Caribbean Sports Industry: The State of Play

The Caribbean is home to several professional sports leagues spanning football, cricket, and baseball.

Football, baseball and cricket are some of the most popular, not to mention the prominence of the track and field athletes that the region so famously produces.

This talent has resulted in many Caribbean nations being successful at the Olympics despite their relatively small populations.

For example, the Bahamas have won eight gold medals while being home to only 400,000 people. This population—similar to that of the London Borough of Croydon – makes them the world’s leading country gold medals won per capita.

Jamaica, Bermuda, Dominica, Grenada, and Cuba also rank among the world’s top 15 in this list, highlighting the region’s athletic potential—though there is still plenty of room for growth.

Some reports suggest that the region struggles with investment, with each country spending an average of around 0.1% of GDP on sports. In comparison, European nations tend to spend around 0.4%.

Overall, the Caribbean sports market is expected to reach USD$45.85 million in revenue by the end of 2025, growing at a CAGR (Compound Annual Growth Rate) of 2.22%. This means revenue is projected to exceed $50 million by 2029. These figures include revenue streams such as ticketing and equipment sales across the region, whereas club and league sponsorships may not be included.

To put this into perspective, other countries with similar GDP to the Caribbean include Slovakia and Kenya, which have sports market revenues of $96 million and $33 million respectively, placing the Caribbean toward the lower end of the scale.

Across the Caribbean, the most popular sports vary significantly. In Cuba and the Dominican Republic, baseball holds the top spot, whereas countries like Barbados and Dominica prefer cricket.

The Caribbean Premier League, the annual Twenty20 tournament founded in 2013, is the region’s most established cricket league. During its inaugural season, the competition reportedly generated around $105.6 million – boosting the GDP of some Caribbean nations by 0.7%.

Other sports are also growing in popularity. Jamaica, for example, qualified for the Men’s Rugby League World Cup in 2021, despite often needing to raise funds to cover travel to qualifying games.

Football is another sport on the rise, with professional leagues now operating in nations such as Trinidad and Tobago and Haiti. Jamaica is home to one of the most popular—the Jamaican Premier League, which in 2022 targeted around $250 million in revenue, according to Professional Football Jamaica Limited director Donovan White.

In comparison, the league made a net loss in 2021 after aiming to receive $100 million in sponsorships.

The 2023 league champions were Saint Ann’s Mount Pleasant Football Academy. Coached by World Cup goal scorer Theodore Whitmore, Mount Pleasant collaborated with GIS through our Live Lab internship, giving students hands-on experience in coaching and media operations – a partnership described by James Pugh, MSc Performance Analysis student, as “unforgettable.”

If you’re passionate about working in a sports industry with significant growth potential, like that of the Caribbean, GIS courses provide a perfect starting point. To explore our sports-related courses, which include expert teaching and opportunities to attend one of our Live Labs, click here.

Article by Zakaria Anani