Ranking of the Most Expensive Sports in the World
We play sports as a fun activity to boost our health, relieve stress, and socialize, yet some sports are riskier than others. That’s why they can be super expensive to play with various tools and resources needed.
Sports represent a major sector of the contemporary global economy, and since we enjoy participating in them, it’s not surprising that the activities have grown significantly. In 2023, the revenue of the global sporting equipment market was over 160 billion U.S. dollars.
This shows how much people are now engaging in numerous teams sports like Football, Basketball, and Baseball, as well as individual sports like Tennis and Golf.
While some sports such as running and hiking require minimal equipment, expenses can quickly add up for sports that require more gear and additional costs, so we must look into some of the most expensive sports in the world.
The top most expensive sports in the world ranked
Formula One Racing
The number 1 sport on our list is racing. Formula One is the highest class of international racing for open-wheel single-seater, and is sanctioned by the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile.
Formula One racing involves driving these aforementioned racing cars around a track, and you must complete several laps at speeds more than 200 mph.
You should note that the cost of these cars can reach hundreds of thousands or even millions of US dollars. As a result only corporations are capable of sponsoring these racers, rather than just competing independently.
We can’t ignore the $1000 that companies typically spend on fuel for every car per race, and 22 grand prix are held annually.
Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff told Forbes at the U.S. Grand Prix last month; “Clearly that is a big differentiator today, that big teams can just offer much bigger salaries to drivers” where he stated that formula one drivers get paid heavily.
It is also impossible to overlook the environmental impact of F1 racing, since it generates more than 256,000 tons of carbon dioxide per year, and such emissions must be properly checked.
Sailing
Have you ever felt the wind blowing through your hair while your lips taste of the sea salt? You realize how fantastic sailing is as an outdoor sport, as long as you can afford it.
We must stress this fact since sailing is one of the most expensive sports all over the world, and you can’t do without various equipment like life jackets, grippy shoes and weatherproof sunglasses. We haven’t even mentioned the cost of the boat and the trailer that you need to transport it to the water.
Even when you consider sailing with smaller boats, you should have a minimum amount of $2000 for a used model. Also becoming a member of the sailing club also attracts certain fees, so the sport becomes expensive for many enthusiasts, particularly without owning a boat.
Horse racing
You can engage in many disciplines when it comes to horse racing, such as dressage, show jumping, and eventing. The sport typically involves two or more horses that jockeys ride over certain distances, and sometimes the horses might have no riders.
The competitions identify which of the two or more horses is the fastest and this wins the race. But then you must know that owning and maintaining a horse is a considerable expense, and you must consider factors like land for shelter, costs for feed, winter care, veterinary bills, and shoeing.
Even if you are tempted to lower the cost by renting a horse, you will still be slapped with payments and some of the expenses mentioned above. Horse racing and other equestrian competitions also require you to pay for horse and rider equipment, as well as riding lessons.
Did you know that Horse Racing is one of the oldest sports? Yes, Horse racing has a long and distinguished history and many civilizations have practiced the sport all over the world since ancient times.
As our guest expert Aladár Kollár says, horse racing has been a gambling sport since antiquity. Many civilizations enjoyed horse racing, made bets, discussed horses and possible winners. Some won, some lost. And some have hit the big jackpot. Through the centuries, horse racing has retained its beauty, splendor and excitement.
Today, spectators come not only to watch thoroughbred horses, but also to win some money. By the way, progress does not stand still. Now you can bet not only at the moment of visiting, but also from the comfort of your home, even in another country, for example in Germany, Spain or even Hungary. The latter, by the way, are fond of betting and the excitement associated with them. To see where to bet on sports in Hungary, follow the link and try your luck.
Bobsledding
Bobsleigh or bobsledding is a winter sport that involves teams of 2 to 4 athletes who must make timed runs down twisting, narrow, iced tracks, and their moves are gravity-powered.
Athletes must reach the bottom of the track as fast as possible to become the winner. Bobsleighs can be quite expensive, and the cost can drop your jaws, starting at $30,000, so athletes and their teams often depend on sponsorships from corporations to participate and keep playing.
Tennis
If you are a tennis fan, you must have come across legendary names like Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer, and Novak Djokovic. But then whether you want to become a recreational or professional player, you have some expenses to incur.
For one, becoming a professional Tennis player requires you to hire a coach, get a sponsor, and participate in tournaments, and you can only become a world-class player by understanding the intricacies of the sport.
We should also point out the fact that playing Tennis also requires you to consider the fees associated with renting tennis courts, which can vary from $50 to $100 per hour. Other necessary expenses may include competition entry fees and training, as well as specialized shoes, rackets, and clothing.
According to Coco Gauff, world number 2 on the WTA ranking, who was speaking about how she managed to make her father proud, “He’s said, ‘I never thought in a million years my daughter would play tennis’ because to be honest, in the black community, it’s not a major sport, and it’s super expensive. So I’m really grateful that my dad found a way to put me on this stage and hopefully I can always make him proud,”
Never forget that you can wager on Tennis by acquainting yourself with the best tips to make top gaming decisions.
Pentathlon
A modern pentathlon is an athletic contest that features 5 events such as freestyle swimming, fencing (one-touch épée), equestrian show jumping, pistol shooting, and cross country running.
The extensive requirement of equipment makes Pentathlon one of the most expensive sports. Some of the equipment that participants need include fencing gear, quality running shoes, a rifle, swimwear, a horse, and equestrian clothing.
Each sport event requires its distinct set of equipment. Moreover, there may be extra training costs to master each discipline.
Did you know that Pentathlon originates from Greece, and was an ancient Greek competition? Yes, that’s true! Pente in Greek means 5, while Athlon implies competition.
Hockey
Hockey is another popular sport that involves significant expenses, such as the cost of owning hockey gear, as well as ice rink rentals, and this can amount to $250 per hour. The cost even becomes more significant when you consider coaching fees and weekly training sessions.
Additionally, ice hockey players often sustain injuries, leading to substantial healthcare expenses that push the annual cost of playing hockey into the thousands.
Gymnastics Is More Expensive Than It Looks
Gymnastics requires young athletes to begin training at a very young age to participate in sports like this since athletes in this sport peak during their early Teens until their mid 20s. The cost of hiring a coach and renting or owning a gymnasium can be immense for many people.
The equipment and training used by gymnasts amount to millions of dollars as well. These high expenses are why athletes are sponsored by big corporations and this sponsorship depends on their performances on the world stage like the Olympics.
Conclusion
Even though engaging in sports is an interesting way to have fun, you should understand how expensive your favorite sports can be, since this would help you make informed decisions.
