When millions of people watch the U.S. Open, their attention is naturally on the players.

But putting on one of the world's biggest tennis tournaments requires an enormous team working behind the scenes.

From operations and hospitality to marketing, media, partnerships, technology and player services, major sporting events create career opportunities that have little to do with hitting a tennis ball.

That's an important lesson for anyone who wants to work in sports:

You don't have to be an athlete to have a career at the highest level of the game.

What Does It Take to Run the U.S. Open?

Think about everything that happens during a major tournament.

Players need support.

Fans need tickets, information and hospitality.

Sponsors need activation.

Media organizations need access and content.

Facilities need to operate smoothly.

Digital platforms need to keep fans connected.

Behind all of it are sports professionals.

Career paths surrounding events like the U.S. Open can include:

• Event operations

• Sports marketing

• Corporate partnerships

• Hospitality

• Player services

• Media and communications

• Broadcasting

• Technology

• Ticketing

• Fan engagement

• Facility operations

A major sporting event is not simply a competition.

It is a massive sports business operation.

Sports Marketing Turns a Tournament Into an Experience

Today's biggest sporting events compete for attention far beyond the court.

Social media, sponsorship activations, branded experiences, merchandise and digital content all help turn a tournament into something fans want to experience throughout the day.

That requires professionals who understand both sports and consumers.

Sports marketers have to answer questions like:

How do we attract new fans?

How do we keep them engaged?

How can sponsors become part of the experience?

How do we turn a two-week tournament into a global brand?

Those are valuable skills across virtually every sport.

Broadcasting Brings the U.S. Open to the World

Only a fraction of U.S. Open fans will ever sit inside Arthur Ashe Stadium.

Everyone else experiences the tournament through television, streaming, social media, radio and digital content.

That creates opportunities for broadcasters, producers, reporters, camera operators, editors, researchers and content professionals.

SMWW's Sports Broadcasting training is designed to help aspiring sports media professionals develop the skills needed to communicate stories and connect audiences with the action.

Explore SMWW Sports Broadcasting

Sports Careers Go Beyond the Team

One of the biggest misconceptions about working in sports is that you have to work directly for a professional team.

Events like the U.S. Open show how much larger the industry really is.

Leagues, tournaments, venues, sponsors, media companies, agencies and governing bodies all need talented people.

That means someone interested in building a sports career should look beyond the scoreboard.

Look at the business operating around it.

Turn Your Passion for Sports Into a Career

The next time you watch a major sporting event, pay attention to everything surrounding the competition.

Every sponsor.

Every broadcast.

Every social post.

Every fan experience.

Every hospitality area.

Every smoothly operated part of the venue.

Someone has a job making each of those things happen.

Sports Management Worldwide offers specialized online education designed to help aspiring professionals develop the knowledge and skills needed to pursue careers throughout the sports industry.

Don't just watch the event. Learn how the business behind it works.