FORBES magazine has just released its latest annual list of the 400 Richest Americans. On this list, 22 are representatives of the Sports Industry. It appears that the addition of a new stadium, ballpark, or arena will increase their net worth by at least $500 million. A Regional Sports Network (RSN) will also bring in additional revenue for the organization (Ex. YES Network-NY Yankees).

The only deceptive part of the net worth calculations for the “Sports Owners” is that many of their organizations are saddled with debt. We also have two of the most popular leagues (NFL, NBA) potentially locking-out its players in 2011. In addition, many teams have cut the prices of their tickets and some were even subjected to blackouts due to not selling out home games.

The TSR staff is speculating with this statement, but we believe it is the natural tendency of Sports-Industry employment candidates to seek opportunities at the professional sports teams first. There is nothing wrong with looking to these organizations. We would advise all to look “beyond” these entities and utilize a broader approach.

There are countless opportunities available to work in sports. This includes but is not limited to the Regional Sports Networks (RSNs), Concessionaires, Sports Marketing/Management companies, and even Technology companies. The competition for placement with these organizations is about the same as that for the pro-sports teams. However, the candidate will receive a broader employment experience. This is because most of these companies do not operate exclusively within the U.S. or the Sports Industry.

 A few examples include:

StubHub (www.stubhub.com)- – Summer Internship

Ellerbe Becket (www.ellerbebecket.com) – Interior Designer

Legends Hospitality Management (www.legendshm.com ) – IT Manager

Comcast SportsNet Philadelphia (www.csnphilly.com) – Marketing Internship

To college students: The best time to look for summer internships is during the fall semester. Most organizations accept applications in the fall, conduct interviews in the spring, then make decisions for the summer placement. With the current state of the U.S. economy, it may be difficult to find “paid” opportunities. Do not let this discourage you. Remember, your goal is to get the necessary experience to move you ahead of other candidates when applying for permanent positions upon graduation.