Sports industry leaders "expect the sector’s growth rates to slow down" from 8% to 6.4% per year, according to ISPORTCONNECT. While football "appears to be too big to fail" and esports is seen as a "key growth area," respondents view the Olympics as having a "less certain future." More than two-thirds of respondents "believe virtual reality is here to stay and will enhance the sports viewing experience." These are some of the key results of the '17 edition of PwC’s Sports Survey. Survey respondents across the board "still expect the sports industry to continue to grow." However, they "foresee this growth to slow down" by over 20%. PwC Switzerland Sports Business Advisory Team Dir David Dellea said that "the results of the survey confirm that the sports industry is reaching a decisive inflection point, where sustained growth will be the privilege of a few premium properties." While most of those answering the survey "expect football to continue dominating the global sports market," esports ranked as the second-highest format in terms of forecast growth potential. The Olympic Games and winter sports, on the other hand, are "showing signs of slipping." This is also evidenced by their "apparent decline in TV ratings," especially among the younger population. More generally, 57% of respondents consider the shift in consumer behavior among younger generations as the "top threat faced by the industry" (ISPORTCONNECT, 9/27).
