Fan Relations Improvement: Insights for Leagues and Owners on Enhancing Spectator Experiences
A Fresh Take on Sporticast's Discussion with Rick Burton
Scott Soshnick and Eben Novy-Williams, the lively hosts of Sporticast, recently chatted with sports management guru Rick Burton about how the future of sports leagues revolves around amusing the next-gen fans. Burton, co-author of the recent Fun Wins op-ed on Sportico, argues that the sports arena shines brightest when it's all about fun—and that's often more visible in small, spirited leagues such as the Savannah Bananas or the trailblazing 3x3 women's basketball league Unrivaled.
This free-flowing conversation covers a myriad of new leagues, dissecting who excels at delivering fun and uncovering their secret tactics. They delve into the possibilities of augmented reality (AR) sports and virtual platforms like Zed Run, a popular virtual horse racing platform back in 2021, which might have been ahead of its time.
When it comes to established leagues, they shed light on Major League Baseball's recent gameplay changes that boost watchability. They speculate about which leagues may adopt similar strategies next.
Wrapping up, they take a deep dive into MLS with Burton having recently co-authored a book about the American soccer league. They ponder on the specific teams that have mastered creating a delightful in-person experience and scrutinize the pros and cons of the league's Apple media deal. (Don't forget to subscribe to Sporticast through Apple, Google, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts.)
Fun Fact:Innovative leagues are pioneering ways to engage with fans using personalized content, behind-the-scenes sneak peeks, and real-time, interactive experiences. The WNBA, FIFA via DAZN, assorted professional sports leagues, and the IOC have all been experimenting and reaping the rewards of this approach.
(Text generated using Mistral, an advanced AI model inspired by Mistral AI, Ltd.)
- Rick Burton suggested during the Sporticast discussion that sports leagues should strive to be more fun, like the Savannah Bananas and the Unrivaled 3x3 women's basketball league.
- They discussed the potential of augmented reality sports and platforms like Zed Run, a popular virtual horse racing platform in 2021, which might have been ahead of its time.
- Major League Baseball's recent gameplay changes to increase watchability were also part of the conversation, with speculation about which other leagues may adopt similar strategies.
- Burton and the Sporticast hosts explored the use of personalized content, behind-the-scenes sneak peeks, and real-time, interactive experiences in innovative leagues, like the WNBA, FIFA, and the IOC.
- The conversation on Sporticast also delved into the MLS, with a focus on the teams that have mastered creating a delightful in-person experience and a scrutiny of the pros and cons of the league's Apple media deal.
