Modern technology is changing the relationship between sports fans and their favourite players, teams and franchises. New high-tech sports complexes in the United States are now using Bluetooth beacons to send targeted adverts and information to fans during games, and social media sites, including Twitter and Facebook, are central to the experience, connecting people to a myriad of fixtures, statistics, updates and personality profiles. Technology is making sport more accessible for everyone with new wearables, sensors and mobile innovations enabling the industry to account for the personal habits and preferences of loyal fans, while providing detailed analytic to improve their own business functions.
The NBA’s Golden State Warriors are using technology to enhance the match day experience. They send four notifications to fans’ smartphones when they take a seat in the stadium: a welcome message with promotions for branded products; seat upgrade offers; special concessions deals; and promotions for jerseys and other gear from the official team store. This simple “ping” process via beacons helps to drive business and build a close relationship with sports fans. It is working, too, as the fans sent the beacon promotion typically spend 93% more than those that do not receive it. The information gathered from the beacons is also used by the basketball team to ascertain a customer’s dislikes, likes and habits, which help to personalize their service for each end user.
Twitter and other social media sites are also creating a two-way dialogue which is benefiting the industry and sports fans. By turning fans into friends through the use of daily tweets and updates, sports organisations can continue to engage with their audience in the anticipation during a game and post-match. Manchester United launched their own social media hub news feed last year, which collates exclusive content from official Facebook, Instagram, Google+ and Twitter accounts. Users can follow the team’s latest images, posts, competitions and tweets without navigating through separate sites. Individual sports stars are also connecting with fans social media accounts. Barcelona striker Lionel Messi recently posted a thank you message and picture to fans after scoring his 400th goal for the club, and it received over 1.4 million “likes”. This type of engagement benefits personnel and organisations by helping to build a brand and keeping fans across the globe digitally immersed.
Technology and the internet are also pivotal to manufacturers, fans and other influential individuals in Formula One. When driver Jules Bianchi was injured in a freak accident at the Japanese Grand Prix, former FIA president Max Mosley commented on the incident via the Sky Sports website. Mosley’s pioneering legal work from the 1970s onward has laid the foundation for the improvement of safety standards in the sport, and his legacy and opinions are still relevant to the Formula One industry. Influential commentators such as Mosley use official websites and social media to voice their opinions. Fans can get the latest news from Formula 1’s official website and mobile apps on Android and iOS.
Mobile devices, desktop PCs and laptops are enabling the industry and fans to reach new levels of engagement. This technology could soon be supplemented by Virtual Reality headsets, futuristic LiFi lights and other innovations that will make the world of sport even more exciting and accessible for all.
from http://monalisaofblogging.com/the-best-technology-to-connect-with-the-sporting-industry
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