The Redtorch agency has unveiled its new SportOnSocial Global Sports Properties report, which uses internet search data to compare the dynamics of sports entities. At the very top of the ranking, The WNBA recorded the biggest growth (+140%), ahead of the FIA World Endurance Championship (+108%) and the Ultimate Tennis Showdown (+106%), an event launched in 2020.
Of the 67 entities listed, 44 are experiencing growth.Roland Garros (+25%), Formula 1 (+21%), the NHL (+12%), and the Tour de France (+7%) are among them. North American competitions stand out in particular, with the WNBA, NWSL, MLS, US Open golf tournament, WWE, US Open tennis tournament, and NCAA leagues all in the top 20. Football is represented five times in the top 15and tennis seven times in the top 25. Conversely, the MotoGP championship saw a 1% decrease and the NBA a 2% decrease. The drop was more severe for the X Games (-14%), the powerful Premier League (-16%), Ligue 1 (-27%), Serie A (-28%) and Formula E (-29%).
Women's teams have made an impressive breakthrough: five of them are in the top 10. For rights holders, Women's sport represents one of the most obvious long-term investment opportunities. in world sport, underlines the report. For Olympic sports federations, Women's competitions are no longer secondary products or in development, but essential drivers of future relevance, participation, and commercial value. Investing in women's journeys, visibility, and storytelling is no longer a choice dictated by values, but a strategic necessity. »
Other lessons are highlighted. The long-term health of a brand depends on systems that outlast individual careers, injuries, or retirements. Olympic sports that base their relevance on star names are subject to high volatility Those that develop broader narrative universes and rivalries are more resilient over time. », Explain the authors.
Otherwise, " Many Olympic sports still depend heavily on key moments such as the World Championships or the Olympic GamesHowever, attention often fades once these events are over. The sports that achieve the best results throughout the year are those that go beyond mere competition, connecting their disciplines to the broader cultures they represent. For international federations, this creates an opportunity to to build stronger and more lasting narrativesto attract people to sport and gradually lead them to become more involved in competition. »
