Mobile technology and streaming have become very popular amongst fans/consumers in today’s sport industry and since it’s becoming a huge trend, sport organizations and industry professionals must realize and understand the significance of these trends occurring.
The bigger question many sport organization professionals are engaging in with each other is, how do we consistently engage and retain the sport fan in today’s changing landscape, especially as it relates to mobile technology and devices? How are fans utilizing mobile devices and how are sport industry professionals measuring fan engagement, interactions, retention, etc. during sporting events? Many sport industry professionals are utilizing different analytical methods to better understand fans/consumers today and to gain a better idea of the game day experience.
For today’s game day sporting event, it’s all about accessibility and engagement with the sport fan/consumer and the use of analytics is helping sport industry professionals better understand how engaged and motivated sport fans/consumers are during and after the sporting event. More importantly, sport industry professionals are finding better ways and methods via the use of analytics to measure the uses of mobile technology during a specific sporting event and the strategies that can enhance retention and future trips to the stadium.
In order for sport fans/consumers to engage in the in-game experiences, sport facilities need to be updated with the technology and application trends today, such as Wi-Fi hot spots throughout the stadium, mobile applications such as the team’s website and incentives and the use of fantasy sport applications for fans to follow their favorite players throughout the game. More sport facilities are utilizing the use of analytics to measure these aspects, along with ensuring fans are happy with their experience, such as measuring fan traffic throughout the stadium, Wi-Fi speed and how often fans are engaged on specific applications (Rice, 2015).
So one might ask, how can this be done so accurately and efficiently in today’s sport industry in relation to what analytics can tell us about fans’ experiences during a sporting event and mobile devices? More sport facilities are utilizing analytic methods to better understand which websites and mobile applications are being accessed throughout the sporting event the most as well as specific weak spots in relation to online activities (Rice, 2015).
One way data analytics is making the fan experience more efficient is ensuring better use of Wi-Fi access for those fans sitting in the end zone or midfield of a sporting event. By utilizing in new data analytical methods, sport organizations can better understand where fans are uploading pictures, tweets, posts, etc. and allocate more bandwidth to that specific section of the stadium to ensure a stronger wireless connection (Rice, 2015).
Another aspect of how data analytics is helping sport professionals better understand fans’ use of mobile technology is the use of interactive social media. For example, now data analytical models and methods can measure the in-game experience with fans more efficiently and their uses with social media platforms such as Twitter. What are fans tweeting about during the game and how much time are they spending on these platforms? More sport industry professionals are realizing the importance of this relationship and the use of data analytics is making it possible (Rice, 2015).
Another facet of how analytics and mobile technology are coming together for a better game day experience for fans is the importance of faster lines and being able to provide fans/consumers with data points such as bathroom wait lines, ordering from their seats, parking availability, etc. All of these aspects are part of the game day experience and if data analytics can provide industry professionals with this information, more will want to attend sporting events. More importantly, it’s about getting the fan/consumer from the couch to the stadium more often (Rice, 2015).
At a time where more sport facilities are being built, it’s more important than ever to ensure the proper technology applications are being utilized for fans during the game day experience. Since ticket prices are rising due to these innovative sport stadiums being built, it’s essential that sport industry professionals are providing the fan with the most updated technology strategies during game day, especially as it relates to mobile. Mobile technology continues to strive and be an innovative tool for fans for the game day experience, and the relationship between data analytics and mobile technology has never been higher (Rice, 2015).
References
Rice, N. (2015). 4 Ways Data Analytics Can Improve The Game Day Experience, pp. 1. Retrieved from https://www.sporttechie.com/4-ways-data-analytics-can-improve-game-day-experience/.
About The Author
Jason Becker has worked in the sport industry within sectors such as marketing, promotions, communication and public relations. He also researches ways in which sport organizations and brands utilize analytics to better performance, engagement, awareness and future trends that are occurring. He currently teaches within higher education in Sport Management and teaches courses such as Sport Analytics, Sport Communication, Technology in Sport, Facility Management, Research Methods in Sport, Sport in Society and Leadership in Sport. He has over 15 years of experience in the sport industry. Jason has a bachelor’s degree in Communication from SUNY Oswego and my Master’s degree in Sport Management from Canisius College.
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