So what is a “Super Accelerator”? We define Super Accelerators as Sports IP Owners that outperformed the market when it comes to revenue growth in the last decade. On average, the Top 500 has grown +4.5% CAGR since 2014, whilst the Super Accelerators on average have grown +10% L10Y CAGR. And what links and underpins all of these 182 Sports IP Owners; they have all outpaced the other Sports IP Owners on the Two Circles Audience Attention Index. 100% have grown their audiences faster than the market. Across every audience metric that we’ve aggregated from awareness to engagement, these Sports IP Owners beat their competition by up to 10%. Audience growth has proven to be a critical lead indicator of revenue growth.
From the smallest to the largest Sports IP Owners, there are learnings to be taken for those who seek to outperform the market and grow their audiences and revenues at a faster rate in the next decade.
Whilst all of our Top 20 are Super Accelerators, there are also interesting insights to be taken from the rest of the Top 500; Formula E for example ranks top in terms of revenue growth in the last decade as it positions itself as the sustainable format of motor racing, fuelled by innovative technology and an urban-centric approach which combine to give a strong sense of identity and commercial value. Interestingly, the International Ski & Snowboard Federation, having combined in 2021 to become one unified federation, is also in the top 5 Super Accelerators. With Cortina 2026 around the corner, capatalising on the interest in these sports will be critical for underpinning future growth. And finally, World Lacrosse is a great example of building on Olympic momentum, evolving its sporting format to 6s to create a stronger media proposition, and this year, building off the hugely successful PLL, the women's lacrosse league launched. Knowing that invasion sports are the highest revenue generating sport type, lacrosse is well positioned to continue growing; its seems most likely this will come from international fanbase expansion and making the most of the LA28 platform – one to keep an eye on for the next decade.
Super Accelerator CAGR in the last decade, vs 4.5% CAGR for the total market
Super Accelerator average audience growth vs the market
Every Super Accelerator grew their owned and operated audience faster than the market
Below we’ve chosen to spotlight some of the best growth stories from the last decade; learnings from the NFL as it strives to be the ultimate blend of sport and entertainment, KC Current and their purpose built women’s football stadium designed with their fans in mind as well as 2 Sports IP Owners that have in different ways innovated around their fans demand with the ECB's The Hundred franchises recently being valued for a collective $1B and College Football Playoff set to become the fastest IP Owner to generate $1B in annual revenue as a result of organizing itself around the fans rather than the structure of the property.
Hear from the some of the IP Owners growing revenues best and how they plan to stay ahead for the next decade.
“It’s a real honour to be recognised as the leading ‘super accelerator’ in global sport over the past decade and is a powerful validation of Formula E’s long-term vision. In just ten years, we’ve grown our fanbase and our revenues at a rapid rate, a trajectory that reflects not only the global rise of electric mobility and sustainability, but the strength of our sporting proposition and the engagement of our fans worldwide. Formula E’s global audience has grown to almost half a billion cumulatively, with double-digit year-on-year growth in key territories, proving that there is a growing appetite for progressive, purposeful and exciting sport. Our continued focus on innovation, urban racing, and meaningful partnerships has allowed us to build a unique platform that resonates with the next generation of fans, brands, and media outlets. We believe the future of sport lies in combining elite performance with purpose, and Formula E is proud to be setting the pace for what that future looks like.”
Lead with purpose, not just product; carve out a clear identity and a defined point of difference, which also echoes and mirrors macro trends.
Formula E tops the Super Accelerator leaderboard, having grown from less than $5 million in revenue in 2014 to over $230 million by 2024.
So how did it achieve this? By creating a distinct point of difference within the motorsport landscape. While traditional racing focused on legacy and horsepower, Formula E built its identity around sustainability, innovation, and future-facing values.
The initial foundations were rooted in electric mobility and environmental leadership, but the real exponential growth came from its bold approach to entertainment and fan engagement. From city-center street races and music-infused race days to fan-controlled elements like “Attack Mode” and “FanBoost,” Formula E reimagined what motorsport could look and feel like — and audiences responded.
In a world where attention is currency, Formula E’s ability to blend purpose with spectacle has made it one of the most dynamic sports properties of the past decade.