Industry Statistics and Trends
Market size and recent performance (2015-2030)
Industry revenue has grown at a CAGR of 4.2 % over the past five years, to reach an estimated $2.4bn in 2025.
Trends and Insights
Attendance is at an all-time high, driven by sports recovery and women’s sport boom
- Sports and recreation venues across Australia are experiencing surging demand, with 2024 marking a historic high for attendance. According to Two Circles' 2024 Sports Attendance Review, over 26.2 million fans attended professional sporting events in 2024, a 9.0% increase from 2023. Australian Football League (AFL) and National Rugby League (NRL) matches led the charge, with 8.4 million and 4.8 million fans, respectively, filling stadiums nationwide. This growth reflects both improved scheduling and rising consumer confidence in live events.
- Additional trends and insights available with purchase
Source: IBISWorld
Industry outlook (2025-2030)
Market size is projected to grow over the next five years.
Trends and Insights
Tasmania’s AFL expansion hinges on its Macquarie Point stadium development
- In late May 2025, the Tasmanian Government released enabling legislation drafted to underpin the Macquarie Point Urban Renewal Project, opening a three-week public consultation period until 16 June. This legislation fast-tracks planning approvals, land acquisition and infrastructure works essential for the new 23,000-seat waterfront stadium at Hobart’s Macquarie Point.
Biggest companies in the Sports and Recreation Facilities Operation in Australia
| Company | Market Share (%)
2025 | Revenue ($m)
2025 |
|---|---|---|
Venues NSW | 335.0 | |
VenuesWest | 201.6 | |
Melbourne Cricket Club | 201.4 |
To view the market share and analysis for all 8 top companies in this industry, view purchase options.
Products & Services Segmentation
Source: IBISWorld
Industry revenue is measured across several distinct product and services lines, including Oval ground operation, Tennis court operation and Rectangular field operation. Oval ground operation is the largest segment of the Sports and Recreation Facilities Operation in Australia.
Trends and Insights
Record crowd numbers across the country have supported oval grounds’ expanding revenue share
- The oval ground operations segment, encompassing venues primarily used for Australian Football League (AFL) and cricket matches, has experienced a notable increase in revenue share over recent years. In particular, the AFL achieved record-breaking attendance figures in the 2024 season, with 8,243,908 fans attending 215 events, averaging 38,344 spectators per game. The momentum continued into 2025, with the opening round setting a new attendance record of 431,505 fans across nine games, averaging nearly 50,000 per match.
- More insights available in the full report
Table of Contents
About this industry
Industry definition
The Sports and Recreation Facilities Operation industry in Australia includes businesses that manage and operate venues for both professional and amateur sporting events, as well as recreational activities. This encompasses stadiums, arenas, swimming pools, racecourses and sports centres. Operators may own or lease facilities and often provide associated services like event management, seating, lighting, catering and maintenance to support sporting and entertainment functions.
What's included in this industry?
Products and services covered in the Sports and Recreation Facilities Operation industry in Australia include Oval ground operation , Rectangular field operation, Golf course operation, Indoor facility operation, Tennis court operation, Motor racing track and speedway operation and Lawn bowl green operation.Companies
Companies covered in the Sports and Recreation Facilities Operation industry in Australia include Venues NSW, VenuesWest and Melbourne Cricket Club.Purchase this report to view all 8 major companies in this industry.
Related Terms
Related terms covered in the Sports and Recreation Facilities Operation industry in Australia include australian football league (afl) , national rugby league (nrl) and international cricket council (icc).Industry Code
ANZSIC 9113 - Sports and Recreation Facilities Operation in Australia
Performance
Get an indication of the industry's health through historical, current and forward-looking trends in the performance indicators that make or break businesses.
Analyst insights
Despite revenue losses during the pandemic, the industry has rebounded impressively, with crowd attendance at all-time highs. Government assistance remains central for facili...
In this chapter (4)
- Current Performance
- Outlook
- Volatility
- Life Cycle
Key metrics
- Annual Revenue, Recent Growth, Forecast, Revenue Volatility
- Number of Employees, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Employee
- Number of Businesses, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Business
- Total Profit, Profit Margin, Profit per Business
Charts
- Revenue, including historical (2015-2024) and forecast (2025-2030)
- Employees, including historical (2015-2024) and forecast (2025-2030)
- Businesses, including historical (2015-2024) and forecast (2025-2030)
- Profit, including historical (2015-2025)
- Industry Volatility vs. Revenue Growth
- Industry Life Cycle
Detailed analysis
- Trends in supply, demand and current events that are driving current industry performance
- Expected trends, economic factors and ongoing events that drive the industry's outlook
- Key success factors for businesses to overcome volatility
- How contribution to GDP, industry saturation, innovation, consolidation, and technology and systems influence the industry's life cycle phase.
Products and Markets
Learn about an industry's products and services, markets and trends in international trade.
Analyst insight
The sports spectator market has grown as record crowds have flocked to sporting events. This has eaten into the market share of other segments, like sport participants.
In this chapter
- Products & Services
- Major Markets
Key metrics
- Largest market segment and value in 2025
- Product innovation level
Charts
- Products & services segmentation in 2025
- Major market segmentation in 2025
Detailed analysis
- Trends impacting the recent performance of the industry's various segments
- Innovations in the industry's product or service offering, specialization or delivery method
- Key factors that successful businesses consider in their offerings
- Buying segments and key trends influencing demand for industry products and services
Geographic Breakdown
Discover where business activity is most concentrated in an industry and the factors driving these trends to find opportunities and conduct regional benchmarking.
Analyst insights
Sports and recreation facilities are typically distributed across Australia in line with population density. The strong sports culture and multiculturalism in New South Wales...
In this chapter (1)
- Business Locations
Charts
- Share of revenue, establishment, wages and employment in each region
- Share of population compared to establishments in each region in 2025
Tables
- Number and share of establishments in each region in 2025
- Number and share of revenue each region accounts for in 2025
- Number and share of wages each region accounts for in 2025
- Number and share of employees in each region in 2025
Detailed analysis
- Geographic spread of the industry across Asia Pacific, and trends associated with changes in the business landscape
- Key success factors for businesses to use location to their advantage
Competitive Forces
Get data and insights on what's driving competition in an industry and the challenges industry operators and new entrants may face, with analysis built around Porter's Five Forces framework.
Analyst insights
Market share concentration has risen on the back of increasing consolidation. State government-owned stadiums in New South Wales and Queensland have consolidated operations t...
In this chapter (4)
- Concentration
- Barriers to Entry
- Substitutes
- Buyer & Supplier Analysis
Key metrics
- Industry concentration level
- Industry competition level and trend
- Barriers to entry level and trend
- Substitutes level and trend
- Buyer power level and trend
- Supplier power level and trend
Charts
- Market share concentration among the top 4 suppliers from 2020-2025
- Supply chain including upstream supplying industries and downstream buying industries, flow chart
Detailed analysis
- Factors impacting the industry’s level of concentration, such as business distribution, new entrants, or merger and acquisition activity.
- Key success factors for businesses to manage the competitive environment of the industry.
- Challenges that potential industry entrants face such as legal, start-up costs, differentiation, labor/capital intensity and capital expenses.
- Key success factors for potential entrants to overcome barriers to entry.
- Competitive threats from potential substitutes for the industry’s own products and services.
- Key success factors for how successful businesses can compete with substitutes.
- Advantages that buyers have to keep favorable purchasing conditions.
- Advantages that suppliers have to maintain favorable selling conditions.
- Key success factors for how businesses can navigate buyer and supplier power.
Companies
Learn about the performance of the top companies in the industry.
Analyst insights
The MCC has tried a strategic change to boost membership revenue. In 2024-25, the MCC promoted 10,000 of its low-tier members, aiming to boost crowd capacities and revenue ea...
In this chapter
- Market Share Concentration
- Companies
- Company Spotlights
Charts
- Industry market share by company in 2021 through 2025
- Major companies in the industry, including market share, revenue, profit and profit margin in 2025
- Overview of Venues NSW's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2019 through 2025
- Overview of VenuesWest's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2019 through 2025
- Overview of Melbourne Cricket Club's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2019 through 2025
- Overview of revenue, market share and profit margin trend for 5 additional companies
Detailed analysis
- Description and key data for Venues NSW, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
- Description and key data for VenuesWest, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
- Description and key data for Melbourne Cricket Club, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
- Description, key data and performance trends for 5 additional companies
External Environment
Understand the demographic, economic and regulatory factors that shape how businesses in an industry perform.
Analyst insights
Increased spending on recreation and culture reflects Australians’ growing appetite for leisure activities, which drives higher attendance at sporting venues and recreation ce...
In this chapter
- External Drivers
- Regulation & Policy
- Assistance
Key metrics
- Regulation & policy level and trend
- Assistance level and trend
Charts
- Regulation & Policy historical data and forecast (2015-2030)
- Assistance historical data and forecast (2015-2030)
Detailed analysis
- Demographic and macroeconomic factors influencing the industry, including Regulation & Policy and Assistance
- Major types of regulations, regulatory bodies, industry standards or specific regulations impacting requirements for industry operators
- Key governmental and non-governmental groups or policies that may provide some relief for industry operators.
Financial Benchmarks
View average costs for industry operators and compare financial data against an industry's financial benchmarks over time.
Analyst insights
High inflation has caused a rise in costs for key purchases. While growing revenue has offset some of the impacts of cost increase since 2021-22, purchase costs’ share of rev...
In this chapter
- Cost Structure
- Financial Ratios
- Key Ratios
Key metrics
- Profit margin, and how it compares to the sector-wide margin
- Average wages, and how it compares to the sector-wide average wage
- Largest cost component as a percentage of revenue
- Industry average ratios for days' receivables, industry coverage and debt-to-net-worth ratio
Charts
- Average industry operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2025
- Average sector operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2025
- Investment vs. share of economy
Data tables
- Cash Flow & Debt Service Ratios (2015-2030)
- Revenue per Employee (2015-2030)
- Revenue per Enterprise (2015-2030)
- Employees per Establishment (2015-2030)
- Employees per Enterprise (2015-2030)
- Average Wage (2015-2030)
- Wages/Revenue (2015-2030)
- Establishments per Enterprise (2015-2030)
- IVA/Revenue (2015-2030)
- Imports/Demand (2015-2030)
- Exports/Revenue (2015-2030)
Detailed analysis
- Trends in the cost component for industry operators and their impact on industry costs and profitability
Key Statistics
Industry Data
Data Tables
Including values and annual change:
- Revenue (2015-2030)
- IVA (2015-2030)
- Establishments (2015-2030)
- Enterprises (2015-2030)
- Employment (2015-2030)
- Exports (2015-2030)
- Imports (2015-2030)
- Wages (2015-2030)
Top Questions Answered
Unlock comprehensive answers and precise data upon purchase. View purchase options.
What is the market size of the Sports and Recreation Facilities Operation industry in Australia in 2025?
The market size of the Sports and Recreation Facilities Operation industry in Australia is $2.4bn in 2025.
How many businesses are there in the Sports and Recreation Facilities Operation industry in Australia in 2025?
There are 1,537 businesses in the Sports and Recreation Facilities Operation industry in Australia, which has grown at a CAGR of 1.7 % between 2020 and 2025.
How may import tariffs affect the Sports and Recreation Facilities Operation industry in Australia?
The Sports and Recreation Facilities Operation industry in Australia is unlikely to be materially impacted by import tariffs with imports accounting for a low share of industry revenue.
How may export tariffs affect the Sports and Recreation Facilities Operation industry in Australia?
The Sports and Recreation Facilities Operation industry in Australia is unlikely to be materially impacted by export tariffs with exports accounting for a low share of industry revenue.
Has the Sports and Recreation Facilities Operation industry in Australia grown or declined over the past 5 years?
The market size of the Sports and Recreation Facilities Operation industry in Australia has been growing at a CAGR of 4.2 % between 2020 and 2025.
What is the forecast growth of the Sports and Recreation Facilities Operation industry in Australia over the next 5 years?
Over the next five years, the Sports and Recreation Facilities Operation industry in Australia is expected to grow.
What are the biggest companies in the Sports and Recreation Facilities Operation industry in Australia?
The biggest companies operating in the Sports and Recreation Facilities Operation industry in Australia are Venues NSW, VenuesWest and Melbourne Cricket Club
What does the Sports and Recreation Facilities Operation industry in Australia include?
Oval ground operation and Rectangular field operation are part of the Sports and Recreation Facilities Operation industry in Australia.
Which companies have the highest market share in the Sports and Recreation Facilities Operation industry in Australia?
The company holding the most market share in the Sports and Recreation Facilities Operation industry in Australia is Venues NSW.
How competitive is the Sports and Recreation Facilities Operation industry in Australia?
The level of competition is moderate and increasing in the Sports and Recreation Facilities Operation industry in Australia.
Methodology
How are IBISWorld reports created?
IBISWorld has been a leading provider of trusted industry research for over 50 years to the most successful companies worldwide. With offices in Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany and China, we are proud to have local teams of analysts that conduct research, data analysis and forecasting to produce data-driven industry reports.
Our analysts start with official, verified and publicly available sources of data to build the most accurate picture of each industry. Analysts then leverage their expertise and knowledge of the local markets to synthesize trends into digestible content for IBISWorld readers. Finally, each report is reviewed by one of IBISWorld’s editors, who provide quality assurance to ensure accuracy and readability.
IBISWorld relies on human-verified data and human-written analysis to compile each standard industry report. We do not use generative AI tools to write insights, although members can choose to leverage AI-based tools within the platform to generate additional analysis formats.
What data sources do IBISWorld analysts use?
Each industry report incorporates data and research from government databases, industry-specific sources, industry contacts, and our own proprietary database of statistics and analysis to provide balanced, independent and accurate insights.
Key data sources in Australia include:
- Australian Bureau of Statistics
- Australian Taxation Office
- Australian Securities & Investments Commission
Analysts also use industry specific sources to complement catch-all sources, although their perspective may focus on a particular organization or representative body, rather than a clear overview of all industry operations. However, when balanced against other perspectives, industry-specific sources provide insights into industry trends.
These sources include:
- Industry and trade associations
- Industry federations or regulators
- Major industry players annual or quarterly filings
Finally, IBISWorld’s global data scientists maintain a proprietary database of macroeconomic and demand drivers, which our analysts use to help inform industry data and trends. They also maintain a database of statistics and analysis on thousands of industries, which has been built over our more than 50-year history and offers comprehensive insights into long-term trends.
How does IBISWorld forecast its data?
IBISWorld’s analysts and data scientists use the sources above to create forecasts for our proprietary datasets and industry statistics. Depending on the dataset, they may use regression analysis, multivariate analysis, time-series analysis or exponential smoothing techniques to project future data for the industry or driver. Additionally, analysts will leverage their local knowledge of industry operating and regulatory conditions to impart their best judgment on the forecast model.
IBISWorld prides itself on being a trusted, independent source of data, with over 50 years of experience building and maintaining rich datasets and forecasting tools. We are proud to be the keystone source of industry information for thousands of companies across the world.
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