The sports industry has always enjoyed popularity among millions of people. In the age of free markets, this sector is worth billions of dollars, as it offers limitless potential for businesses. Sports professionals, enthusiasts, coaches, and a stunning number of fans around the globe are seeking the perfect sports app that can fully meet their needs and wishes.
So, it’s high time for companies to get into sports app development, invest in digital products, and benefit from this profitable branch.
If you want to create a successful app for sports and need some inspiration, you’ve come to the right place. We are here to share with you some cool ideas for sports apps, as well as reveal the latest trends in the sports industry so far.
Sports app market overview
If you start a sports business and create dedicated digital products, you’ll most likely have a huge audience. But if we take a closer look at the branch, how big is the sports industry in numbers?
It’s safe to claim that the world is crazy about sports. According to one of the latest Statista surveys, in the US, 70% of the respondents identify themselves as sports fans. When considered globally, other studies show that the football fan base counts over 4 billion fans.
The numbers are huge, yet hardly surprising. Today, it’s easier than ever to be a dedicated fan, particularly following sports events and favorite teams’ performances. As 64% of fans say, people can consume sports content conveniently whenever they want. Indeed, they have access to nearly every sports event on every platform and in any form.
The rise of sports mobile applications has also contributed to the accessibility of sports content. The variety of this kind of app won’t exhaust itself but rather create even more space for new concepts: in 2022, the worldwide sports app market size reached $3.7 billion, and it’s predicted to grow even more, up to $6.5 billion.
So, what can sports apps offer to this huge fan base? How can your business get into the industry? Let’s explore some app ideas for sports you can use to create your unique product.
Amazing sports app development ideas
1. Sports coaching & training apps
A quality sports mobile app can become a great addition to a daily athlete’s training routine and a tool for boosting his or her performance. It can help users track their food choices, sleep patterns, schedule training sessions, or even train online with the coach.
However, you can build this kind of product as a sports team app. In this case, it’s important to create a well thought-out platform for communication between teams and coaches, as well as for tracking the team play results.
Examples: Hudl, TrainingPeaks, CoachUp, Strava, Teamer.
2. Fantasy sports apps
In a fantasy sports app, every user can become a team manager and create a team of real players. Then, he or she can challenge other users. The players gain points based on their performance in real games. This simple idea combined with a wide fan base has turned fantasy sports games into one of the most popular types of sports applications. While some apps combine different kinds of sports, others offer engagement with one certain type.
Examples: CBS Sports Fantasy, Yahoo Fantasy Sports & Daily, Draft Punk, Fan Duel, Underdog Fantasy.
3. Live streaming & live score apps
Live streaming services have gained enormous popularity, especially after lockdowns limited all live meeting options. A high-quality multiplatform live sports app with a chat option can win the hearts of millions of sports fans that can’t or don’t want to leave their comfort place to enjoy the game.
A sports scores app with great search and notification features will definitely be attractive for users who want to know game results and their favorite players’ performance first.
Examples: LiveScore, 365Scores, La Liga, FotMob, Flashscore.
4. Sports betting apps
Betting is one of the things that goes hand in hand with sports, and for a good reason. The combination of favorite matches and gambling can be not only exciting but also profitable. To make outcome calculation easier and more secure, a sports betting app can have an internal currency or allow transactions with cryptocurrencies.
However, it’s important to make sure this business is legal in the locale where you want to launch your app.
Examples: Unibet, Caesars, PointsBet, FanDuel, BetRivers.
5. Sports league management apps
Sports applications can target not only a wide audience of fans but also more specific groups. League management apps are products for athletes and coaches, created as an all-in-one tool to improve communication between team members and coaches, manage training sessions, record team performance, and more. These applications can also be used for amateur or school sports classes.
Examples: Spond, TeamSnap, SportsEngine, BenchApp, SportEasy.
6. Sports inventory & equipment store apps
These apps are very much like classical e-commerce platforms. In apps for selling sports goods, both athletes and sports enthusiasts can find various equipment, clothes, supplements, foods, wearable devices, inventory, merchandise, and so on.
The structure of a shopping sports app is similar to other online shopping platforms and should include catalogs, high-quality product images and descriptions, convenient search, a payment system, and other features.
Examples: Dick’s Sporting Goods, Decathlon, SidelineSwap, Eastbay, Sports Direct.
7. AR/VR sports apps
Sports app developers striving to develop the best sports apps and make them stand out among other products often find inspiration in the latest technology. So, we can find examples of how creatively they apply AR and VR to an app for sports fans.
These technologies help users to immerse themselves into the game right from their homes, buy a ticket for a seat with a perfect view, play an AR/VR sports game, or get training insight.
Examples: Fox Sports VR, Strivr, NextVR, Zeality, VikingsVR.
8. Sports event booking apps
A sports event app is a must-have for efficient and seamless event organization. Users can get access to indoor and outdoor maps, choose a perfect seat on a 3D stadium map, and get a ticket. Not only that, visitors can view fresh event-related info, join a community, and even order food and drinks at the actual event.
From the managers’ point of view, this kind of app can turn into an invaluable tool that can reduce workload, save time and costs, and avoid mistakes in event organization. These apps can also be used for booking sports grounds and facilities for personal games or coaching appointments.
Examples: SeatGeek, Ticketmaster, Spyn, Playo, GW Sports.
9. Ticket sales apps
This app category is quite similar to the apps for sports events. However, a sports tickets app can have more specific functionality that boils down to seeking a better deal for purchasing a ticket.
It can be either a service that gathers sales from other marketplaces or a platform where users can exchange or sell the tickets they don’t need. The developers of this kind of app should put emphasis on security and reliable payment methods.
Examples: Gametime, StubHub, TickPick, Vivid Seats, Razorgator.
10. Sports news & analysis apps
Apps for sports news gather all content that can be interesting for sports fans. From pure information, scores, announcement, and statistics to expert analytics, interviews, podcasts, and live streams – all of that in one dedicated app.
A sports news app can be structured similarly to a regular news source. It may cover different sports like football, baseball, basketball, and tennis, or focus on one sporting discipline exclusively.
Examples: ESPN, Sky Sports, The Athletic, Bleacher Report, theScore.
11. Sports celebrity apps
True sports fans have their favorite players and want to follow them, and learn more about their life and career. Although they can often find this information on social media or in sports news apps, they will also appreciate a dedicated app where celebrities share their stories, and interviews, and keep in touch with their fans.
So, an app for sports celebrities (whether one superstar or many popular players) can also be a successful startup in the sports industry.
Examples: LiveScore, Yahoo Sports, MLB, Sofascore, CBS Sports.
12. Sports games apps
These are apps for sports fans who, besides watching real games and rooting for their favorite players, may want to have a fun time playing a sports game. In this respect, the variety of game types can be as wide as the sports world itself.
But besides the sports types, a game developer can choose from different game genres, from a classical fighting game or real play imitation to fantasy-based contexts. When it comes to animation styles, there’s also some room for creativity.
Examples: FIFA Soccer, Grand Mountain Adventure, Retro Bowl, FIE Swordplay, Golf On Mars.
13. Sports facility booking apps
This kind of sports mobile application can be handy for sports facility owners who want to manage their businesses effectively. For instance, facility visitors can view the schedule, book a visit and pay for it, find a perfect coach, and register for events.
Besides, having a dedicated app can improve the reputation of a stadium, gym, court, swimming pool, rollerdrome, and any other facility, as well as help it build its recognizable brand.
Examples: Playo, KheloMore, Omnify Go, CnES, GoalLine.
14. Neighborhood sports connect
Similarly to facility booking apps, these platforms help people find the nearest sports facilities or locations. With the help of neighborhood sports connect applications, sports enthusiasts can also find sporting events nearby, as well as likeminded people with whom they can visit these events. This kind of sports app certainly should have integrated maps with GPS support and safe payment methods.
Examples: Active Network, NFL, ESPN, NCAA, CBS.
15. Sports quiz apps
A quiz app is another way to drive the attention of sports enthusiasts. By passing a sports test, users can not only entertain themselves but also check their current knowledge and learn more about the world of sports, historical events, and famous players. Gamification elements such as quests, tournaments, and rewards, as well as attractive design, will make your sports app win users’ interest and recognition.
Examples: Football Quiz, Guess The Football Team, American Football Quiz, Sports Fan Quiz, Fan Quiz for NBA.
16. Ski resort apps
Skiing is a sport that always depends on several factors, so it makes sense that sports apps for skiing can be listed separately. They can support skiing fans by informing them about upcoming weather conditions, providing information about the complexity of the routes, and helping them navigate the resort.
So, ski resort apps should definitely have integrated maps, communication options, payment and QR codes, and weather forecast features.
Examples: Ski Tracks, Fatmap, OnTheSnow, SkiLynx, Skitude.
17. eSports apps
In recent years, the popularity of eSports has been growing exponentially. That means, increasingly more fans need convenient streaming platforms where they could watch real-time games and competitions, discuss the game in a live chat, and seamlessly donate to their favorite players. Just like traditional sports streaming apps, eSport platforms should be compatible with various devices.
Examples: Twitch, Strafe, eForce, ESL Play, Esports King.
18. Sports fitness apps
Fitness apps are arguably the most popular sports apps so far. That is so because they are also one of the most universal and accessible products for people of all ages and occupations.
However, they are especially useful for athletes, as they need to keep an eye on their health parameters and physical performance. These apps can be integrated with wearables and have many options to track daily activity, workouts, nutrition, and health indicators.
Examples: Nike Training Club, Strava, Strong, Jetfit, MyFitnessPal.
Latest trends to follow in sports app development
We’ve shown you some sports app development solutions that you can use to create a popular and demanded product. But what’s common in this variety of apps? How to get into the sports industry and become noticeable?
Essentially, it’s important to learn current trends in app development and apply them to your idea. Here are some of them:
- Wearables – Especially when it comes to sports applications for sports activities, it’s crucial to make them compatible with bands, smartwatches, and other wearable devices.
- Social media integration – Sports are very social activities, and users often feel the urge to share their progress with friends and connect with like-minded enthusiasts.
- AI – In the first place, artificial intelligence can assist you in providing a personalized experience to your users.
- AR & VR – Immersive sports experience is a huge benefit for sports fans who often don’t have time and opportunities to visit live events.
- Gamification – Game-like elements help engage users and motivate them to keep exploring the app or stick to their sports activities.
Trends constantly change, so it’s not only about learning how to create a sports app but rather about connecting with your audience and paying attention to their needs and concerns. In this way, you can improve your product and keep it relevant in the long run.
Summing up
If you’ve decided to create a sports app, you are lucky to be in one of the most multifaceted and productive branches of app development. We’ve presented dozens of the most popular sports apps and have shown you a wide selection of more specific fields of the sports business.
Hopefully, you are now inspired and informed enough to start your journey and create your fantastic product.
The Eastern Peak team knows how to develop a sports app that will be among the favorite products of sports fans locally or even worldwide. Contact us to get your first consultation.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you start a sports app?
To create a sports app, you need to go through several stages. First, you choose a preferred development partner (for instance, a sports app development company), explore sports app ideas, and discuss the overall vision of the product.
Then, you need to define the core features you want to include in your app and work on its design. After that, developers create a basic version of the app (an MVP), develop a security system, and ensure its legal compliance. Finally, the app gets tested, further improved, and then launched in the market.
How much does it cost to develop a sports app?
As there is an immense variety of sports app models, the cost of the application depends on the type of the product, its features, the team of developers, and other parameters. You can define the price for the app at the product discovery stage. Along with that, you can plan your resources and work out a plan for building the app.
What are the most popular sports apps?
Currently, the top sports apps are live streaming and betting apps, fitness apps, fantasy sports games, eSports apps, sport news apps, sports eCommerce apps, etc. However, there are also more specific types of sports apps that aim at narrower target groups, for instance, league management apps or ski resort apps.
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