Fan Engagement
Features
Japan’s modernising domestic leagues brace for pandemic setback
The Covid-19 pandemic has stalled a modernisation of Japanese sport with a lot of domestic teams falling back on private backers and corporations to see them through the crisis. Kevin McCullagh and Tom King report.
St. Louis City appoints chief experience officer to differentiate itself in MLS
MLS expansion club hires league's first CXO to put a significant emphasis on the fan experience in the club's development and to differentiate itself in a competitive and expanding league. Bob Williams reports
Andy Dolich | The time is now for fan-controlled sport
Former NFL, MLB, NBA, and NHL senior executive Andy Dolich discusses his involvement in the forthcoming debut of Fan Controlled Football
The business of Dutch football has fans to thank for its survival
Dutch clubs like SC Heerenveen have sold large numbers of season tickets prior to the 2020-21 Eredivisie season, despite there being no guarantees spectators will be allowed to attend matches. Callum McCarthy reports.
Monkey Knife Fight looks to advance status as industry disruptor
An upstart daily fantasy company with an unusual name and unconventional approach has quickly risen to prominence by challenging established market leaders DraftKings and FanDuel and striking a large series of team sponsorships.
XFL looking to expand female fanbase
XFL co-owner Dany Garcia says she will make a concerted effort to grow the league's female fanbase
PFL to offer blockchain fan tokens to drive fan engagement
The Professional Fighters League will become the first sports league to offer blockchain fan tokens in a global partnership with blockchain-based fan engagement platform Socios.com.
MLB introduces expanded integration with Snapchat
Enhanced social media camera features now part of Ballpark app
Round-Up: China pulls out of hosting AFC U23s, Australia’s biggest golf tournaments cancelled, and more
China has withdrawn from hosting the Asian Football Confederation's 2022 Under-23 Asian Cup tournament "due to scheduling conflicts, stadium completion timelines ahead of other international events and…
NBA draws on Microsoft partnership to reshape virtual fan experience
The NBA has taken fan engagement in the wake of Covid-19 to a new level by allowing at-home viewers to be seen and heard by their favorite players in Orlando. Bob Williams reports
Borussia Dortmund woos Chinese fans with virtual summer tour
SportBusiness speaks to Benjamin Wahl, head of China at Borussia Dortmund, about the BVB Virtual Asia Tour, which emerged out of the ashes of disruption caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.
WWE retools in-venue presentation with its ThunderDome
Faced with the extended absence of live in-person audiences critical to its events, World Wrestling Entertainment turns to technology to create a spectacle
The Big Debate | Will younger Asians be as engaged with sport as their elders?
Sport in Asia has been growing in popularity in recent decades, spurred by growth in interest in overseas leagues, encouragement from governments and the hosting of major events. But with media habits and cultural tastes changing, will today’s teenagers be as enamoured as the generations that went before them?
SoFi Stadium looks to break new ground with massive videoboard
With its both unprecedented size and unique design, the videoboard at the forthcoming SoFi Stadium in Southern California seeks to break new ground in the industry technologically and redefine fan engagement
James Thompson | How can brands activate with no rugby fans in the stands?
James Thompson, senior account manager at Cake, looks at creative ways rugby union's sponsors can activate and leverage their partnerships as the sport prepares to return behind closed doors.
“Digital has become the free-to-air platform” | F1’s Frank Arthofer
Liberty Media’s major investment into Formula 1's digital media operations has demonstrated its value during sport’s global lockdown, believes Frank Arthofer, the series’ global head of digital media and licensing.
MLB clubs look to reinvent fan experience in empty ballparks
With no attending fans for the upcoming start of the 2020 MLB season, many clubs are employing new tools to retain fan engagement and in-ballpark energy
Closed-door sport gives fresh impetus to innovations in virtual hospitality
Closed-door sport is forcing innovation and fresh thinking about virtual hospitality. But can it ever hope to replace the real behind-the-ropes experience? Ben Cronin reports.
US ticket resale market eyes broad redefinition amid Covid-19
Sports are beginning to make their comeback from Covid-19, but generally with empty stadiums or with highly limited attendance, accelerating historic shifts for an already-battered ticket resale industry. US Editor Eric Fisher reports.
MLB looks for audience lift in reformatted Draft
The ongoing Covid-19 pandemic helped lead to a dramatic reduction in the number of rounds for the MLB Draft. But the league and its media partners are still hoping for lift among a competition-starved fan base
Asian football fan clubs cry out for live digital experiences during shutdown
SportBusiness speaks to Asian fan clubs of European football teams to see what they made of their favourite teams' efforts to keep them engaged during the pandemic.
Charles Schwab ready to seize its moment in spotlight as PGA Tour makes return
Multi-national financial services company will gain huge reach as the title sponsor of the first event back on the PGA Tour in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, writes Bob Williams
Jason Thomas | How can sports engage fans now for a successful return
The arrival of Covid-19 has hit the events industry hard, but sports are poised to make a big comeback – with or without fans physically present.
Asian e-commerce live streams attract early-mover sports properties
Ecommerce live streams are a growing phenomenon in online retail in Asia, and sports businesses are starting to dip their toes in the water.
Iconic Strat-O-Matic games find new lift during pandemic
Venerable maker of sports simulation games has seen a strong resurgence amid the Covid-19 outbreak. Eric Fisher reports.
How the Covid lockdown is redrawing international federations’ content strategies
Without live events, international federations are being forced to innovate with their fan engagement strategies. Adam Nelson reports.
USA Weightlifting’s woes paint familiar picture for Olympic NGBs
US Olympic national governing body has suffered declining revenues and membership numbers since the onset of the health crisis but large financial reserves coupled with a move to put competitions and coaching courses onto digital platforms have stemmed losses.
Education technology company Everfi sees growing opportunity in sports
A wide array of major sports properties, both in and out of the US, have relied on DC-based outfit to engage students of many ages. Everfi co-founder and president of global partnerships Jon Chapman speaks with US Editor Eric Fisher on the company's work with the sports industry and the new EduCup Challenge