Deeply rooted in Australian culture, sport is widely accepted as a weekend activity that drives equality in health and productivity. Many people don’t view sport as a business – but on a global scale it’s a trillion-dollar (AUD) industry: and it has high stakes in gender equality.
CSBS Prof. Tim Harcourt joined 2SER Think Business Futures host Anthony Dockrill to discuss the economics of women’s sport and how it plays into gender equality in Australia and across the globe.
When Tim reported on a Matildas home game in 2015, it was a big deal to have 15,000 people in a stadium to watch a women’s game. Fast forward to 2023 where we’ve seen crowds of over 80,000 fill Australian stadiums and record-braking TV viewership, all to watch women’s football – and this wasn’t just the convenience of location. Over the years we’ve seen an increase in investment - and in turn an increase in skill level in women’s sport - with the Matildas squad looking more likely to win a world-cup than the Socceroos. It’s the quality of the athletes that filled the stadiums, with women’s sport something people want to watch – from soccer, to the NRL and AFL.
Join Tim as he explores the future for women’s sport. Discussing the path forward for Australian sporting codes and the growing areas for sport investment.
Listen to the full interview here
Professor Tim Harcourt is Chief Economist at the UTS Centre for Sport, Business & Society (CSBS) and host of Footynomics – The Economics of Sport. He specialises in Australia’s economic engagement with the Global Economy particularly Asia, Latin America and Emerging Markets. Tim has worked in both public policy and research roles in International Trade, Labour Markets, Climate Innovation and the Economics of Sport.
Do you want to study Sports Management at UTS? Find out more at Why Sports Management.