr revenue mark in the financial year that ended in March 2022. The homegrown giant has now expanded into streaming via Fan Code, Travel experiences via DreamSetGo.
Dream Group’s venture capital arm – Dream Capital is focused on empowering the Indian sports startup ecosystem with necessary investments which is a positive step for the Indian sports ecosystem.
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