Fan Engagement
Features
2019 – a year in sport business
Four Inside Track contributors from around the world reflect on what they saw as the key industry developments of 2019 .
Wizards deploy multi-pronged strategy to develop Japanese fandom
In just a short amount of time, the Wizards have put themselves in prime position to become the NBA's most-popular team in Japan following the arrival of Rui Hachimura. Bob Williams discovers how they have done it.
How the Bundesliga courted its Indonesian fanbase with Jakarta experience
The German Bundesliga runs live fan experience events in markets around the world to nurture its international fanbases. SportBusiness attended the Bundesliga Experience Jakarta in November to see how such an events is put together.
Real Madrid’s global partnership with Microsoft helps club to 30 per cent digital revenue growth
Spanish football giants Real Madrid have grown digital revenues over 30 per cent over the course of five-year partnership with Microsoft, creating a digital marketing platform that allows the club to engage with, and learn from, it's 450 million-strong global fanbase.
Sports leagues, teams amplify autism outreach
As dedicated facilities are becoming more commonplace, Rick Snider looks at how sports venues are becoming more adaptive for autistic people.
NBA partners with Apple Music, UnitedMasters for Base:Line playlist
The National Basketball Association is partnering with Apple Music and independent music label UnitedMasters to create the Base:Line playlist, which is designed to showcase up-and-coming hip hop artists
Big3 lowers minimum age to 22 amid multitude of changes
League rebrands its flavor of 3-on-3 basketball as an entirely new sport called Fireball3
PGA Tour unveils new pace-of-play policy to speed up action
The PGA Tour has unveiled its new pace-of-play policy, which is designed to speed up the slowest players on the United States-based professional men's golf tour
Eintracht Frankfurt plans New York friendly in 2021 to commemorate historic tour
Eintracht Frankfurt is planning a friendly match in the New York City area in the summer of 2021 to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the Bundesliga club's "Goodwill Tour" of the United States in 1951
Football risks ‘eating itself’ in the race for engagement, but digital may be a small part of the solution
Football has embraced social media in a huge way, but will its focus on digital technology undermine grassroots participation? Frank Dunne asks if the game is in danger of eating itself and looks at what Uefa is doing to prevent this.
Aston Villa looking to turn fan engagement into commercial revenue with new loyalty card scheme
Data-led fan engagement platform Fortress and Barclays have developed a new universal payment scheme at Aston Villa FC, aiming to deepen the connection between a club and its fans and open up whole new commercial revenue opportunities in the process.
Astros look to move past World Series disappointment with several 2020 projects
The Houston Astros MLB team has big plans for its future, in spite of recent disappointment in the 2019 World Series and recent issues with a executive who was fired. Eric Fisher takes a look at the projects the team have in store.
San Francisco 49ers continue concessions revolution with unlimited food and drink menu
Bob Williams looks at how the San Francisco 49ers looking to create a better game-day experience for their fans, starting with the concessions stand.
NFL stadiums are key testing ground for 5G mobile rollout in US
Expansive size and density of some of US' largest sports facilities provide a fertile environment to experiment with next-generation mobile technology. Story by Rick Snider.
New Jersey Devils looking to leverage arrivals of Subban and Hughes
The arrival of Jack Hughes as the No.1 NHL Draft pick and superstar defenseman PK Subban has generated a wave of optimism around the New Jersey Devils. Bob Williams speaks to the Devil's new president Jake Reynolds about his long-term commercial plans for the franchise.
Badminton steps outside with new format
The Badminton World Federation has launched a format variation, aimed at capturing new players and viewers. Badminton World Federation Secretary-General Thomas Lund tells SportBusiness' Asia editor Kelvin Tan what's next for Air Badminton.
McLaren’s new commercial chief Mark Waller is bringing lessons from American sport
Mark Waller joined McLaren Racing in May from the NFL, becoming the British motorsport team's managing director of sales and marketing. He's relishing his new role, and sees opportunities to drive the business forward in adding consumer-facing sponsors, creating more digital content, and expanding the team's already impressive esports programme.
Vodafone and Bundesliga bridge gap between stadium and living room with 5G first
Vodafone and the Bundesliga launched a world-first use of a 5G mobile network in Wolfsburg’s Volkswagen Arena on Monday night. Adam Nelson reports on how the technology can bring second-screen engagement to the match day experience.
Sky looking to the future with YouTube Premier League highlights
SportBusiness talks to YouTube’s head of sport EMEA, Tomos Grace about Sky Sports' recent decision to make Premier League match highlights available on YouTube.
British horse racing needs ‘collaborative approach’ to overcome decline in media and betting revenues
With a decline in media and betting revenues associated with the closure of multiple retail bookmakers on the cards, Ben Cronin looks at how senior stakeholders in British horse racing will react to this threat.
Paddy Power’s Save Our Shirt campaign offers positive message but struggles to balance risk and reward
Never knowingly understated, Irish bookmaker Paddy Power's latest marketing activation ended up garnering a £50,000 fine for one of its partner clubs. Adam Nelson takes a look at the story behind the betting company's 'unsponsorship' of five UK football teams, and whether the campaign can maintain relevance and visibility throughout the season.
Las Vegas’s minor league teams confirm city’s place as major league sports town
The city of Las Vegas is not immediately recognizable for its reputation as a sports hub. Bob Williams looks at how it is transitioning "from the entertainment capital of the world to the sports and entertainment capital of the world".
NFL stadium designers look to social media, youth to guide next wave of new facilities
Stadium designers are increasingly turning toward psychological and anthropological research to guide the development the next generation of NFL facilities and create comfortable, as well as Instagram-able, venues. Randy Williams reports.
FIS goes digital-first in fan engagement push ahead of Beijing Winter Olympics
The International Ski Federation is ramping up its global engagement efforts as it builds towards Beijing 2022, with its secretary general, Sarah Lewis, describing China as “the biggest opportunity for winter sports in the last 50 years”. Adam Nelson reports on how FIS is using its digital strategy to encourage consumers to take to the slopes.
Surrey’s post-World Cup T20 sales fuel continuing ambivalence for The Hundred
Surrey County Cricket Club has seen a surge in ticket sales thanks to England’s victory in the ICC Cricket World Cup and a new family zone at the Kia Oval. Chief executive Richard Gould talks to Ben Cronin about the club's commercial successes and offers his take on the ECB Hundred.
Rights to beloved Phillie Phanatic mascot in dispute after more than 40 years
Legal battle revives tension that previously existed between the MLB club and the design firm that helped create iconic character.
ICC targets younger audiences with digital-first, data-led broadcasting approach
Adam Nelson reports on how the International Cricket Council revamped its broadcast coverage ahead of the 2019 Cricket World Cup, focusing on storytelling to attract new audiences and break digital engagement records
NHL leverages Ovechkin’s pulling power to expand footprint in China
In order to develop their presence in China, the NHL have sent Alexander Ovechkin on a one-man ambassadorial trip to Beijing this week. Bob Williams talks to David Proper, executive vice-president of media and international strategy, about how ice hockey's governing body is leveraging its players' star power.