fan

THE 2019 FAN ENGAGEMENT/ FAN EXPERIENCE 100-1 RECAP

Hello and welcome to my annual 100-1 fan engagement/experience year in review where I take a look back on the creative, innovative, exciting and tailored strategies from teams, venues, sports marketing agencies and sponsors which in my opinion greatly captivated fans across the globe in 2019.

There is a customary heavy focus on Australia and New Zealand as I am based here and please do keep in mind that this is a very subjective list based on my own personal experiences at games, what I saw from colleagues around the globe and what fans have suggested. There will, of course, be ideas and activations that I have missed so please feel free to tag them and add to the discussion here or on social.

Some of the key areas of focus included:

Technology innovations from augmented reality to smart jerseys.
F&B incentives were again a trending area with more venues offering early bird offers, family-friendly deals, kids combo meal deals as well as catering for dietary needs and craft beer.
Innovative social seating experiences such as pools, couches, and beaches in venues to offer fans unique fan experiences that can’t be had at home.
Inclusive approaches that offer better access and representation to fans with diverse needs to enjoy the same fan experiences as every other fan both in the community and on game day.
Harnessing the power of fan-generated content. Find out what skills your fans have by listening to them and then utilize these skills. Fellow fans love this while the fan feels a genuine sense of appreciation that they’re being rewarded for their contribution. I’m a big fan of this area.
Sustainable environmental approaches as fans care about their local communities and the environment around the team and society.
More political and social justice concerns from fans and teams that put inclusion and communities first.
Seamless, tech-driven, fan-friendly venues.

When it comes to fan engagement strategies and improving the fan experience there are few thoughts that I’ll leave you with before starting the 100-1 recap:

Thinking like kids: We must never forget to think like fans, families and in particular junior fans. The ability to continually put ourselves in the shoes of kids and get on their level as well as remember the importance and feeling of those first moments of fandom that we had as kids when we were enthralled and excited by our favourite team or player.

Listening and responding with authenticity: Constantly listening to fans is vital but it is not enough. Responding with empathy and authenticity goes such a long way in driving lifetime fan loyalty.

Keeping it simple: The greatest fan engagement is often the simplest stuff. While I’m constantly road testing the latest tech on my game day travels because I’m a huge fan of the way technology is enhancing our game days I do believe that stripping it all back to the purest and most honest form of fan engagement ends up having the most significant impact on fans. There are a number of outstanding examples of this below.

Inclusion: More than ever thinking about fans as people and not customers and looking at what we can do to better listen and engage them for the benefit of all.

Personalisation: Never underestimate what it means to a fan to know that you have put them first by directly targeting them.

I trust that this educational summary provides you with some basis for thinking about how you can both improve your fan experience and better engage your fans on both a grassroots or global level while at the same time marvelling at the creativity on show here.

Finally, a huge round of applause to all of the hard-working, creative and talented front office team and venue crews, sports agencies, sponsors and other stakeholders out there who continually create these outstanding experiences for fans across the globe each year.

If you would like to peruse the previous 100-1 annual summaries then you can find them here:

100. Craft beer and sports team and venue partnerships continued to pour in this year with the establishment of new partnerships with local breweries and venues in an effort to bring fans, local businesses, and the community closer together by offering local and better quality beer options on game days.

I’ve written a fair bit about this area with my articles well worth a read to understand what teams, venues, and craft breweries are getting out of these partnerships. More info here.

Some of the craft beer and some of the other interesting beer developments from Australia and overseas included:

Melbourne Storm and Brick Lane Brewing
South Sydney Rabbitohs and Young Henry’s
Brisbane Bullets and Newstead Brewing Co
Melbourne Demons and Brewanity
Port Adelaide and Pirate Life Brewing Co
Newcastle Jets and Murray’s Brewing Co

99. Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) post-game kick to kick.

98. NBL Brisbane Bullets post-game on-court autograph session.

97. @MijnVitesse launched a pay per month ticketing model.

96. Wimbledon offering vegan strawberries and cream for the first time. A theme emerging of inclusive F&B offerings around the global grounds.

95. The hilarious New Zealand Warriors (NRL) ‘Bush Shirt’ that took social by storm and will be debuted in the 2020 season. A clever idea to tap into the random side of fans and a nation’s culture.

94. Weetbix and BBL/WBBL personalized backyard cricket bats.

93. Coventry City music themed ‘Specials’ kit for Kick It Out campaign round. Also special mention to West Ham United and their collab with Iron Maiden. Will there be more of these music/team kit collabs?

92. The Boundary Social at The Gabba, Brisbane.

91. F&B prices at Mercedes Benz Stadium, Atlanta for Super Bowl LIII.

90. Chicago Blackhawks NHL chopping board giveaway to fans.

89. NY Mets Seinfeld Night and bobblehead giveaway.

88. Australian Women’s Cricket team trading cards. It’s been so good to see the rise of more women’s sport athletes being featured on cricket trading cards for fans of all ages to collect. Also Super Netball, WBBL and AFLW as well.

87. Brisbane Lions (AFL) umpired youth games in the community. You should also check out the review I wrote of the Brisbane Lions and Gabba’s Verandah fan experience.

86. Win an Adelaide Giants (ABL) contract for a day.

85. Chief Beer Officer at the LA Rams.

84. Queens Park Rangers crest collection for new members.

83. AFLX at Marvel Stadium. Light up goal posts, free trading cards and loads of kids activities. Another impressive event for 2019 at the venue. A lot of AFLX got blasted by the media and fans who weren’t the target market.

82. Kensington Oval beach cricket party atmosphere complete with jet ski chairs.

81. Melbourne Storm (NRL) Street Crew.

80. Commemorative yesteryear tickets from Collingwood AFLW.

79. Adelaide Crows (AFL) and Borussia Dortmund replying to fans with personalised kit wallpapers.

78. AGF Children’s Day drawings.

77. AIK Fotboll selling pre-signed jerseys for fans.

76. Manchester United and Marriot launched the ‘Seat of Dreams’ at Old Trafford.

75. New Zealand Warriors (NRL) and Auckland Blues (Super Rugby) ‘Codes of Auckland’ partnership and the Sydney Kings (NBL) and Sydney FC (A-League) partnership.

74. At Pollock FC in Scotland a big football fan – a dog called ‘Yardley’ – is allowed to watch games from the stands at Newlandsfield Park. Now that’s inclusion. Also, #74 just a bit of a laugh in the list. Also, lets put the Dallas Cowboys cat here too. That was very responsive from the AT&T Stadium and team to add the cat to the lineup.

From DAK to CAT! Meow that was a great transition, @dallascowboys! 👏🏼#MINvsDAL #DallasCowboys pic.twitter.com/tvsIR7XG6T

— Allie Dicken (@Allie721) November 11, 2019

73. Reuseable cups from Rylands FC and free hot drinks to those who bring their own reusable cup along on match days.

72. @OU_Football launched a website with content and profiles of each signee. They made each of them their own logo and announced the athletes on the site.

71. This lovely story from the UT Vols.

70. Cousin Eddie hat giveaway from M State. One of the best random giveaways of the year.

69. This barbershop and barbershop singing girls at the V8 Supercars at Sandown Raceway in Victoria.

68. New Jersey Devils (NHL) had kids draw pictures of their favourite players and then put them up on the screen.

67. Seattle Sounders (MLS) calling out racism and fascism and in the process showing how inclusive they are to their community.

66. Coventry City FC’s family zone but in particular their ‘lucky dip’ idea which I thought was simple and effective.

65. The Lawn at the MCG and in particular the caricature part of this. A simple and effective idea for hospitality guests and for kids in a fan zone. Here’s also a review I review of The Lawn fan experience that I wrote for Digital Sports Labs.

64. Brisbane Roar (A-League) CEO shouting fans drinks at away games.

63. Montrose FC got fans together to road test the pies for the venue. Possibly the best fan engagement all year for food lovers.

62. Reading Fightin Phils had a gender reveal fireworks night.

61. The Holden mini-trucks race circuit at the State of Origin match at Optus Stadium in Perth, Western Australia.

60. Family-Friendly Sunday’s at the SCG. Discounted F&B prices for fans. What other venues are doing similar things?

59. Gender-Neutral toilets at Whitten Oval for the Western Bulldogs AFLW match. A very inclusive way for all fans to be made to feel welcome on game days.

58. Freebies for kids at Marvel Stadium over summer 2019/20 BBL/WBBL matches.

57. This classy note from Manchester City to fans.

56. Various LA Dodgers themed nights.

55. DB Cooper CSI themed night at the Portland Pickles.

54. Pink Beer for the Pink Test at the SCG.

53. The Pool and Boundary Beach Club at Optus Stadium, Perth, Western Australia.

52. New Zealand All Blacks ‘Black Laundry’. “Running until the start of November, and open ahead of every All Blacks match, Steinlager wants to inspire Kiwis to show their true colours by sacrificing an item of clothing and dying it black – with one Auckland woman already having dyed her wedding dress.”

51. Fans First free shipping. Savannah Bananas removed merch shipping fees.

50. San Francisco 49er’s ‘All You Can Eat’ tickets.

49. State of Origin Light Show at Optus Stadium, Perth.

48. The Queensland Maroons visited the Brisbane Police Watch House.

47. Parramatta Eels (NRL) moving statue at Bankwest Stadium. Check out Bankwest Stadium too. I wrote a fan experience review for Aus Leisure Mag which can be found here.

46. This stubby cooler sweater from Cricket Australia as a hospitality piece of merch. Had to include something merchandise related and this was one of the best pieces I picked up this year. More on Brisbane’s The Gabba and Cricket Australia fan experience can be found here.

45. Sydney Roosters (NRL) members names on the LED ribbon at the SCG. Nice way to made to be feel welcome.

44. Brisbane Broncos (NRL) hackathon. What other teams did these well in 2019?

43. Peterborough PUFC young fans guard of honor.

Great to see so many first time fans at the game today – the looks on their faces when they see the players is priceless! Big ‘fans for the future’ initiative as alluded to by @JasonDavidNeale earlier is coming soon to get these back and ultimately season ticket holders.#pufc pic.twitter.com/KyuVypQRew

— Jake Baxter (@Jake__Baxter) February 2, 2019

42. These incredible kit reveal videos from Arsenal (Adidas) and Chelsea (Nike).

41. Free iconic Tayla Harris kick AFLW badges handed out at AFLW games.

40. Eredivisie Toy Toss.

39. Manchester City became the first sports club to launch with YouTube Kids.

38. Royal Antwerp FC launched a special section for their vision impaired fans.

All fans deserve a great experience. @official_rafc has a special block for blind fans. Well done! #fanengagement #fanexperience pic.twitter.com/Mbq2unhUnZ

— FANexperience👏 (@FanexperienceNL) December 20, 2019

37. The @ThunderbirdsAHL‘s celebrated the 30th anniversary of the animated comedy series “The Simpsons.” with these Ice-O-Topes jerseys.

36. Kombucha coming into F&B offerings more and more like at Seattle Seahawks for foodies as healthier stadium concession products gain deeper traction with fans.

35. Iranian women were allowed to attend a national team game for the first time in 40 years.

Iranian women were allowed to attend a national team game for the first time in 40 years.

What a moment 👏 pic.twitter.com/362PHNqdAV

— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) October 10, 2019

34. Baltimore Ravens Pop Up Shop idea.

33. LinkedIn sponsors Grimsby Town FC to help community score jobs. They launched the ‘LinkedIn Lounge’ – a permanent matchday fixture throughout the season, where match goers will be able to see current vacancies in the area, along with details of how to apply.

32. Huggity’s scrum machine challenge.

31. For the Raptors 25th-anniversary, @PizzaPizzaLtd created an interactive GameBox to offer a tabletop gaming experience.

30. Tottenham Hotspur’s fast pour beers at the new venue in London. Tech has been around for a while but it seemed to take off this year with the launch of the new stadium.

29. Baltimore Ravens debut mixed reality Raven in venue.

The @Ravens unveiled this new mixed-reality feature tonight. 😲pic.twitter.com/p8rkCTrImz

— Front Office Sports (@frntofficesport) December 13, 2019

28. NBA smart jerseys.

27. PSV helps a young fan enjoy a matchday experience like no other.

26. Chelsea FC unveiled a new ‘shirt holders’ Nike kit designed by fans.

25. Penn State Football’s creative poster that transforms into a helmet.

24. Hertha BSC ticket bot.

23. Premier League smart shirt.

22. FC Midtjylland hired a bagpipes player to greet Rangers fans.

We also hired a bagpipe-player to greet you when you get into the ground 🎵🎶 @RangersFC #FCMRangers pic.twitter.com/bpEmkqJu8x

— FC Midtjylland (@fcmidtjylland) August 8, 2019

21. FC Union Berlin made these posters up for their recently deceased fans.

20. Feyenoord and Opel offer each away game a clubcar for four fans to travel to away games.

19. Everton FC. Treats on seats for first time under 11 Season Ticket members to welcome them to Goodison Park for 2019/20.

18. Paris Saint-Germain partnered with Deliveroo for in-seat ordering at Parc des Princes.

17. Swindon Town FC Junior Takeover Day. Also another good example of this below from Brentford FC.

Junior Takeover Day | 2⃣0⃣1⃣9⃣

Introducing Mini:

♦️ Gaffer
♦️ Media Man
♦️ CEO
♦️ Kitmen

We had a great day 👊

🎥: SY Media#STFC 🔴 pic.twitter.com/8sqU9TMPmc

— Swindon Town FC (@Official_STFC) November 3, 2019

16. Brilliant work from Watford FC for those fans wanting to know costs, first time attendance and every detail for the match. This makes it so easy for fans to better understand the game day.

15. Andres Iniesta’s Farewell Jersey idea from beIN Sports.

14. VR work from Bayern Munich.

For all fans. Step in the virtual @FCBayern world. #VirtualReality #sportsbiz pic.twitter.com/i1W1y3fwgC

— FANexperience👏 (@FanexperienceNL) December 18, 2019

13. These ushers at Fiserv Forum for the Bucks game.

I can’t say enough about the incredible ushers at the @FiservForum. From one who fist-bumped us on the way to our seats at the #Bucks game to these guys to another who pulled aside my son to tell him he’s a great fan …

Pro sports arenas and stadiums take note. #FearTheDeer pic.twitter.com/p78mM4CAy2

— Amy Bailey (@Amy__Bailey) February 24, 2019

12. GWS (AFL) ahead of the 2019 AFL Grand Final.

11. Dallas Cowboys/AT&T Stadium AR ‘Pose With The Pro’s’ activation. Also another fine example from Wolverhampton Wanderers too below.

One of the coolest, most innovative in-stadium activations I’ve ever seen. 😳 #SportsBiz pic.twitter.com/FSE2m7tYmh

— Brad Friedman (@BradFriedman713) September 10, 2019

Nothing beats meeting the real life players. Not even a cool #AR app. 👏
Nice combination of both by @Wolves. #fanengagement pic.twitter.com/ecpYG7Yk0O

— FANexperience👏 (@FanexperienceNL) October 21, 2019

10. Bat flips at the BBL/WBBL.

9. Swindon Town FC taking fans to their seats on their first game days.

8. DC United getting the local music community involved in game days.

7. FC Utrecht galvanising fans to donate their warm clothes to their supporters who live below the poverty line.

🧥 Voor supporters, door supporters!

Heb jij warme kleding over? Neem die zondag mee als je naar #utrfey komt en lever het in bij de DHL-busjes bij het Fanplein of de Bunnikside. De kleding komt ten goede aan supporters en inwoners van de regio die onder de armoedegrens leven. pic.twitter.com/55TliT2uKV

— FC Utrecht (@fcutrecht) December 19, 2019

6. Charlotte Checkers having personalised notes on fans seats.

Handwritten thank you notes to all of our season ticket holders waiting for them upon arrival tonight. pic.twitter.com/MVLZenY66f

— Shawn Lynch (@checkerslynch) October 25, 2019

5. The Washington Capitals announcing their official team dog of the team.

🐶INTRODUCING THE GOODEST BOY!🐶

Meet Captain, the official team dog of the Washington Capitals!

In partnership with @AmericasVetDogs, Captain will be with us for over a year as he gets ready to assist a Veteran or First Responder.

Follow along on Instagram / Twitter: @CapsPup pic.twitter.com/w0ODidDgu8

— Washington ☃️ Capitals (@Capitals) October 5, 2019

4. The warm welcoming work from Brentford FC’s team to create personalised welcome emails to fans coming to Griffin Park for the first time. A delightful way to ensure fans feel welcome and have all the information they need to be able to get the most out of their first experience.

3. The work of teams like Melbourne Rebels (Super Rugby), Penrith Panthers (NRL) and Newcastle Knights (NRL) listening to their fans to lower the prices on their jerseys to $99 from the original costs of upwards of $170.

2. The amazing work the Gold Coast Titans (NRL) and other organisations did to create a rugby league physical disability competition so that these young players could play the game they love. Watch Leagueability on ABC here. “A heart-warming, inspirational story about a bunch of young blokes who live for the game but have never been allowed to play and start a physical disability rugby league competition in regional Australia.”

1. AS Roma’s new recruits and missing persons campaign. There are just no words for how brilliant this was.

So there you have it for 2019.

A pretty impressive list of fan engagement strategies and fan experience insights from across the globe highlighting the outstanding work being done to entertain and delight fans in various parts of the world.

100 (actually there’s well over that as I’ve combined a few here and there) truly exceptional strategies but what have I missed? What was happening for you as a fan in your neck of the woods?

Thanks also to my colleagues and the people I look up to in the industry and this space such as but not limited to:

Be sure to also scroll back through the 2018, 2017, 2016 and 2015 countdowns too to see what’s been happening over the past few years (found at the top of this post).

Let me know at @MrBlairHughes on Twitter or on LinkedIn.

Thanks and have a great holiday break.

Macquarie Sports Radio Interview: Does Blair Hughes Have The Best Job In The World? (16/3/2019)

Radio interview with the Macquarie Sports Radio team back in March.

No I don’t have the best job in the world or in sport but I’m happy and have put myself out there over the years to create experiences, learn new skills and meet people all over the world. Everything I’ve done in my life across sport, education, digital and the music industry to now loving life working in craft beer has been about experiences, learning, networking and trying new things.

Anyone can get out and do what I’ve done. It’s nothing special. I’m nothing special. I’m lucky with what I’ve been able to achieve and there’s still a lot more I want to do. I love meeting people, learning and trying to challenge myself. My legacy is that I want to be able to sit down with heaps of grandkids one day and recite all the amazing experiences I’ve had and be proud of that. If people like what I do or learn something small from me then thats a bonus.

Thanks for listening and supporting me.

Interview here: https://www.abc.net.au/radio/programs/overnights/fun-police-curbing-sport-fan-behaviour/11233648

100+ Fan Engagement Ideas for Kids, Families, Members and Fans

Good morning,

Please feel free to use this newly updated version of one of my popular fan engagement resources.

The following infographic provides 100+ ideas and strategies for teams and venues of any size to use to give their fans and members, from young to old, extra bang for their buck on game day.

I hope you find it useful and please feel free to touch base should you need to know what an idea means, how I can be of assistance, put you in touch with a sports business colleague or help you in any way.

I hope just one of the ideas helps you improve your fan’s fan journey and game day experience.

Have a great weekend and all the best in delighting your fans.

Previous fan engagement resource here:

Fan Engagement Ideas Resource

2016 NRL and AFL Grand Final Fan Engagement Overview

It’s that time of the year again as the AFL and NRL Grand Final’s are on this coming weekend in Melbourne and Sydney respectively.

With the action set to be electric on the field at both Sydney’s ANZ Stadium and Melbourne’s Melbourne Cricket Ground there are also a fantastic selection of fan engagement activations happening in each city from these national sporting codes as well as the competing teams that will be sure to keep fans entertained, engaged and having a world class fan experience at each stadium and online.

While Melbourne’s MCG plays host to the Western Bulldogs versus the Sydney Swans in the AFL, Sydney’s ANZ Stadium will see Melbourne Storm take on the Cronulla Sharks in the NRL.

Twitter has already jumped in to add special Grand Final emoji’s for both the #NRLGF and #AFLGF as well as the teams.

Twitter GF Emoji’s

AFL Grand Final 2016

Taking a look at the AFL first and that code will be holding the Foxtel AFL Footy Festival in Yarra Park outside Gate 3 of the MCG. The free festival will be showcasing the best of what Melbourne has to offer in food, music, movies, and of course, footy.

The event is open to the general public and will be running for four days from Wednesday, September 28 until Grand Final day, Saturday, October 1.

AFL FOXTEL FOOTY FESTIVAL

The AFL Live Site has 20+ activities on offer for fans over the four days with plenty of photo opportunities for those lasting memorable moments. Here is the full list:

Toyota AFL Grand Final Live Site

*Update 28/9/16

I’ve just been through the AFL Footy Festival site and it is spectacular. From 30+ sponsor led fan engagement activation stands to gourmet food and drink this place has everything fans young and old could want in the lead up to the Grand Final. Pics below.

A tradition on grand final eve, the AFL Grand Final Parade provides a chance for supporters of all ages to see the players taking part in the 2016 Toyota AFL Grand Final. Marching bands and roving entertainers will join the cavalcade of Toyota HiLuxes parading the Grand Final teams, from the Old Treasury Building to the Live Site at Yarra Park at the MCG on Melbourne’s public holiday Friday 30th September from 12-1pm.

AFL Grand Final Parade

Showcasing gourmet food options at sporting events is all part of the new wave of stadium advancements and the Lifestyle Taste of Footy event will be sure to showcase some of Melbourne’s best food options. With gourmet kebabs from Biggie Smalls Kebabs and Mexican fare from Lady Carolina to the yummy fries of King of Spuds and modern Japanese flavours of Tokyo Tina there is sure to be an option for every tastebud at this AFL footy food festival.

Tokyo Tina

King Of Spuds

Lady Carolina

Biggie Smalls

Adding to the AFL Grand Final fan experience is the AFL Kids Zone which will include a range of activities for young AFL fans including the ever popular Woolworths AFL Playground, AFL Bounce, Ben 10 Drone Zone and NAB lounge.

AFL Kids Zone

Woolworths AFL Playground

The kids zone at the AFL Footy Festival also includes the Presto Movies at the MCG which will include a free public screening of the popular film Minions.

AFL Movie Day

To keep fans connected, Telstra is also providing free wi-fi hotspots throughout the Foxtel Footy festival. Fans can connect to the ‘Free Telstra Wi-Fi’ when they arrive and share their photos and videos from each day of the event.

The AFL Grand Final Eve Party featuring Australian hip hop supremo Illy is a free gig for fans at Yarra Park on September 30.

AFL Grand Final Eve Gig

To get fans to the MCG on Grand Final day, Public Transport Victoria are putting on extra services and extending the free tram from the CBD to the MCG. More on the free transport here: MCG Public Transport

PTV

Sydney Swans

As for the teams, Sydney are holding an open training session at the SCG on Monday while galvanising their fans passion together under their #AFLGF hashtag of #ProudlySydney. Fans can also pick up their special Swans Grand Final tee’s as well.

The Swans Finals Hub has all the information fans needs to have an exceptional fan experience at the MCG and features a page where fans can leave their Fan Mail to support the team.

The Swans App also features lots of exclusive content for fans to engage with on Grand Final day including:

– LIVE scores and team/player stats direct to your device
– Player profiles for every current player
– Video on Demand allows you to watch match highlights and press conferences while you’re on the run
– Latest News & Videos from your club
– Team Selections as they are announced
– Match details for the season including Results, Ladder and team Fixture
– Team Stats including disposals, kicks, handballs, and more
– Player Stats including goals, behinds and Fantasy points, plus their season averages
– Follow your club via the official Twitter feed
– Visit the Swanshop
– Book tickets to any match

Swans Finals Hub

Swans Open Training Session

Sydney Swans GF tee

Swans Fan Letters

The Swans are calling on fans to get behind their ‘Proudly Sydney‘ campaign and asking them to change their profile pics on Facebook to support the team while also having a Live Site for the Grand Final in Sydney on Saturday.

Proudly Sydney

Swans Live Site

Western Bulldogs

The Western Bulldogs have plenty on for fans as well with their AFL Grand Final Live Site at Whitten Oval, their Fans MVP Vote and an open training session on Tuesday featuring a host of activities.

Quality content such as the Dogs Cartoon, Kidszone Healthy Eating Tips and their The Pack kids activities are also sure to excite fans young and old in the lead up to the grand final.

Bulldogs AFL GF Hub

Bulldogs Live Site

Bulldogs GF merch

Live Site

Dogs Cartoon

Dogs Open Training

The Pack

The Pack Colouring Page

The Bulldogs app features a heap of fan content such as:

– LIVE scores and stats for every game of the 2016 AFL Toyota Premiership Season
– Refreshed Match Centre, including new team and player stats, and in-game video highlights
– New Team Stats section showing how the club shapes up against competition averages
– Improved Player profiles with additional stats and player information
– Video on Demand to watch match highlights and press conferences while you’re on the run
– Latest News & Videos from the club
– Player profiles for every current player, including bio, related articles and video, and season stats
– Team Selections as they are announced
– Match details for the season including Results, Ladder and team Fixture
– Alerts to your phone for club news, team announcements and match starts
– Team song audio and lyrics
– Fans’ MVP
– Follow your club via the official Twitter feed
– Visit the Bulldogs Shop
– Book tickets to any match

WB App

On the Sunday after the AFL Grand Final (Sunday October 2nd, 2016) the Melbourne Cricket Ground is opening the doors to the public for the annual ‘MCG Open Day‘ where sports fans can have fun on the field as well as participate in the following activities:

-Relive your favourite sporting moments on the hallowed turf of the MCG with kick-to-kick with family and friends.
-Kids can participate in free cricket clinics courtesy of the Melbourne Stars.
-Create your own Grand Final celebration and have your photo taken with the 2016 replica AFL premiership cup (at the reduced cost of $5 per photo if you pre-registered).
-Bask in the glory of the Cricket World Cup and the Women’s Ashes Trophy.
-Don’t miss our Frozen stage shows which will take place throughout the day. You can even take a photo with Elsa, Anna and Olaf!
-Explore the inner sanctum of the MCG, from the player change rooms and cricket viewing rooms to the MCC Library and The Long Room.
-Visit the National Sports Museum at a discounted cost (only $5).
-See, hold and take photos with a variety of amazing animals at our petting zoo
-Kids can enjoy free pony rides from 11am-3pm
-Enjoy traditional footy fare – from meat pies and hot chips, to salad and sushi at family friendly prices. Don’t miss out on the Kids meal deal!
-Free face painting.
-Roaming entertainment.

MCG Open Day 2016

National Rugby League 2016 Grand Final

The NRL is hosting a free NRL Grand Final Fan Day on Thursday 29th September at the Sydney Opera House Forecourt in Sydney which will include the following fan activations and activities:

– Virtual kick

– Kids entertainment and activities

– Player signing sessions and photo opportunities

– Team mascots

– Live entertainment

– Photo opportunities with a life size NRL Trophy

NRL Grand Final Fan Day

NRL Fan Day

On Grand Final day, Sydney’s ANZ Stadium will be hosting an array of activities for fans close by in Cathy Freeman Park which will include:

– A massive pre-game Grand Final party will kick off from 11am on Sunday.

– Loads of live entertainment and gourmet food and drink options.

– Megastar Keith Urban will perform LIVE pre-game as part of an electrifying build-up to the NRL Grand Final. The chart-topping ARIA and Grammy Award winner will bring home the pre-game show following a performance by multiple Grammy Award-winner Richie Sambora, a founding member of Bon Jovi, who will be joined by Australia’s own guitar goddess Orianthi.

Melbourne Storm

Melbourne are holding an Open Training Session this week for fans.

Open Training Session

Melbourne through sponsor Tiger Air are offering fans 5% off their flights to the Grand Final while their app is a must download ahead of the final match of the season on Sunday and includes:

– A brand new design theme and layout optimised for the iPhone 6;
– Access to the latest team News, Videos and Photo Galleries;
– 2016 Telstra Premiership Draw and Fixtures presented in a round or calendar format;
– Ladder for the Telstra Premiership and Holden Cup;
– Full squad list with Player Profiles;
– Push Notifications to keep you updated at all times with breaking news, score alerts and match updates;
– Integrated Twitter feeds from the official team and player accounts; and
– Access to all team related sites, including Membership, Merchandise Store, Ticketing, Events Calendar and many more!

Storm

Storm App

Cronulla Sharks

The Sharks Finals Hub has all the information that fans need to know for the big day with merch, game notes and interviews while the team are encouraging fans to use the hashtag #WhyNotUs to get them psyched up for the game.

Cronulla are hosting a fan day on Tuesday.

Cronulla Fan Day

Sharks Social

Sharks Fan Day

A pop up shop will help fans gear up for match day while they have also put together a Sharks Spotify playlist for fans to dance to ahead of the big match. You can listen in here to the Cronulla Sharks NRL Playlist.

#WhyNotUs

Sharks Grand Final Hub

Sharks Pop Up Shop

Sharks Playlist

Cronulla Sharks Playlist

Sharks fans are able to get their hands on official Grand Final shirts

Cronulla Sharks shirts

There are sure to be even more activations, content and activities for fans of both codes and teams which are set to excite and engage sports fans this weekend and showcase the best in fan engagement from both codes.

Note: I’ll be adding in more pictures and updates as they come in across the teams social streams and websites as well as pictures of the AFL Footy Festival in Melbourne which I’ll be checking out on Wednesday.

100+ Fan Engagement and Fan Experience Articles From May 2016

Here’s a quick round up of 100+ interesting fan engagement and fan experience reads from the sports business world from the month of May 2016.

How Sports Teams Are Using Virtual Reality To Enhance The Fan Experience

Even though still in it’s infancy, the rise and popularity of Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR) is permeating into every industry in the world from video games and education to health and the arts with the sports business leading the way in a number of exciting areas.

Teams and stadiums, predominately from the US but also in the UK, Europe and here in Australia are realising the potential of AR/VR to engage their fans as this is being seen as “the next evolution of human story telling at a whole new level” and we all understand the value of storytelling for driving home positive and deeper fan experiences.

This blog takes a look at what sports businesses, teams and stadiums are doing around the world to engage their fans and enhance the fan experience with virtual and augmented reality technology.

Have you seen something else or think I’ve missed a great idea in this space? Hit me up on @MrBlairHughes on Twitter and share what else is happening in this VR/AR world.

USA

HeadcaseVR

This company collects “depth data capture” which uses 360-degree cameras and sensors to help teams access new data and analytics like how many seconds a football was in the air for or how fast it was thrown.

San Francisco Giants MLB

The Giants have teamed up with Jaunt to produce content using 360 degree video technology. At home games, fans have the chance to experience virtual reality by checking out the Giants social media centre where they have the opportunity to try on Samsung Gear VR headsets to experience the club’s new VR. The VR experience allows members to feel like they are at a training game and get an intimate, field level view of the action. Fans are also able to turn 360-degrees and feel like they are in the infield for practice.

Giants VR

Boston Red Sox MLB

The Red Sox have embraced virtual reality by having new virtual reality booths at Fenway Park this season. Red Sox fans have a chance to see the team up close and in 360 degrees. The technology made its debut recently with three dugout-themed booths stationed through the ballpark with each having several VR headsets for fans to get closer into the action. The club have admitted that the future is uncertain as to how they will use VR but that it’s an important piece of technology.

US Soccer

Looking to change their logo, US soccer released the final design on Google Cardboard for fans to experience this in virtual reality.

Rukkus

This new app lets fans browse and buy tickets using virtual reality.

Rukkus

NASCAR

Making it’s debut recently at the Daytona NASCAR, the XFINITY Virtual Reality Experience simulates an on-track experience for fans. Fans are able to experience what it’s like to drive a race car and experience the action.

NASCAR has also put fans behind the wheels in this new Mountain Dew virtual reality activation.

Cleveland Caveliers NBA

The Cavs teamed up with Budweiser recently to venture into the realm of fully immersive, 360-degree VR videos. The Cavs gave away a limited number of specially designed Budweiser-cardboard viewing headsets to fans at games recently and represents the first team in the NBA to have VR natively built into their official team mobile app and one of the only teams in the league to offer exclusive VR content. The technology debuted with an exclusive VR video that took fans inside the game day experience.

Cavs VR

US OPEN 2016 Tennis

Fans at the US Open were able to try out this virtual reality experience which saw them try to return a serve from Maria Sharapova

NFL

The NFL teams and stadiums have been rolling out some impressive VR experiences recently with the 50th Super Bowl no exception. VR demos at SB50 enabled fans to transport onto the sidelines, beneath huddles and into locker rooms at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara.

Here’s a quick look at the VR experiences from the Jaunt Super Bowl booth.

On one of my recent US fan experience treks I also played around with SAP’s 49er’s Quarterback Challenge kiosk at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara where fans can use VR to feel what it’s like to be a quarterback under pressure from a tough defence.

49ers VR

New England Patriots

The Patriots have released this new VR experience for Patriots fans that was launched by Google Cardboard, in partnership with VISA and Bank of America, named “Travel Inside The Game“.

The idea was to immerse fans in the reality of last year’s SuperBowl winners, using a 360° video experience that saw 10,000 of the headsets handed out by the club.

NY Jets

The Jets have been experimenting with VR tech since the last NFL season and which has seen fans become immersed into the training sessions.

Here is a good chat with the NY Jets Seth Rabinowitz did with Fanalyse on their audioBoom channel talking about the Jets use of virtual reality.

Boxing

Through virtual reality, the Jacobs Vs Ouillin bout was broadcast live to fans in VR through the Haymaker 360 App. The company used multiple cameras to create a 360-degree video where viewers were able to pan in all directions and view the match from different perspectives as well as access exclusive VR content on Haye’s workout and everyday life.

Horse Racing- Kentucky Derby

NBC Sports Group teamed up with NextVR at the Kentucky Derby to produce the first-ever live VR horse-racing experience.

NextVR Kentucky Derby

College Basketball

Virtual Reality company NextVR teamed up with Fox Sports to live stream the quarterfinal, semifinal and championship games of this year’s Big East tournament.

NextVR

NHL

For the NHL All Stars games, the NHL gave fans who could not attend a second chance to experience each event and feel like they were there.

First up was this compilation piece from the 2016 Honda NHL® All-Star Game. Utilizing the Jaunt ONE camera to provide a full 360-degree VR experience of the action, fans received an on-ice position at the Honda NHL® Skills Competition™, a seat on the glass for the NHL All-Star Game and other unique vantage points, including standing next to the press at media day and a look inside the locker room.

LA Kings

Last October I checked out the Staples Centre and the LA Kings fan engagement and got to trial the PictureMe activation from Toshiba. The augmented reality activation enabled me to have the mascot transformed into a picture of us both. Toshiba states that it is bringing a mobile focus to basketball fans’ experiences at Los Angeles’s Staples Center by rolling out an augmented reality application that curates true-to-life pictures of team players with game attendees, allowing guests to enjoy a memorable photo opportunity.

LA Kings VR

NY Rangers

The Rangers have a goal set up that sees fans try to defend the goals as pucks fly in from the star players as the fan wears a VR head set.

NY Rangers VR

Stanford University- STRIVR

Stanford University teamed up with STRIVR to develop a virtual reality simulator that is revolutionizing sports training.

MMA- Bellator

Bellator plans to go behind the scenes and let viewers experience fighters’ pre-bout rituals, practice rounds and training regimens.

MMA VR

UEFA- Euro2016

UEFA has teamed up with Nokia and their OZO professional VR Camera PC-01 to give VR viewers a 360-degree shot throughout the stadium during multiple games, including some of the England, Wales and Northern Ireland matches.

Euro 2016

England

MCFC

Manchester City partnered with LiveLike and Sky Sports to bring City fans in London, New York and Melbourne closer to the game through virtual reality. LiveLike had fans put on a Samsung Gear VR headset and enter into a virtual stadium where they could maneuver to see the live broadcast, replays, stats and highlights.

MCFC VR

Liverpool FC

LFC fans from all over the world were able to experience YNWA in full 360 by clicking and dragging the screen below.

England Rugby

England set up a VR experience for fans at the Six Nations recently whereby fans could try out a Samsung ‘School of Rugby’ game on the new Samsung Galaxy S7 and Samsung Gear VR headsets with the game challenging their reaction speeds against rugby stars Martin Johnson and Lawrence Dallaglio.

England: Wear The Rose

England allowed fans back in 2014 to experience virtual reality with Oculus and let fans train with the England rugby team. The Oculus Rift experience put fans right in the middle of the action and gave them a 360 degree view throughout.

Australia

Cronulla Sharks NRL

The Cronulla Sharks unveiled their ‘SharkPark3D’ virtual reality where fans can experience the home ground with Google Cardboard’s head set.

SharkPark3D Virtual Reality

F1 Australian Grand Prix

Apart from offering a wealth of fan experiences, the AUSGP also featured a virtual reality ‘BIG HELMET’ this year which let fans immerse themselves in the helmet of a Formula 1 driver.

AUSGP Big Helmet

Port Adelaide Power AFL

The Power in conjunction with Jumpgate Virtual Reality have created a virtual classroom where players are being educated on skills through the use of VR head sets. Port has filmed training sessions with three dimensional cameras, with the vision transferred to 3D goggles which offer 360 degree views, sighted through virtual reality goggles. “They (players) can use the goggles and all of a sudden be almost playing football while they’re on the couch, which is helping them educate,” Power coach Ken Hinkley said on Friday.

PAFC

Port have also developed the PAFC Renault Virtual Reality Zone which allows fans to use virtual reality to run out through the banner from the team sheds.

New Zealand

All Blacks

The All Blacks Rugby Union team partnered with AIG to allow fans to experience the HAKA up close and personal with these AIG Haka 360º Experience viewer headsets that were given away to 5000 fans.

Australian Open 2016 Tennis

As part of the AO Social Shack, there was a virtual reality activation with the Aus Open 360 World ‘lab’ which let fans experience a sensory explosion from all angles of the on court action.

AUS Open VR

Netherlands

PSV Eindhoven

The Dutch football champions launched an immersive virtual reality experience which puts fans at the heart of last seasons title winning celebrations.

The new virtual reality film by PSV Eindhoven gave fans from all over the world the unique opportunity to get up close and personal with the players, as they re-live the scenes of when they won the championship title last season.

14 Games in 22 Days: A USA Sports Fan Engagement Road Trip

USA Fan Engagement 2014

If you’re a keen sports fan like I am, there is no doubt you’ve noticed that stadiums and teams are working hard to improve and enhance the match day experience for fans.

The reason for this change over the past few years is obvious to me. With so much competition for our time and money from other leisure activities, as well as the cultural movement of sports fans converting their spare rooms into sports caves, venues and clubs have been prompted to look at the best ways to engage fans and get bums back in seats. To do that, stadiums are quickly incorporating creative and interesting elements into the game day equation, from craft beers and gourmet grub to fan party zones and cabana pools that overlook an NFL field. Some stadiums even have an app that lets you see which toilet line is the least busy.

Improving the digital experience for fans at these venues is one of the key things that forward thinking stadiums are doing to bring fans closer to the action. Free high-speed Internet access, for example, is enabling fans to engage on their second screens and connect to a world of exclusive perks, prizes and benefits. In some venues, those benefits include controllable instant replays, rewards like seat upgrades, and in-seat food ordering through beacon technology.

I live and breathe fan engagement. My background in the field comes from my days working in the music industry, touring with bands around the world. Back then, I would regularly meet people in the music business that inspired me and I was lucky enough to learn from them while I was in their territory. Years later, I found myself using that experience to teach event management, social media marketing and fan engagement to passionate high schoolers. Today, I’m lucky to be in a line of work that allows me to network on a daily basis with stadiums and clubs throughout Australia. As someone with a passion for learning, I regularly travel to stadiums far and wide in order to capture and showcase unique and creative fan engagement ideas. These ideas help inspire the digital fan experience at our venues back in Australia so we can continue putting fans first and help create lasting memories.

I’ve attended just over 100 live sporting events in 2014 across the EPL, NFL, NRL, AFL, A-League, MLS and NHL, from London to Melbourne and New York to Wellington. Those events have exposed me to some absolutely brilliant digital fan engagement activations. They’ve also shown me that some stadiums and teams haven’t caught on to this trend yet, or perhaps they just haven’t had the resources to pull them off.

In October I took a trip to the United States so I could learn about what U.S. stadiums and teams are doing on the digital front to engage their supporters. My stops included Dallas, Columbus, Chicago and New York, where I took in 14 NFL, NBA, MLS, NCAA and NHL games in a little over three weeks. By the time I got back to Australia, it was these 8 game day experiences that really left a lasting memory.

Here’s what happened:

NEW YORK

My 2014 USA fan engagement journey started off with a New York Red Bulls Major League Soccer game on a glorious blue-sky day at Red Bull Arena in Harrison, New Jersey.

The NYRB fan engagement was extremely impressive due to the BULLevard fan zone area that sees fans of all ages enter a closed off street with multiple partner activations, autograph sessions, cage games and activities for kids, as well as the fact that everyone attending this match got a free NYRB bobblehead and flag.

The impressive digital part of this sees each fan that enters the BULLevard area either sign up or check in with their personalized BULLevard card, which gives them a range of sponsor and club benefits, along with incentives for participating in fan area activities. I have seen some fantastic fan zones in 2014 but the NYRB BULLevard is really on another level and deserves a lot of credit, not least due to the amount of kids running around with massive smiles on their faces collecting points in the BULLevard.

On Monday, October 20th, I headed over to Brooklyn and the Barclays Centre to take in an NBA preseason Brooklyn Nets game against the Philadelphia 76ers. Walking through TSA type security and metal detectors, I was immediately impressed with the DJ in his upper court DJ booth area using social media to ask fans to tweet in song requests over the course of the night.

I was able to quickly log on to the venues free WiFi without any password, forced viewing of ads or gated access, and found the Barclays Center app quite impressive as it delivered live enhanced video viewing to my phone. Through the in-seat ordering function, it enabled me to order a tasty gourmet ‘Brooklyn Burger’ and Brooklyn Brewery Brown Ale craft beer, which were both ready for me to collect at the end of the first quarter, meaning I didn’t need to line up in a queue.

BKFood

The use of social media within the venue was also first class, with the in-game app featuring the ability to send photos and messages to the scoreboard and report incidents to arena security.

Next up was another NBA pre season game, with the New York Knicks up against the Philadelphia 76ers at Madison Square Garden. I found the ‘Oblivious Cam’ impressive, where they shine a camera on an unsuspecting fan and time their reaction to being caught out. The tic tac toe fan shoot off and t-shirt gun were good too, but two two stand out initiatives had to be the easy to use FreeMSG WIFI in the venue and the Virtual Venue application. Virtual Venue let me choose my seats and then order some merch and food to pick up at half time.

MSG Oblivious Cam

On Sunday, I went back to New Jersey again for my first NFL experience, with the New York Jets up against the Buffalo Bills at MetLife Stadium.

I was instantly impressed with the high speed WiFi and constant digital fan engagement activations offered. The NFL Fan Style Truck included a virtual dressing room to try on merch and live Madden 15 NFL gaming. I was also able to register my Twitter account, which then collated my digital movements at the stadium that day. Plus, I got a cool NFL wristband as a keepsake!

From the moment I walked into the Jets game I was blown away by the fan engagement and customer service. 80,000 free flags were given away to fans, complemented by digital activations like the Jets Instagram board, fun film and music trivia on the big screens. On top of all that, skills tests around the ground took place, where fans could earn points via the Jets Rewards program and redeem them for unique experiences and memorabilia.

NY Jets Engagement

JETS AND BILLS FANS LINE UP TO KICK FIELD GOALS AS PART OF THE METLIFE STADIUM FAN ENGAGEMENT PROGRAM.

The Jets Rewards program is also used to grant fans access to MetLife Stadium WiFi on game day.

Once inside, I made my way up to my seats, turned around and felt like I was in sports heaven.

Jets Metlife Stadium Inside

THE VIEW FROM MY SEATS AT THE JETS VS. BILLS GAME ON SUNDAY, OCTOBER 26 AT METLIFE STADIUM.

Then I logged on to the NY Jets app on the free MetLife Stadium WiFi. The NY Jets app let me watch extra live video content from different angles of play, which definitely added to my in-stadium experience…even if they ended up being flogged by the Bills and most fans left at the end of the third quarter. The Jets Pocket Pass also let me enter prize draws for interacting with the team and the app enabled me to report any “unsportsmanlike conduct” between rival fans. Even though Bills and Jets fans were sitting next to each other, everyone got along pretty well (to my surprise) considering what I had read took place at NFL games earlier in the season.

After the Jets game I took a quick nap before leaving for a 4am flight from La Guardia Airport to Dallas, Texas. Despite two stop overs in Detroit and Atlanta, I made it to Arlington, Texas just in time for my second NFL game in 48 hours. It was Monday Night Football, and the Dallas Cowboys were going against the Washington Redskins at AT&T Stadium.

TEXAS

Dallas Cowboys Stadium Fan Engagement and WiFi

BEFORE THE COWBOYS GAME STARTS, A RALLY TOWEL IS PUT ON EVERY SEAT IN AT&T STADIUM TO ENGAGE FANS DURING THE GAME.

I encountered another impressive digital fan engagement sight at the Cowboys game. The AT&T Stadium app has a cool augmented reality function that enabled me to point my phone’s camera at certain parts of the stadium and unlock unique content. As I moved the camera around, I heard a beep from my phone speaker when I hovered over certain sections. If I held my phone there, it unlocked interesting content related to the team and what I was looking at. The app also has interactive fan functionality for Cowboys home games, such as Unite This House, Cowboys IQ, Fan-Cam and Post-A-Pic digital capabilities. I was even able to use the app to find my seat location and then order a beer to pick up in the first quarter.

The free WiFi was a breeze to access and tweeting out pics seemed faster than on my normal cellular network. The huge video screen that hangs above the field displays all manner of digital fan engagement fun, from the fan cam to the noise reader, which encourages fans to scream as loud as they can to break the sound record inside the stadium. The AT&T Stadium is really a fantastic fan-powered digital experience. During the game, huge screens at either end of the field displayed game stats and fan photos. Around the stadium concourse, giant high resolution touch screens, flashing videos and still images of players and cheerleaders exist for fans to interact with while walking around. My Dallas Cowboysgame experience showed that they were really leading the way with state-of-the-art technology when it came to creating memorable experiences that engaged their network of fans through digital media.

Next up, I spent two consecutive nights at Dallas’ American Airlines Centre for a Dallas StarsNHL game and then a Dallas Mavericks NBA game.

Dallas Mavericks Fan Engagement and free WiFi

On both occasions, the fan engagement on the digital and non-digital level was exceptional. Apart from the ease of the free WiFi, which let me tweet pics and interact with both teams, the Stars game featured fans tweets and pics on the big screen, the chance to win a seatdowngrade, as well as performance based food incentives.

I got free tacos because the Stars scored more than 2 goals that night. I also thought the fact that they play Pantera – Puck Off (Dallas Stars Fight Song) throughout the game was also a pretty awesome way to pump fans up as well.

I was fortunate enough to be at the Dallas Mavericks game for their NBA season home opener. They gave all 20,000 fans free shirts and the venue also featured a kiss cam and fan-o-meter (to measure fans screams). Other digital engagement activations let fans win seat upgrades, while special fan zones like the Slam Dunk Zone kept people active between quarters. The Mavs ManiAACs dance crew of fat old dudes was also pretty hilarious for fans to engage with. The Dallas American Airlines venue has a few brilliant things going for it in terms of what fans want. There are Texas craft beer stations and a multitude of diverse food stands, not to mention a variety of unique bars which cater for all types of hard-core sports fans, including a Jack Daniels bar and another area that looked like a nightclub within the venue.

OH – IO

On November 1st, I left Dallas Fort-Worth at 2am for my next destination…a high stakes NCAA college football night game between THE Ohio State University and Illinois in Columbus, Ohio.

Once I made it to the 107,000 capacity stadium, also known as ‘The Shoe’, I walked around the ground for an hour or so to explore. Despite the freezing temperatures, tens of thousands of Ohio State (OSU) fans were participating in various fan activities and tailgate distractions. Diverse food trucks and sponsor stalls lined the fan zone, giving out OSU branded merch like lanyard and pens as fans made their way into the massive stadium.

The coolest digital activation I witnessed was the sponsor led AT&T ‘FlatBrutus– Make him, Take him, Tag him’ campaign, which encouraged fans to pick up a Brutus (OSU mascot) cut out, have it personalized with their name and then take a selfie with it. In turn, those pics would be shared on the stadium’s screens throughout the game. The stadium experience for fans was enhanced with the use of the Twitter hashtags, #TheShoe and #GoBucks, which showcased fans tweets on the big screens. Furthermore, the ‘BBQ Cam’ showcased fans enjoying the various BBQ food delights of the stadium as well. The BUCKEYESConnect app also allows fans to have a personalized FanID, which means fans get rewarded with behind the scenes access, exclusive perks, prizes and benefits on match days just by checking into the stadium or posting photos and using the hash tag at the game. The way OSU honored it’s fans who were military, Ohio State Guard and police at nearly every break was interesting to see. The OSU screens would show a BUCKEYES FOREVER pic, with a picture and fact file of a past serviceman or woman showing their years of service in the defense forces as well as years as an OSU member.

From a college perspective, OSU certainly put on an impressive digital fan experience.

With digital consumption always on the rise amongst fans and the problem of stadium seats not always being filled, it’s clear that improving the stadium experience and rewarding fan loyalty is important for a number of reasons. The stadium experience needs to be memorable, and personalized, with a focus on digital engagement that actually excites fans while on-site.

As I witnessed first hand from this brief trip, stadiums and teams in the United States are doing just that.

101 Fan Engagement Ideas For Music Artists

In my time in the music industry I was constantly trying to think of creative ideas to bring added value and enjoyment to the punters who came to see the events that I was promoting or provide special incentives and experiences through the music fans who were buying the Brisbane music compilation record that my small team produced each year.

For instance from 2006-2012 I ran an annual gig showcasing the Brisbane music scene whereby the artists that performed each had to add a classic Brisbane tune into their set. This was a simple and free idea that generated heaps of press coverage, engaged the audience and was an added selling point with ticket sales. This is the point with fan engagement whether it be in sports, music or business the key thing to remember is providing exceptional customer service with these little added touches or memorable experiences along the way. Most of the time you can do these for next to nothing but your own creativity.

Another idea my team had was to engage a local drinks sponsor who provided a free drink to every punter who came through the doors on the night of that gig. Obviously we promoted this in the lead up to the event, but the look on some peoples faces upon entering the venue when they realised that they got a free drink as well as six artists and six hours of live music for $20 was priceless. That look that says ‘wow, I know its just a free drink but I was not expecting that’ was the same look on my face when I first went to the UK music festival, Glastonbury in 2008. On entry to the site we were provided with a showbag of goodies including a map, lanyard with schedule of timetables, a newspaper, an NME magazine, a free drink AND a set of biodegradable tent pegs (short story but the Glastonbury site is a working farm for 2/3 of the year and after every festival people leave thousands of tents and metal tent pegs meaning that in previous years the animals would get injuries to their legs etc hence where this idea came from!). It’s these little touches that go such a long way in creating a memorable experience for fans.

This leads me to my latest infographic which is one that I think will greatly help young bands but also established artists as I truly feel that fan engagement in the music industry is still such an untapped market.

Below you will see 101 fan engagement ideas for the music industry. Many of the ideas have been drawn from what sporting teams and leagues are doing for their fans however many more are from ideas which I have actioned to great success my self. I will be blogging more and more about these music fan engagement ideas in time.

More than anything, I hope this resource will benefit those artists who are just starting out who are realising that they need to do more for their fans because their fans want more from the gig than just three artists up on stage in this day and era.

Please feel free to share with me how your band is engaging with your audience.

101 Fan Engagement Ideas For Music Artists

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How Sports Teams Are Using Virtual Reality To Enhance The Fan Experience

101 Fan Engagement Ideas For Music Artists

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