• 

There is nothing more surreal for an avid sports fan than watching your favorite sports team in the bleachers. Recently franchises have been increasing investments revolutionize how supporters engage with the product on the court or field. With new technology and social media, organizations can create innovative content to capture the most value from fans. That said, improving fan engagement is no mere simple task but here are three core benefits of successful fan engagement: 

1.    A Sustainable Fan Base

   Its easy to support a winning team for obvious reasons but when the product isn’t competitive enough it’s difficult to attract supporters and sell seats. This is why it’s important for every franchise to continuously be thinking of ways to improve fan engagement. Without a loyal fan base a franchise can lose their identity no matter how competitive the organization is. 

2.    Brand Recognition 

   Having a recognizable product is important especially in completive market. As within every sports league, individual organizations are battling for positioning. Franchises must be strategic in how they attract fans nationally without alienating local admirers. Premier franchises usually maintain their brand image by being active in their team’s region through community events and corporate sponsorships. 

3.    Sales/Revenue 

   Behind every promotion and social media post is a clear strategic purpose to create additional value and convince the public to engage with the franchise’s product. This can be through increasing ticket sales, merchandise revenues and broadcasting rights, in addition many other financial appealing areas to an organization. 

All things considered, organizations are investing more financial resources than ever to capture and maintain fan loyalty. Even though, the main priority of organizations is to get fans into seats it imperative for sports teams to engage with the public and build that loyal fan base that will support the franchise and spend their hard-earned dollars on the organization because of their emotional connection. 

Sports brands such as Nike and Adidas are equally concerned with their social presence. Recently Nike released a campaign that supports female athletes, which promptly featured Serena Williams. While the main target of professional athletic campaigns are directed towards males many industry monopoly’s have realized the importance of advertising towards female demographics to increase fan engagement. How do you think professional brand can reach female athletes?

https://www.today.com/popculture/serena-williams-nike-dream-crazier-ad-celebrates-female-athletes-t149358

Many professional sports lacking fan engagement such as NASCAR are beginning to realize the importance of attracting new fanbases through social media. While it maybe obvious, NASCAR has a clear and common perception amongst fans. That said, the sport is earning for new fan engagement as individuals are loosing interest in the sport. Recently, NASCAR has been heavily investing into social media to attract new fans and rebrand the sports image amongst consumers. Learn more about how the organization is trying to discover new fans through social media!

https://www.sportsbusinessdaily.com/Journal/Issues/2017/01/30/Leagues-and-Governing-Bodies/NASCAR-staff.aspx

Social media isn’t solely for entertainment, as sports franchisers have realized the importance of of communicating with fans. Eery social media post is designed to entertain the public, but it’s most critical impact is adding value to brand or organization. Sports teams spend finical resources and invaluable time to reach fans for a purpose! Here are nine tips to ensure your social media posts add value.

https://librisblog.photoshelter.com/9-innovative-sports-fan-engagement-tips-for-social-media/

In 2018, the Philadelphia Flyers unveiled their new mascot Gritty to the public. This Orange googly eyed monster captured the hearts of sports fans around the nation. Mascot’s while they maybe overlooked play an integral role in fan engagement, as they help give an sports organization a brand image. For they are involved in both off-the-feild and in-game promotions. In a rebranding effort its important to engage with the media on nation-wide and local scales. Read about the PR standard of introducing a new team mascot!

https://www.phillymag.com/news/2019/01/12/gritty-philadelphia-flyers-mascot/

The sports industry is one of the fastest growing industries with lucrative broadcasting deals and corporate sponsorships. That said, many people don’t know what it take to survive and be successful within industry especially when starting out as a college student. According to this article, here are five qualities any individual needs to be successful within the sports industry!

https://www.jobsinsports.com/blog/2017/09/18/5-must-communication-skills-sports-marketers/

Internships are one of the easiest ways to gain experience with any career field and sports communication is no different. It’s extremely important for students and professionals to have work samples to share with employers and peers. Within the sports communication there are numerous sectors which individuals can find a niche within the industry. That said, it’s important to learn from other experiences and this article about Krista Staudinger, a University of Washington graduate speaks about here experience working for the Seattle Mariners and how it helped jump start her career. https://www.workinsports.com/blog/starting-a-career-in-sports-media-relations/

Have you had a internship within the sports industry? Are you searching for one? What was your experience like?

Fan loyalty is undoubtedly one of the most important aspects for any professional sports organization. While its important to engage with fans across the global on social media platforms its equally important for organizations to interact with local fans. Many supporters believe regional franchises should actively participate within their local communities with the aims of improving the lives of community members. For it is imperative that the organization does not alienate its own fan base, especially if the professional franchise is located in a small marketplace. According to an article by Terry Lefton, geography is one of the biggest factors to solidifying fan loyalty. As he discusses data in an article with the Sports Business Journal (SBJ). What do you think the biggest factor to fan loyalty is?

https://www.sportsbusinessdaily.com/Journal/Issues/2015/10/12/In-Depth/Fan-study.aspx

The Seattle Seahawks new team president Chuck Arnold first career role with the organization was as a public relations intern. The Franchise has one of thee most recognizable and loyal fanbases. In this short article from the Sports Business Journal (SBJ), Arnold comments on the importance of good communication with fanbases.

https://www.sportsbusinessdaily.com/Journal/Issues/2018/10/08/Franchises/NFL-Arnold.aspx?hl=sports+communication&sc=0

Technology has brought sports fans closer to their teams and franchises are investing more resources than ever to maintain a strong social presence. Identifying these sports fans has become increasingly important as organizations are looking for ways to reach new fans or maximize engagement. Social platforms allow sports communication teams interact with fans to better understand their personal experiences and desires. The biggest advantage of maintaining a social presence is being able to instantly reach fans by responding to posts or publicizing team promotions. Read this article to better understand the importance of social media fan engagement! What social media platform do you use to interact with your favorite teams?

https://muse-jhu-edu.libproxy.uoregon.edu/article/469388