Sports entertainment is a type ofspectacle which presents an ostensiblycompetitive event using a high level oftheatrical flourish and extravagant presentation, with the purpose ofentertaining anaudience. Unlike typicalsports and games, which are conducted forcompetition,sportsmanship,physical exercise or personalrecreation, the primary product of sports entertainment is performance for an audience's benefit. Commonly, but not in all cases, the outcomes are predetermined; as this is anopen secret, it is not considered to bematch fixing.
The term "sports entertainment" was coined by the formerWorld Wrestling Federation (WWF, now WWE) chairmanVince McMahon during the 1980s as amarketing term to describe the industry ofprofessional wrestling, primarily to potential advertisers,[1] although precursors date back to February 1935, whenToronto Star sports editorLou Marsh described professional wrestling as "sportive entertainment". In 1989, the WWF used the phrase in a case it made to the New Jersey Senate for classifying professional wrestling as "sports entertainment" and thus not subject to regulation like a directlycompetitive sport.
Some sports entertainment events represent variants of actualsports, such as exhibitionbasketball with theHarlem Globetrotters orbaseball with theSavannah Bananas.[2][3] Others modify sport for entertainment purposes: many types of professional wrestling (which derived from traditionalwrestling), and more recently many of the variousmascot races held at numerousMajor League Baseball games in-between innings.[4]Roller derby was presented as a popular form of sports entertainment in the 1970s, though modern versions are legitimate competition.[5]
The term sportainment, a blend of sports and entertainment, has gained popularity in recent years, evolving from earlier concepts of "sports entertainment".[6] Particularly with the global expansion of concepts likeTopgolf, which played a pivotal role in popularizing the model. Topgolf’s approach combines golf with food and beverage service, music, digital scoring, and a casual social atmosphere, attracting a wide demographic beyond traditional sports participants.[7]
Following this success, a growing number of sports-focused entertainment centers have emerged worldwide, especially in the areas of golf and racket sports such as padel, pickleball, and tennis. These venues typically offer a combination of accessible gameplay, hospitality services, and event programming, appealing to both enthusiasts and newcomers. The sportainment model has become increasingly influential in the leisure, real estate, and hospitality sectors, driving new investments and urban development around recreational spaces that prioritize both activity and experience.
Sports entertainment has a stigma of being mindless, low-levelpop culture, in some casesglorifying violence for the sake of entertainment,[8] and has been criticized as such in popular media, often through lampooning.
Forget everything you thought you knew about roller derby. This is not the sports entertainment version that was televised in the '70s and '80s with predetermined winners.
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