Sport & Leisure: 2023's Top Trends

The sport and leisure industry in the UK is a rapidly growing sector, with a wide range of innovations and altering consumer behaviours shaping the way businesses operate and consumers engage with the industry.

Here's four themes to keep an eye on...

E-sports on the rise
One of the biggest trends in the industry is the growing popularity of e-sports. Specifically, the competitive video gaming events are drawing large crowds and generating significant revenue.

The UK has a strong e-sports scene, with many professional teams and organisations, as well as a number of major e-sports events and tournaments.

Health and wellness comes first
Another trend that is impacting the sport and leisure industry in the UK is the rise of health and wellness.

Consumers are increasingly focused on living healthy lifestyles, and this is leading to a greater demand for fitness and wellness services and products.

This includes everything from gym memberships and personal training services, to health supplements, nutrition and wearable technology.

Sustainability is key
Sustainability is an increasingly important issue for the industry, with many businesses looking for ways to reduce their environmental impact and promote sustainable practices. This may in the form of reducing energy consumption, switching to renewable energy sources, and promoting recycling and waste reduction.

Technology that’s out of this world
Businesses are investing in innovative tools and platforms to engage with customers and digitise their service offering.

We now see some great augmented reality experiences when in shops, as well as virtual reality transforming how brands engage with online users.

As an example, Nike has launched Nikeland, seeing over 21 million visitors in the metaverse.


It’s fair to say the sport and leisure industry is an exciting and rapidly changing field to be in, with many new trends and shifts in perception shaping the way businesses are run, and how consumers are engaging with brands.

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