"Sports photos from Mars" is the second most expensive photographic genre I can think of. Second only to shooting wildlife. You are talking mid four digit budget.
The thing the makes it so expensive is the needs for long and fast lenses.
Concets in small clubs/bars are better because you can get close but you still are going to need a fast lens.
What camera body you hang off the back of the lens falls under "details" and almost any of them will do but in general people who can afford those expensive lenses typically can also afford an expensive body so that is what they buy.
You can save a LOT of money be getting close. Shoot ameture leagues. The adult soccor games will let you stand on the sidelines.
I have season tickets 11 off the glass to a minor minor league hockey team. And I'm too busy watching to photograph it.
Pucks in the head are bad for your health.
When I had NFL season tickets, I think I was closer to the ice rink next door than the field.
I'm not trying to be a real photographer, just one that can get non-blurry pictures of stuff once in a while. So, the mid 4-digits are out, I'll leave the real photography to the experts.
Good info. I didn't know the lenses were the big part of the action. I appreciate your response as well as the other ones. I have some subjects that I'd put myself as a real expert. Then there are those like this one, where you'll be lucky if I can find the "on" button for the camera.