The Future of Fan Engagement in Sports

Sports fans always use the latest technological advancements to build and maintain their communities.  The chat groups, the use of blockchain, and the AI are just a means to an end – creating a community of fans that can enjoy a sport, league, or team together.

In this regard, a lot has changed in the last couple of years because many new technologies have emerged and are already utilized by fan groups.  This article will go over some of these advancements, particularly how they will shape the future of sports fandom.

Niche Sports and Teams

The biggest change in how the fandom works, which came about in the last couple of years and will continue in the years to come, is about which sports attract fans.  Sports fans have been around for over a hundred years, mostly for the major sports and leagues.

Lately, and the internet is mostly to thank for these, small and niche fandoms have started to appear and grow.  Small sports such as archery or bowling have a dedicated fan base, just as enthusiastic about it as those who follow the NBA or NFL.  The communities are dedicated to this interest and often very supportive of the league and each other.

Constant Engagement and Content

A group of fans can use a great deal of channels and tools to stay in touch.  Sometimes, it’s enough to use and follow social media related to their community, but often, there are more sophisticated and semi-closed groups and channels out there.

This has led to an increase in engagement and content production.  The fans write and talk about their interests at all times, and the fans can tap in and find something to discuss and follow all the time as well.  This is a stark change from just a few years ago when the community usually came together for a game and moved on.

Using the Wisdom of a Group

Fan groups that interact regularly can use their community and wisdom to support each other and provide data regarding wagering online.  In many cases, these gambling sites are integrated with the fan groups and communities, allowing users to suggest possible wagers and outcomes to each other.

The research has shown that there’s wisdom in the group itself, meaning that fans are able to correct each other and provide better predictions than any player would be able to do individually.

Tickets and Crypto

With the use of cryptocurrencies on the rise, most fan communities are using them to purchase tickets instead of fiat money.  Using crypto has many benefits, such as the ability to purchase tickets without providing your real name.  The transfers are also faster with crypto, and there are fewer fees involved.

At this point, many teams, leagues, and events are also providing better deals for fans who use crypto to purchase tickets.  This trend won’t last forever, as cryptocurrencies are becoming commonplace, but they are still the more affordable option.

The Use of Augmented Reality

Augmented reality tech has improved dramatically in just a few years and is now available to a large base of users.  Sports fans have already seen how AR can be used to enhance the experience and take advantage of the tech itself.

This happened during the last FIFA World Cup when visitors were encouraged to use a phone app and watch the game live through the lens of their phones.  The app displayed real-time statistics about the game and the players in the frame.  This gave the fans a more in-depth experience and was very well received.

Tokens and Ownership

Non-fungible tokens based on blockchain technology can play a big role in fan interactions and fan engagement.  The tokens can be used to represent ownership.  Therefore, The fans can become part-time owners of tickets, memorabilia, and even the teams themselves.

The complex web of contracts that includes thousands of fans is much easier to manage when using blockchain.  This communal ownership is already a thing for some small fan groups and small teams.  The decision-making is somewhat complex in these cases, but it does allow fans to have higher stakes when it comes to the team they love.

Memorabilia

NFTs are also used to own memorabilia and can be memorabilia of their own in digital words.  Some major leagues, such as the NBA itself, have already tried this by introducing a series of NFTs that the fans earn by going to games, following the team content, and engaging with the fan community.

Blockchain records are immutable, and when it comes to owning memorabilia, they can be used to provide true proof of ownership even if the fans own a digital asset, such as an NFT.  The true value of these memorabilia items is the same as that of physical ones, as they commemorate a moment important to fans.

User-Produced Content

Fan engagement relies and will rely even more on user-generated content rather than the content produced professionally by the team or league.  This sort of content is easy to make now when every fan has a phone and a chance to reach out to the community.

The difference comes from the fact that the fans’ content seems more authentic and showcases the community in a way professional content can’t.  At the same time, it’s much less expensive to create and produce.

The Move to eSports

eSports is a huge new market that is going to grow in the years to come.  The change came during the COVID-19 pandemic, but eSports remained an important new venture for many teams and their fan communities.  A cross-over between the real-life team and that for eSport is a good way to boost interest for both.

Many fan communities will start to venture boldly into the world of eSports, especially younger fans.  eSports started with games that will replace sports betting but are now much broader than that, and more games will be included soon.

Move Away from Social Media

Social media has played a big role in creating and supporting fan communities, but soon, the communities will look for ways to move away from them.  There are many reasons why this is happening.  First of all, social media has become much more toxic and less friendly to users looking for positive content.

Secondly, closed platforms made for fans alone are better when it comes to providing users with engaging and tailor-made content for their needs.  Many teams are building their own apps for this purpose and use the data collected from their use to improve their fan engagement efforts.

Conclusion

Fan engagement is essential for sports teams and leagues, as they exist because of their fans.  The latest tech developments have changed fan communities and fan engagement strategies in recent years.  Augmented reality, blockchain, and cryptocurrencies are all used in that regard.

However, the main point of fan communities remains the same – it’s about getting the fans together and sharing their experiences.  Fan-created content will play a big role in this, and so will the help the communities can provide when it comes to making wagers.  Younger fans will also look to eSports more than before.