By MICA Ahmedabad, renowned for its focus on the management of the creative industry, has announced a significant addition to its curriculum by introducing a specialization in sports business. The move comes amidst the rapid transformations in the sports sector, with emerging trends such as virtual reality experiences, esports, and digital streaming reshaping the landscape of sports consumption and monetization.
Dr. Shailendra Raj Mehta, President and Director of MICA, emphasized the importance of staying ahead of the curve in the rapidly evolving Indian sports ecosystem. He stated, “The transformation of the Indian sports ecosystem is happening rapidly… MICA’s move to reorient our specialization will ensure our students stay ahead of the curve.”
This strategic shift involves renaming one of the most prominent areas of the curriculum from ‘Media and Entertainment Management’ to ‘Media Entertainment and Sports’. Dr. Githa Heggde, Dean of MICA, elaborated on this transition, highlighting the institute’s commitment to adapt to industry trends. She remarked, “As the sports sector continues to evolve… we go a step forward by integrating sports and experiential business as the core of the department.”
The newly introduced specialization will offer courses in sports business, gaming, and e-Sports, aiming to equip students with a comprehensive understanding of sports business models and a diverse skill set. According to Professor Santosh Kumar Patra, Head of Media Entertainment and Sports Management, this move is driven by the growing importance of sports in the experiential business segment.
In line with this initiative, students will have the opportunity to delve into various dimensions of sports business, including monetization, franchising, and club management. They will also benefit from workshops conducted by industry experts, such as the recent session on ‘Sports Marketing’ led by Mr. Vinit Karnik, Head of Sports, ESports, and Entertainment at GroupM.
Dr. Bhaskar Das, Mentor of MESM area and governing council member of MICA, emphasized the immense potential of the sports and entertainment industry, projecting it to reach Rs 3 trillion in business in the coming years. He underscored the importance of acquiring the necessary knowledge and skill set to navigate this rapidly growing sector in India.
In the past year, MICA’s Centre for Media Entertainment and Sports (CMES) has undertaken case studies on IPL valuation and annual sports, along with publishing reports on e-sports and gaming. This reflects the institute’s commitment to providing relevant insights and research in the dynamic field of sports business.
With the introduction of the sports business specialization, MICA Ahmedabad aims to prepare its students to become proficient managers, financiers, and marketers capable of driving innovation and growth in the burgeoning sports industry landscape.
