Tech innovations continue to transform industries worldwide, and the world of sports is no different. When it comes to follower engagement, interaction, and viewership, evolving technology has allowed for fans to be more connected than ever before. Below we´ll look at just a few ways the industry has changed fan experience for the better, and what innovations are yet to come.
The rise of video streaming
Nowadays, waiting anxiously for a match or competition to appear on your big screen at an exact time and date is not the only option. Streaming services like fuboTV, YouTube TV, Hulu+Live TV, and more provide around-the-clock coverage of live sporting events from many different locations. In fact, streaming is becoming so big that it’s projected to rise in revenue to at least $84 billion by 2024.
Even less popular sports such as boxing are adapting their live streaming experience to provide more options and content for fans. Both sports enthusiasts and the leagues they support are benefiting from the rise of streaming; who knows what could be in store as each continues to grow.
The expansion of online and mobile sports betting
The legalization of sports betting in the U.S. in 2018 was huge for sports fans as it opened up a wealth of opportunities to engage further with professional athletes and their teams throughout the season. Nowadays it is online sportsbooks that are leveraging the most traffic as they provide a unique, convenient experience over land-based betting facilities. A huge advantage of having the interactive activity available online is that fans can practice real-time betting, which is a huge convenience factor.
These sports news and betting hubs have completely revolutionized fan engagement in the U.S., as expert pundits deliver betting predictions and tips that are continuously updated online from the beginning till the end of each season. What’s more, is that many of the same websites that offer these services also provide free-to-download mobile apps for their users. This means that the use of a computer can be switched for something even more convenient – betting on-the-go with a mobile device. The bottom line is that whether you’re using a PC, Android, or iOS, technology is transforming the betting industry in a hugely significant way.
The introduction and growth of “smart stadiums”
Although streaming and sports betting are convenient ways to engage from the comfort of your own home, the industry is also finding ways to attract people to live games and events through the introduction of “smart stadiums” in select places. As you may probably be able to infer from its name, these venues are special in that they connect visitors to specific information with the use of wireless networks and servers. In this way, fans are given an entire library of knowledge concerning important things like the number of parking spots to less crucial info such as the number of coca colas available once inside.
The goal is that fans will be more motivated to purchase and attend games in stadiums rather than solely watching them on TV or through a streaming service. With the beginning of the decade coming to a close, big things are expected for the rest of the 2020s in regard to “smart” stadium services.
The use of VR for an enhanced viewing experience
VR technology creates a simulated environment that is hard to beat
Few tech innovations beat that of VR which has exploded in the past few years. Since Oculus released its premier VR headset in March of 2016, the industry has seen rapid growth in both revenue and the development of new products. Nowadays, people are eager to get their hands on these gadgets, especially for the opportunity to use them for live sports viewing.
VR allows fans to experience gameday in an entirely new way by putting them directly onto the field with enhanced graphics and visuals. Everything feels more realistic in VR and fans can step right into the world of their favorite players just by being connected. Even some of football’s highest profile coaches such as Bret Bielema and Bill Belichick have hopped on board, using VR in team practice and training. People in various industries worldwide are investing in this type of technology, proving it is surely the future of entertainment.
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