Best App Ideas for the Sports Industry in 2025

The sports industry has always enjoyed great popularity, attracting and captivating millions of people around the world. In 2024, the global value of sports broadcasting rights reached a staggering €61.291 billion, reflecting a 12% increase from the previous year’s figures. While numerous sports leagues and their fans are the most visible participants in the sports world, the industry encompasses much more than just games and athletes. It includes coaches, trainers, governing bodies, businesses providing sports facilities, equipment and apparel, broadcasters, ticketing services, event planners, and even school sports teams, the grassroots of sports development. And this list can go on. 

Digital Transformation and the Rise of Sports Software

The sports industry has embraced digital transformation in recent years. Nowadays, more and more technology and digital tools are used to improve how things work and make sports more exciting, efficient, and accessible for everyone involved. It means more innovative devices, wearable tech, equipment, and software, including sports industry apps. The sports software market targeting both fans and professionals is actively expanding as sports professionals, enthusiasts, coaches, and a growing number of fans around the globe are seeking the perfect solutions that can fully meet their needs and wishes. 

Sports industry software can be broadly categorized into the one targeting fans and the one targeting anyone involved in the sports ecosystem, including athletes, coaches, fitness lovers, organizations, facility managers, and even retailers.  While some sports apps like live streaming, real-time news, or social networking for sports fans seem quite common and widely adopted, there are countless other opportunities to create something different or even totally unique. The potential is literally limitless. 

In this blog post, we will share different categories of sports industry apps along with the most prominent examples that you can use as inspiration.

Sports news 

For sports fans and enthusiasts, it is critical to keep up with the latest news about their favorite sports activities, teams, and athletes. And it’s really exhausting to constantly review many sources to avoid missing important updates. Creating a mobile app or a web platform that gathers all content that can be interesting for sports fans from different sources is among the best sports app ideas. Such apps can cover everything from pure information, scores, player stats, announcements, and breaking news to expert analytics, video highlights, interviews, podcasts, and live streams. Such apps may gather information for sports like football, baseball, basketball, and tennis or focus exclusively on one sporting discipline. But including various sports helps cover a larger audience.

A sports news app can be structured similarly to a regular news source with appealing icons and images. It can offer updates on the status of upcoming games, push notifications for live scores and breaking news, and the option for users to customize their news feeds so as not to miss the updates they find most interesting.

theScore is one of the most popular sports news apps, trusted by millions of fans worldwide. It provides real-time scores, news, stats, and videos for various sports, including football, basketball, soccer, hockey, baseball, golf, tennis, MMA, and more. The app covers major leagues and competitions, including the NFL Football, NCAA Football, NBA Basketball, NCAA Basketball, WNBA Basketball, MLB Baseball, NHL Hockey, English Premier League Soccer, La Liga Soccer, Champions League Soccer, PGA Golf, and every major league and competition much more making it one of the best sports news app. This app offers users a personalized feed to get updates about their favorite team, player, and tournament. It features real-time updates into the matches with the live score, detailed box scores, live player data, multimedia, and news. It also has an in-built chat and messaging feature to allow different fans to talk about the tournament, player, team, and more.

Other popular examples are ESPN, CBS Sports, LiveScore, 365Scores, Sky Sports, FotMob and Flashscore. 

Live streaming 

Broadcasting has been a part of the sports industry for a long time. Once, sports games were broadcast on the radio, and later on, they were broadcast on television. However, with the rise of digital technology, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic with travel and mass gatherings restrictions, live streaming services gained unprecedented popularity. While live streaming can be a part of sports news platforms, some solutions rely entirely on live streaming. 

Popular live streaming apps don’t just come with features like high-quality live streaming —they also offer features like channel search and filters, match scheduling, personalized notifications, video recording, on-demand replays, and Chromecast support.  They give users complete access to their favorite sports, leagues, and teams, offering real-time training sessions, live games, and engaging video blogs. Many of them also incorporate a live chat feature. It enables fans to interact with athletes and other viewers in real time, thus attracting more users.  Creating a high-quality live sports streaming app could be a game-changer for businesses. Such apps can attract millions of fans who prefer to enjoy games from the comfort of their homes.

DAZN is a global sports entertainment platform offering an all-in-one experience for fans to watch, engage, and connect. It allows users to stream live and on-demand sports events across various devices. DAZN provides access to an extensive portfolio of broadcasting rights, including top leagues like UEFA Champions League, NFL, and women’s football competitions, as well as combat sports like boxing and MMA. Coverage also extends to niche sports such as snooker and lacrosse. With quality streaming, replays, and exclusive access to major events, DAZN has become the go-to platform for fight enthusiasts and sports fans. Additionally, the app enables fan engagement through live chats, reactions, polls, and more.

Other examples of streaming platforms are ESPN+, FuboTV, HULU, and Peacock TV.

Sports betting 

Betting has always been closely associated with sports as it adds an extra level of excitement and engagement. Betting allows people not only to watch their favorite game but also receive profit from it, which increases their interest in sports significantly. Sports betting apps have become a highly popular idea in the sports industry. However, it's crucial to ensure that your business complies with legal regulations in the region where you plan to launch your app. Analyzing the most popular betting models in your target countries is also essential for success. These models define how betting works on the platform, what types of wagers are available, and how odds are calculated or displayed. 

Today's users expect advanced, feature-rich sports betting apps. These apps can incorporate internal currencies or support cryptocurrency transactions to simplify calculations and enhance security. Key features include multiple betting formats, live odds, secure payment methods, account management tools, and in-app tutorials to help beginners get started.

DraftKings Sportsbook is one of the most popular betting apps in the US, offering a safe and secure platform to bet on a wide range of sports, including NFL and NBA. Right now, this app is available in multiple states across the US and allows users to join for free and bet on their favorite teams and outcomes. The app has a user-friendly interface, quick account setup, and customer service access through live chat or email. Users can place live bets, parlays, prop bets, moneylines, and more, with options for in-game betting and cross-sport parlays. Users can participate in betting pools, which allow them to compete with small groups of friends across the USA. DraftKings also offers a welcome bonus package totaling up to $1,250 for new users. 

Other popular examples are BetMGM, Caesars, FanDuel, and BetRivers.

Fantasy sports

While traditional betting relies on chance, some fans seek a different kind of pleasure and source of profit. They are looking for solutions where they can use their analytical skills and extensive knowledge of their favorite sport. Fantasy sports cater to users in need of such software. In simple terms, fantasy sports are games based on sports statistics. These apps allow sports fans to build virtual teams in their preferred game (football, baseball, basketball, etc.), compete based on the statistical performance of real players in actual matches, and enjoy the thrill of being a "virtual manager."  It means managing these teams like real managers or coaches: users can select promising athletes, participate in drafts, monitor the results during the season, and make adjustments to the team. 

The rise of digital platforms has made fantasy sports more accessible and convenient, fueling its popularity. They make fans feel more connected to the games as they actively manage teams, make strategic decisions, and track players' real-world performance.  The main features of such apps are league creation and participation, real-time player statistics and timely updates, and reward systems for users. 

ESPN Fantasy Games is a robust, full-featured platform for fantasy sports, offering free-to-play leagues for football, basketball (men's and women's), baseball, hockey, and prediction games for major sporting events. It has an easy-to-use interface and plenty of customization options. Users can create or join leagues, draft teams, manage lineups, make trades, access expert rankings and projections, and compete against friends or other players worldwide. Features include live scoring, customizable team logos, and in-app chat for league-mates communication. 

Other popular examples in the category are CBS Sports Fantasy, NFL Fantasy Football, Yahoo Fantasy Sports, Sleeper Fantasy, and Underdog Fantasy.

Sports ticket booking 

Gone are those days when sports fans had to queue to book stadium tickets for their favorite games. Now, with online booking of sports tickets, they can buy tickets for sports events any time of the day, from any location. Such apps are among the highly growing and popular app ideas for the sports industry. You can get inspiration from a sports ticket booking app and create all-in-one sports ticket booking apps for upcoming sports.

Sports ticket apps should provide complete 3D maps of the stadium or other sports facilities and allow users to view the seats available for booking. The app should help users find a suitable seat depending on the price. Your app should also have a notification feature to notify users in advance of any upcoming sporting events. Adding unique features like loyalty rewards, exclusive content, and price increase/decrease alerts can help you stand out. Security and reliable payment methods are also among priorities that should be taken into account.

StubHub is the largest marketplace for booking online tickets for various sports.  It covers events across multiple categories, including NFL, MLB, concerts, and more. It allows users to buy tickets from the day they go on sale up until the day of the event. Key features include the FanProtect Guarantee for secure purchases and refunds for canceled events.  If plans have changed, users can easily sell their tickets right from the app. Users can list tickets for sale, track their orders, and use mobile tickets to enter the event without the need for printing.

Other popular examples are Gametime, TickPick, MLB Ballpark, Seat Geek and Vivid Seats. 

Sports facilities booking 

Booking apps are highly popular not only for professional sports games tickets but also for managing sports facilities like basketball courts, gyms, roller tracks, tennis centers, swimming pools, football fields, or anything else. Through them, users can check availability with real-time updates, book time slots, and make payments directly through the app. They may contain descriptions of the facility, reviews and ratings from other visitors, additional information provided by the facility, possibilities and options for instructors and coaches' appointments, etc.

For managers, such apps are also valuable tools that reduce workload, save time and costs, and prevent mistakes in event organization. Besides, the availability of a dedicated app can boost the reputation of any facility, like a stadium, gym, or pool, and help build its brand. Such apps are getting extremely popular nowadays. 

PlayFinder (formerly MyLocalPitch) allows users to find and book local sports facilities across the UK and Ireland. It covers 22 different sports, including football, tennis, basketball, rugby, and more. The app enables users to search for facilities, compare prices, and make secure in-app payments. With over 9,000 sports venues available, users can also save favorite locations, manage bookings, and access information such as parking, opening hours, and facilities. The app focuses on accessibility and ease of booking. 

Some other examples in this category are Sporty, CourtReserve, and KheloMore.

Sports Equipment and Inventory 

With the rise of e-commerce platforms, online shopping has become a regular and widely accepted way for people to shop. Athletes and sports enthusiasts also search online to buy sports equipment, nutrition, clothing, supplements, foods, wearable devices, inventory, merchandise, etc. According to Straits Research, the global sports equipment market is projected to grow from $341 billion in 2022 to $611.27 billion by 2031. It makes it a great idea to create a dedicated e-commerce sports app that can sell anything athletes may need online, from yoga mats and running shoes to basketball jerseys and cycling gear.

While most sports equipment and apparel apps come from well-established, big brands, creating an aggregator sports app, an app offering used equipment, or discounted sports gear through flash sales, could be a great idea. Like other e-commerce platforms, a sports shopping app should include catalogs, high-quality product images and descriptions, convenient search and filter options, product catalogs, a payment gateway, a shopping cart, reviews, etc. You can also attract more customers by offering personalized offers, discounts, and same-day delivery to nearby locations.

SidelineSwap is a fantastic example of a sports equipment and apparel app that doesn’t come from big brands. It serves as a marketplace for buying and selling both new and used sports equipment, ranging from hockey skates and golf clubs to lacrosse sticks and baseball gloves. The app aggregates listings from various individual sellers, allowing users to browse products from different brands and sellers in one place. On SidelineSwap, users not only discover a vast collection of high-quality new and used sports gear but also connect with athletes who know about gear and love their sport.

Some other notable examples in the category are SportPursuit and ProDirect Sports.

Sports League Management 

Sports league management software helps sports club managers and league planners organize, schedule, and oversee sports events such as games, league tournaments, and seasonal sports. It integrates with tools like calendars, payment gateways, and email systems, enabling coaches, team managers, and organizers to schedule games, coordinate tournaments, register players, communicate with members, and even manage fundraising, membership, or registration fees. Advanced platforms may include website-building capabilities and venue management features. Many solutions offer tailored features for youth teams, adult leagues, or specific sports, and they can also support amateur or school sports programs.

This type of software reduces administrative burden by automating many of the time-consuming tasks required for managing a sports league. They help organizers manage players, sponsors, and volunteers, match statistics, and coordinate logistics and communications through a single system. In addition to all this, sports league management tools improve the experience for players by creating a more structured and engaging environment.  So, this sports industry app idea can offer plenty of opportunities for realization.

SportsEngine is a sports team management app designed to simplify the organization of teams, whether little league, club sports, or amateur teams. It offers a range of features for coaches, athletes, parents, and families, allowing them to stay connected and manage schedules more easily. Coaches can create and manage team rosters, schedule games, and communicate with athletes and families via team chat. They can view and update team schedules, share event details, and track player availability. Parents and athletes can stay updated with team chats, RSVP for events, and get notifications for schedule changes. Teams can share photos and updates directly through the app. 

Other examples in the category are TeamSnap, LeagueApps, and SportEasy.

eSports or CyberSport

With the rise of competitive gaming, eSports apps are becoming a major segment of the sports industry. In simple terms, eSport is almost the same as the World Cup or the Olympic Games, where participants compete in teams or individually in different disciplines. However, these disciplines are not athletics or football but various computer games, such as Fortnite, Counter-Strike, Pubg, etc. 

Esports is similar to traditional sports in the necessary difficult path to mastery. Anyone can be an amateur. However, years of practice and serious self-discipline (including motivation to achieve the goal) are needed to get from a hobby to professionalism. Only the best e-sportsmen can do what Messi, Federer, or Crosby can do in their sports. eSport tournaments are very well organized today. Various competitions are held in popular disciplines, including world championships, in which e-sportsmen worldwide participate. It includes not only direct participants, i.e.gamers, but also attracts a lot of viewers. It means that an increasing number of fans need convenient streaming platforms to watch the games and have the opportunity to share their opinions with others, discuss the results, and donate to players. Like traditional sports streaming apps, eSport platforms are another great idea for developing sports apps.

Strafe eSports is designed to provide a comprehensive esports experience. It offers live scores, real-time statistics, and news for major esports titles like CS:GO, League of Legends, and Dota 2. Users can personalize their feeds by following their favorite teams, players, and tournaments. The app includes a prediction game, Strafe Score, where users can predict match winners, earn points, and climb leaderboards. It also features a community aspect with account customization, badges, and rankings based on eSports knowledge. Additional features include match notifications, video highlights, and curated articles from popular eSports sites.

Examples: Liquipedia, ESL Esports, Twitch 

Performance monitoring and coaching

Performance monitoring and coaching software is designed to assist coaches, athletes, and sports teams to optimize training, improve performance, and manage various aspects of coaching and player development. It can support both remote and in-person coaching and different sports like soccer, basketball, tennis, etc.  Sports coaches use it to organize training processes, schedule coaching sessions remotely, track athletes' schedules and eating habits, use predesigned or create customized training modules. They can also use it to monitor athletes through video clips to identify areas for improvement.  

The demand for such software is steadily increasing, attracting both amateurs and professional coaches and athletes. Video analytics with slow-motion replays, annotations, and side-by-side comparisons to analyze techniques and identify areas for improvement are among key features of such apps. Advanced software can also include injury prevention features that track athletes' fatigue, recovery time, and physical load to minimize injury risks. The possibility to tailor training and practice sessions to each athlete’s specific needs can offer a more personal and effective experience.

For instance, Hudl is an app designed for sports teams and athletes to analyze and study game footage. Coaches can watch team games, practices, and opponent videos, break down data, and capture/upload new video. They can also analyze clips with detailed breakdowns and stats. Athletes can review their performance, view highlights, and share top plays with friends. The app aims to improve performance and strategy through video analysis for both coaches and athletes.

Other examples in the category are VisualEyes, CoachUp, Catapult Vector, Dartfish, Nacsport and Spiideo.

Fitness and training apps 

Fitness apps are among the most popular sports apps today. Their appeal lies in the fact that they intended for a very wide audience. They are universal and useful for people of all ages and occupations looking to lead healthier lifestyles. It is especially useful for fitness lovers who lack access to real mentors or facilities for different reasons. However, they are also very useful for individual athletes and professional teams, as they need to monitor their health parameters and physical performance. Such solutions are usually linked to fitness bracelets and smartwatches. They can track daily activity and workouts, calculate steps, and analyze nutrition and health indicators such as heart rate and sleep quality. For professional athletes, they can also help track metrics like speed, endurance, and skill improvement. 

So, there can be many ideas for creating such sports industry apps. They usually include a workout tracker, video guidelines, a nutrition calendar, calorie counters, and stats. Moreover, you can create special dieting features for such an application, useful for planning a daily menu and tracking calories burned. In one of our previous blogs, How Much Does It Cost To Build A Fitness App, we discussed different types of fitness apps and the costs associated with their development.

Strava is a fitness-tracking app that combines activity logging with social networking. It allows users to record over 30 sport types, including running, cycling, and hiking while providing tools to discover routes, track progress, and improve training through data insights and AI-driven features. Strava fosters a community where users can connect, cheer each other on, and participate in challenges to stay motivated. The app syncs with popular devices (e.g., Apple Watch, Garmin) and offers safety features like real-time location sharing. Strava is available in both free and premium subscription versions, with the latter offering advanced features like detailed analytics and personalized insights. Suitable for beginners and professionals alike, it’s a hub for celebrating movement and staying accountable.

Other notable examples are TrainingPeaks, MyFitnessPal, Fitbit, and Nike Training Club.

Sport Marketing

Marketing is indispensable for any industry, and the sports industry is not an exception. Sports marketing is required to build a strong brand presence, connect with fans, and increase the visibility of teams, leagues, and individual athletes. Successful marketing drives ticket sales, merchandise purchases, sponsorships, and media deals. Essentially, it results in increased profitability and brand value. Whether managing a high school athletic program or a professional team, investing in quality marketing platforms is a game-changer.

Sports organizations use various software tools to improve their marketing strategies and increase fan interaction. These include fan engagement tools, event management software, sponsorship management systems, and analytics tools. Some tools, like Canva for designing visuals and CRM platforms such as Salesforce and HubSpot for personalized marketing, are general and work across industries. However, there are many opportunities to create solutions specifically tailored for the sports industry.

For instance, Gipper is a great example of a design platform specifically tailored for schools, athletic programs, and similar organizations. It helps them create professional, branded graphics and videos for social media, newsletters, and other promotional purposes without requiring design experience.  Schools can create eye-catching graphics for upcoming games, schedules, and team announcements to build excitement on social media. After games, they can share final scores, game highlights, or milestone achievements using pre-designed templates. They can also create posts to spotlight athletes' performances or achievements, building morale and engagement within the community. The platform offers an extensive library with over 3,500 professionally designed templates tailored for various needs and offers social media integration to post directly or schedule content. It's similar to Canva but specialized in sports and educational institutions.

There are not so many apps focused on sports marketing, but as some more examples in this category we can name include Socialie and Fanbase.

Sports quiz 

A sports quiz app is a great way to grab the attention of sports fans. Sports fans often use these apps because they offer engaging quizzes. They offer robust animations for quiz events, audio commentary for such events, an awesome gaming experience, and more. By taking a sports quiz, users can have fun, test their knowledge, and learn more about sports, history, and famous players. Gamification elements such as quests, tournaments, rewards, and great design will help your sports app capture users' interest and stand out.

Currently, no standout or highly unique sports quiz apps exist in the market. Current offerings lack innovative features or a fresh approach, so there are many gaps in the market for a more unique or advanced sports quiz experience. So you create a sports quiz app with advanced features like Heads Up 1v1 (a competitive quiz game mode where two players challenge each other), a Single Player Game (where users can play alone), and customizable quizzes (allowing users to tailor the quiz to their preferences), it could help your app stand out and gain significant popularity or market share.

The Football Quiz app offers a fun and engaging way to test your football knowledge. With trivia questions about major football events like the Champions League, World Cup, Euro Cup, Premier League, and more, it challenges players to answer questions on various football topics, including fun facts and player histories. It is available in 14 languages and offers hints and options to skip questions if users get stuck. It's designed for quick, enjoyable quizzes with a chance to learn new facts, making it an essential app for football enthusiasts.

Some other examples are Guess The Football Team, NFL Quiz, Sports Fan Quiz, and NBA Fan Quiz.

Conclusion

To wrap it up, the sports industry offers tons of opportunities to create software for fans, athletes, coaches, and teams. They all need innovative solutions to watch games, follow athletes, get news, enjoy expert insights, bet and much more. To succeed, focus on your audience’s needs, they may be niche and unique, but this way you will be able to create a software that really stands out. If you're thinking about developing a custom sports app, reach out to us at ScrumLaunch — we're here to help make your idea a reality.