Fans have many motivations for attending live professional sporting events, with overall atmosphere and sharing the experience with friends and family being the main reasons among survey respondents. Data analysis from Deloitte's 2023 Sports Fan Insights study reveals that fans want more interaction with events while at the venue. In fact, 58% of sports fans say they wish they had access to the same stats, analysis, and replays when watching a live professional sports event as they do when watching at home. Among Gen Z and Millennial sports fans surveyed, this number jumps to nearly 70%.2
So while the at-home viewing experience continues to improve, sports leagues and organizations need to think about how to give fans even more of what they want when attending in-venue events. Technology, especially mobile devices, can be part of the winning formula.
Mobile devices have the potential to bridge the gap between the in-venue experience and the at-home experience. More than 8 in 10 (82%) sports fans say they use their cell phone in some way during live professional sports events. About a quarter of sports fans surveyed use mobile devices to post on social media during live events, and a similar demographic uses mobile devices to look up player and team stats. doing.
When asked what additional features are available, will do When attending a live professional sporting event, 77% say they want to watch replays, 68% want the ability to see the action from a different angle, and 59% want to watch the game from a player's perspective. I answered that I would like to see it. His 35% of respondents would like to see an augmented reality overlay with player stats. Not surprisingly, younger sports fans (Gen Z and Millennials) are more likely to be interested in these enhanced features. Some leagues, teams, and stadiums have platforms and apps that allow fans to watch replays, check live stats, play interactive games, and chat with other attendees, so to speak. I'm ahead of the curve.3
However, the high usage of mobile devices within venues has created a need for reliable mobile networks. Even though many stadiums in major sports leagues are using his 5G service.Four Approximately 40% of sports fans surveyed said poor connectivity makes it difficult to use their phone as much as they would like during live sporting events.
At the same time, 68% of sports fans say they use a mobile device excessively This suggests that venues and organizations need to strike a balance during live professional sporting events. Finding ways to digitally engage attendees in stadiums without taking away from the vibrancy of the event or venue can not only improve the fan experience at the venue, but also potentially keep fans coming back for more. there is. The future lies in merging the physical and digital worlds, giving sports fans the best of both, no matter where they sit.
Key considerations for sports leagues, teams, and organizations:
- The in-venue experience must be memorable and unique to keep fans coming back again and again. Augmented reality technology could potentially be used to make the experience interactive. Think holographic displays, immersive games that use digital twins to drive participants into action, real-time statistics, and more.
- If they have not already done so, stadium operators should invest in a private 5G network that provides a simple and seamless mobile experience to all devices within the venue. Potential partnerships regarding 6G technology should also be considered in advance.
- Sports leagues, teams, and organizations should leverage their own digital properties (and mobile apps) to collect and leverage fan data.Five By building their own comprehensive fan database, sports organizations have the potential to better understand their fan base and monetize by personalizing the experience.
