84% of Pro Sports Teams Hit by Cyberattacks as AI Drives New Risks — Darktrace Limited

Event summary

84% of professional sports organizations experienced at least one cyber incident in the past 12 months, with 57% hit multiple times.
72% of security professionals believe AI will increase cyber risk over the next year as adoption grows in critical operations.
Darktrace customers in sports received nearly 20% more phishing emails than other industries, with 116,000 detected over six months.
Average cyber incident cost was $169,000, with cumulative annual costs reaching up to $1.7 million for frequently attacked teams.
35% of organizations are deploying or plan to deploy AI in stadium operations within the next year.

The big picture

The professional sports industry is facing heightened cyber risks as digital transformation accelerates. With AI adoption creating both offensive and defensive capabilities, security teams must balance innovation with vulnerability management. The financial and reputational stakes are particularly high for organizations hosting global events like the FIFA World Cup, where operational disruptions can have immediate public consequences.

What we're watching

AI Security Gaps: How the rapid adoption of AI in stadium operations and other critical functions will create new vulnerabilities.
Phishing Evolution: Whether AI-driven phishing attacks will continue to outpace detection capabilities in high-profile sectors.
Regulatory Scrutiny: The pace at which governments will impose stricter cybersecurity requirements for major sporting events.