Football season is just kicking off, and admit it, football is unlike any other sport. Fans are fanatical, crowds are bigger, and everybody has a favorite team. And for all investors out there, no sport offers better investment opportunities.
What can be better? You can watch the big game, and make money at the same time.
The key, as with all investments, is simply to look around you. When you’re watching a game, think about what gets your attention and how it can help you make some money.
First, think about fantasy football. Its popularity has exploded in recent years. According to the Fantasy Sports Trade Association, fantasy sports are growing by 10 percent a year, and more than 15 million Americans now play. Yahoo (YHOO) and ESPN (DIS) both claim more than one million unique visitors to their fantasy websites during the football season. News Corporation (NWS) is also a big player in the fantasy market.
Just like fantasy sports, there is also a lot of money to be made gambling on football. And while trying to pick the winners is certainly a gamble, betting on the casinos is just about a sure bet.
Consider this: More than $100 million was wagered last year, just on the Super Bowl alone. The spreads in each game ensure that the casinos will always win over time. Your best bet: MGM Mirage (MGM) which owns the Bellagio, Mirage, MGM Grand, and other Vegas hot spots. Some others worth betting on include Wynn Resorts (WYNN) and Harrah’s Entertainment (HET).
Of course, when it comes to investing, the goal is always to make money. And while this one won’t make you rich, if you ever get the chance, this investment is worth every penny. Stockholders own the Green Bay Packers. In effect, more than 100,000 fans control the team’s decisions, finances, and management decisions.
Unfortunately, the shares don’t change in value, and there is no dividend, either. Plus, the shares are rarely offered and can only be traded back to the team. So there are lots of obstacles, but if shares ever again go on sale, how cool would it be to tell all your friends, “Yep, I’m an NFL owner.”
The bottom line: The NFL is filled with investment opportunities. Next time you watch a game, ask yourself some questions: (1) What are the fans talking about? (2) What commercials are really effective? (3) Do you notice anything different about the game, and if so, is it something that could make money?
In the USA, no sport is more heavily marketed. Which guarantees that businesses across the world are trying to take advantage of the unmatched and unrivaled audience that tunes in every Sunday.
The corporations are all making money from it. So as the season kicks off, and hopes are high for your favorite team, here is another reason to set your hopes high whether your team wins or loses, you have the power to come out on top.