sportsbusiness

Fan Engagement Ideas For Stadiums And Teams
Fan Engagement, Infographics, Resources, Sports Business, Sports Marketing

FREE Resource: 200+ Fan Engagement Ideas For Stadiums And Teams

Hi, 

I’m talking all things fan engagement and women in sport at the MCG on Tuesday 15th November for the CHAMPIONING WOMEN IN SPORT conference and have put together a helpful flyer to hand out to delegates on the day that lists over 200 creative and fun fan engagement ideas.

While it doesn’t compare to a free rally towel, flag, magnet schedule or t-shirt, I can’t just give a fun motivational speech at a fan engagement conference without having guests take home a free giveaway! 

The high res PDF print version is available below if you’d like to print it out as well.

Fan Engagement Activations

It’s always nice hearing from sports business professionals from England and the US to Russia and Australia and everywhere else in between who find both my Fan Engagement Pinterest site and these resources helpful so please touch base if you would like any more information regarding these ideas and I’ll be happy to assist you. 

I’m available for consulting and conference talks and always keen to hear what teams and stadiums are doing in this space so feel free to get in touch via MrBlairHughes@gmail.com or @MrBlairHughes on Twitter. 

Thanks and have a good week.  

Fan Engagement Ideas For Stadiums And Teams

Fan Engagement Ideas For Stadiums And Teams

Fan Engagement Ideas For Stadiums And Teams

Fan Engagement Ideas For Stadiums And Teams

 

200 Fan Engagement Activations

Women In Sport Australia Word Cloud
Fan Engagement, Sports Business, Sports Marketing

Women In Sport Australia 2016: Learn What’s Happening Across Five Codes In Australian Women’s Sport

AFL Women's Players

AFL Women’s Players

I’m calling it now. Some of you already know this and have been saying this for a while so it’s by no means news to you.

The rise, positivity and excitement of women’s sport in Australia will be the sport success story of 2017. 

If you’ve been living under a rock for the past 12 months you might have missed the fact that women’s sport is booming in Australia with pay, sponsorship, broadcast and attendance records all being smashed in a host of women’s team sports.

The focus on women’s sport in Australia has never been more exciting as a result of plenty of wins off the field including the new AFL Women’s competition starting in 2017, the Commonwealth Bank and Suncorp’s investment in cricket and netball respectively as well as the recent pay rises for AFL Women and the rising participation rates of females in rugby league.

While it’s a very positive time in Australian sport right now, it’s clear that there is still progress to be made to level the playing field in terms of pay and to shine a light on these superstar female athletes through even better TV broadcasting deals which will further engage fans.

These player’s personal brands are rising and in turn making them superstars of their respective games while other benefits are being seen in that new jobs are being created, crowds are continuing to rise, more young girls are playing sport and more people are watching women’s sport on TV and online.

Do yourself a favour and make sure you head out to a women’s match over summer. Take in some WBBL or a W-League game and then pick a team for the Netball and AFL competitions and get to some games in 2017 to see for yourself how much passion and skill these talented women display on the pitch.

Here are some of the key developments that have been happening in just five of the team codes over the past 3-6 months in Australian women’s sport.

AFL Women’s

  • The minimum wage for participants covering a 22-week period – including seven rounds of home and away games and the grand final – has been lifted by 70 per cent from $5000 to $8500 in 2017 following a backlash against the original offer.
  • Priority signings and top draft picks will earn $12,000, up from $10,000, while the 16 marquee players also get a $2000 increase to $27,000 under the improved deal nutted out between the AFL and the players association.
  • The deal also covers football boots and runners, an interstate travel allowance, income protection insurance, out-of-pocket medical expenses and childcare for mothers of infants.
  • The AFL Women’s season opener is scheduled for February, 2017.
  • COTTON On has recruited several female football stars to help create the uniforms for the AFL’s groundbreaking women’s league. The powerhouse company beat out other leading women’s brands, including Lorne Jane and Lululemon, for the long-term deal.
  • The COAR (Cotton On Active Range) specifically-designed fit has been created to complement the female form and enhance player performance.
  • In 2017, marquee players will receive a financial package of $27,000 (inclusive of $10,000 for their marketing and ambassadorial role), the priority players $12,000 and the remaining listed players $8,500 for the seven match (plus Grand Final) season.
  • The packages will increase to $27,946, $12,846 and $9,276 respectively in 2018.
  • The AFL Commission recently approved an increase to the initial remuneration package offered to all players to contribute to the cost of the required level of private health insurance, as well as further raising the base level payment.

In addition to the package, the NAB AFL Women’s players will receive:

  • Football boots and runners
  • Travel allowance when playing interstate
  • Income protection insurance
  • Coverage for out-of-pocket medical expenses for the 52 weeks post contract
  • An allowance to pay for a carer when travelling interstate in cases where a player has a child under 12 months

Football- W-League

  • Amateur players will now receive an allowance in line with male National Youth League (NYL) and state competitions – between $60 and $150 a week.
  • The FFA has set a salary cap of $150,000 per W-League club, with a minimum spend of just $35,000.
  • American sports broadcaster ESPN 3 will televise live W-League games in the USA.
  • Currently, only the Australian women’s team has a CBA for pay, playing, travel and training conditions which includes just 20 players on full-time contracts.
  • Australia wins recognition for women’s development as it expands its activity in Asia

Cricket

  • Female cricketers have had another victory in their push for pay equality with the Commonwealth Bank investing $15 million in the women’s game and diversity over the next three years.
  • The landmark deal is the single largest investment in women’s sport and diversity programs ever seen in Australia, with Commonwealth Bank investing more than $5 million per year over three years from 2017-18.
  • Cricket Australia will produce and digitally stream almost all of the upcoming Women’s Big Bash League domestic competition, including telecasting matches via Facebook.
  • Cricket Australia announces 47 WBBL matches will be live streamed on cricket.com.au and Facebook
  • The WBBL season will kick off with a free, weekend-long carnival of cricket in Sydney on December 10-11 at North Sydney Oval, with all eight clubs to feature and six matches to be played over two days.
  • The NSW Lendlease Breakers made history by becoming the country’s first fully professional domestic women’s sporting team.
  • Breakers players now earn at least the minimum of $35,000, with the top international players earning $100,000 or more.
  • WACA appoints first female deputy chair
  • CA recently increased the payment pool for elite female cricketers from $2.36 million to $4.23 million.
  • The best players in the women’s Big Bash League will be on a retainer of $15,000.
  • Southern Stars players now earn over $100,000.

Rugby League

  • Cronulla are the first club to sign a woman to an official playing contract, withRuan Sims, 34, inking a deal with the club.
  • The league boasts a female commissioner, a female board member with the NSW Rugby League and 13 female board members across the 16 NRL clubs.
  • Almost 500,000 girls and women play a form of the game nationally, with female participation the fastest growing area of the game.
  • More than 68,000 members across the clubs are female.
  • NSW Rugby League announced the creation of a nine-a-side under-18s women’s league to start next year.
  • Women’s rugby league fastest growing sport in Queensland

Women in league: the numbers:

  • 482,000+ girls and women involved in playing the game (touch, tag or tackle)
  • Female participation up 27 per cent on 2015
  • 2,000+ female coaches, sports trainers and referees
  • 5,200+ registered female volunteers
  • 90+ female-only rugby league competitions
  • 68,000+ female NRL club members

Rugby

  • A report into the future of rugby predicts global participation will double to reach 15 million by 2026, and that the surge in numbers will be led by players in the sevens ­format, particularly women.
  • The report, commissioned by HSBC, says women’s rugby is the fastest growing sport in the world, adding 500,000 players a year for the past few years.

Netball

  • Collingwood, the Melbourne Storm and Greater Western Sydney have been confirmed as the new preferred bidders for brand new franchises in Australia’s revamped netball competition.
  • The five-year broadcasting deal with the Nine Network and Telstra will ensure live free-to-air TV coverage of two games a week for the 2017 season.
  • Netball Australia confirms new eight-team division and bumper broadcasting deal.
  • Netball announced that its new national league would have a total player pool of $5.4 million (averaging out to $67,500 a player), taking a leap towards full professionalism.
  • Suncorp was on Monday unveiled as the new backer of the new league which boasts five established teams and three brand new clubs.
  • The new national league next year will see 80 players share a pool of almost $5.5 million and it is hoped the sport could become fully professional within five years.

Here is a wealth of information from news sites regarding the biggest stories around women in sport with a focus on the broadcast deals, sponsorship agreements, fan engagement, pay increases and the new superstars of these codes. This makes for a good read if you’d like to educate yourself on what is happening in women in sport in Australia.

 

  1. AFL women’s league compared to start of WNBA 20 years ago
  2. W-League broadcasting breakthrough indicative of progress for women’s sport
  3. Why the AFL is paying lip service to women’s sport
  4. Ellyse Perry says new women’s sport leagues in Australia will benefit female athletes across codes
  5. Netball Australia confirms new eight-team division and bumper broadcasting deal
  6. Women’s cricket gets $15 million investment ‘to keep pace with AFL, netball’
  7. Women’s AFL competition could spark turf war with netball, cricket, W-League and rugby
  8. Moya Dodd, 2016 overall winner of 100 Women of Influence on the power of sport
  9. Cricket Australia to stream women’s Big Bash online and Facebook
  10. Times are changing for the better in women’s sport, writes Natalie von Bertouch
  11. AFL women’s competition sparks arms race for best female athletes
  12. Sexism in sport: ‘If the surf turns to s**t, send the girls out’
  13. SA’s inspiring women are driving sport — and the state- forward
  14. Lauren Jackson out to force change in WNBL as competition stumbles
  15. Why GWS Giants recruit Jacinda Barclay is the Sonny Bill Williams of women’s sport
  16. Australia’s Charlotte Caslick named women’s rugby sevens player of the year
  17. Women’s sports turning professional needs television
  18. The surprising obstacles to getting more women into competitive sport
  19. AFL Women’s captain on the rise of women’s sport: ‘It’s about time’
  20. Australia’s rugby women win Oceania title ahead of World Series sevens opener in Dubai
  21. Super Netball: New name, new game, new era for netballers
  22. $15m deal for women’s cricket a ‘landmark agreement for Australian sport’
  23. Ellyse Perry hopes NSW Breakers will pave the way for women’s professional sport
  24. AFL women happy with improved pay deal
  25. AFL Women’s competition fulfils dreams, but requires big sacrifices for Giants’ Mai Nguyen
  26. Netball Aust announces deal with Suncorp
  27. All W-League players to be paid after pay deal signed
  28. NSW Breakers become first fully professional women’s team in Australia
  29. Ruan Sims: Cronulla Sharks deal is first paid women’s league contract
  30. Netball pay deal: Athletes set to earn double the previous minimum wage
  31. An entire women’s AFL team costs less than an average male player
  32. AFL women’s competition provides a pathway for young women into professional sport
  33. AFL national women’s league a chance to take the sport ‘next level’
  34. Australian netball launches onto the main stage with TV deal
  35. Women’s sport pay not in the ballpark
  36. ‘Vast’ gender wage gap still exists within billion-dollar sports industry
  37. Investment in women’s sport key to levelling the playing field
  38. Our Watch: Four top sport codes sign up to promote better attitudes about women
  39. Women’s elite sports prepare for challenge of new AFL league
  40. Top female players to earn over $100,000 in new Cricket Australia pay scheme
  41. Every WBBL match to be broadcast live
  42. CA, CommBank make landmark investment
  43. WACA appoints first female deputy chair
  44. TasWeekend: Women’s cricket on quest to bowl over new audience
  45. Sharks sign another Jillaroo to historic deal
  46. Sharks Sign Woman To An Official NRL Playing Contract
  47. Girls just want to play rugby league
  48. Sevens the driver to bring women and children into rugby
  49. Not everyone’s a fan of females on the footy field
  50. NRL Women in League round kicks off as female participation increases
  51. Women of rugby league earn stripes as female participation grows
  52. Women’s rugby league fastest growing sport in Queensland, empowers outback women
  53. Fox Sports’ Lara Pitt backs calls for more female rugby league callers
  54. Women’s AFL, NRL and rugby competitions are welcome and overdue, but why now?
  55. NSW Rugby League announce creation of a nine-a-side under-18s women’s league
  56. Women’s rugby league passes test with flying colours as Cronulla beat Dragons in historic nines match
  57. Why the professionalisation of women’s sport in Australia could put Olympic performances under threat
  58. Success of women’s rugby league seen in TV broadcast, sponsorships and public interest
  59. AFL Women’s payment terms agreed
  60. AFL Women’s teams reveal new-look playing uniforms
  61. AFL: Northern beaches’ pioneer signed to play in new national women’s competition
  62. AFL Women’s league reveals its Geelong-made new uniforms
  63. AFL Victoria releases control of local women’s leagues, will create more football jobs
  64. AFL Women’s League – the frequently asked questions
  65. FFA and PFA in talks over first collective bargaining agreement for W-League
  66. Australia wins recognition for women’s development as it expands its activity in Asia
  67. W-League could be next in line for much-needed pay boost
  68. EXPOSE: Players open up about W-League conditions

I even pulled a Word Cloud out of all of these articles and it’s clear to see the key words that dominate women in sport.

Women In Sport Australia Word Cloud

Women In Sport Australia Word Cloud

Fan Engagement Round Up April
Fan Engagement, Resources, Sports Business, Sports Marketing

100+ Fan Engagement and Fan Experience Articles From April 2016

FE Monthly Round Up Articles

FE Monthly Round Up Articles

 

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

Plenty of food for thought here such as the implantable microchips being rolled out to one Argentinian clubs fan base. Now that’s one way to collect fan data!

1. 5 Sports Stadiums That Score Big With CX

2. Here’s how a Charlotte startup helped launch Turner Classic Movies’ fan club

3. Churchill Downs Launches New Mobile App To Enhance Fan Experience At The Racetrack

4. This Company Lets Sports Fans Know If a Stadium Ran Out of Hot Dogs

5. 2016 NFL Draft Fan Experiences Feature Smartspeed Timing System

6. USL Productions Aims to Elevate Fan Experience

7. Trisect Wins AOR Duties for The Chicago Bears

8. Bengals give loyal fan draft-day experience

9. THE RELAUNCHED RUGBY.COM.AU WEBSITE SHOWS FANS RUGBY FROM ALL SIDES

10. Mountain Hawk Rewards app implemented to increase engagement

11. Pirate fans excited about stadium renovations

12. Express your Virginia Tech spirit with the new Hokiemoji keyboard

13. Spotless Stadium voted best AFL venue for fan experience, beating Gold Coast’s Metricon Stadium

14. Dolphins Season Ticket Members To Receive Exclusive NFL Draft Experience

15. Bud Light Levels Up The Esports Fan Experience With The Introduction Of A New All-Star Program

16. Responsible NASCAR Fans Rewarded at Richmond International Raceway

17. Hornets jazz up fan experience to improve home court advantage

18. Sports Fans and Social Media, Part 2: Perils, Pitfalls and Best Practices

19. How We Got Here: Major League Sports And The New Frontier Of Broadcasting

20. New $3.3M video boards at Mackay, Lawlor go before Regents

21. Redblacks add ‘experience zone’ to TD Place

22. Can the FIFA Interactive World Cup fan experience compare to a live game?

23. What is one trend you’re watching in sports facility design and construction?

24. Toronto Raptors fans flock to Jurassic Park for ‘crazy’ experience

25. The Detroit Pistons Are Using Traditional Emails In A New Way To Engage Fans

26. IoT disrupts the Tour de France

27. Why Rutgers coach Chris Ash wants to enhance the student-fan experience

28. NBA teams can still pack in the fans, even if they don’t win

29. Fans flock to Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach for fast cars, food, fun

30. SportTechie Startup Profile Series: Dasdak Turns Stadium Mobile Services Into Mobile Sales

31. Warriors Ground Tailgate— a foodie, fan-friendly experience

32. Dallas Mavericks Head Into The Playoffs With A New Emoji Keyboard App

33. Video Walls by Userful Enhance Fan Experience at Tampa Bay’s Amalie Arena

34. Here’s why football clubs are in a digital arms race

35. Improving the fan experience at The PLAYERS Championship

36. Why winning global fan league has become a priority for football clubs

37. 4 Data Points All Sports Teams Should Be Using

38. ARU CEO says no alternative to Allianz

39. Jersey Over Apron: Virtual fan experience

40. Sporting KC Uphoria app expands to include new ticketing features in 2016

41. Fandom Daily Changes Fantasy Sports for the Better

42. The FANchise Will Be The World’s First Fan-Run Professional Sports Team

43. Can The NFL Deal Improve User Engagement On Twitter?

44. Building a Fan Base: Yard Goats sell baseball ‘experience’ to lure fans

45. New Vikings app will provide all the comforts with just a tap

46. Diamondbacks register lowest cost to fans for 10th straight season

47. Red Sox to offer fans virtual reality experience at Fenway

48. At Calfee, it’s all about the ‘fan experience’

49. SportTechie Startup Profile Series: Hopscotch Helps Teams Launch, Manage And Monetize Mobile Apps

50. Big crowds mean lots of work for Kauffman Stadium lost and found

51. U.S. Cellular Field to Unveil High-Definition LED Spectacular in Center Field

52. How the Portland Trail Blazers are embracing technology to engage fans and sell more tickets

53. IBM Tees Up Digital Birdie’s-Eye View of The Masters

54. Van Zeyl confident BMO Field will provide more pleasant fan experience

55. Celtics Announce Playoff Sponsors, Fan Activities

56. Mitchell Johnson talks about his relationship with Virat Kohli and IPL fan experience

57. The Detroit Pistons Are Sending Emails That Change Every Time Fans Check Them Movable Ink powers dynamic game-day communication By Erik Wander

58. How a Major League Baseball stadium decides what crazy food fans will eat

59. Kings Host Tech Night at Sleep Train Arena

60. Will Deal To Stream NFL Games Undermine Twitter’s Social Experience?

61. Washington Redskins Partner With Buzztime To Provide Redskins Fans With Interactive Entertainment Year-Round

62. Sports Sponsorship in India up by 12 % last year

63. La Liga aims to grow fans’ experience

64. Fans experience NCAA Championship game from all levels

65. Associated Bank’s “Grand Slam Challenge” fan experience at Miller Park is a hit!

66. Turn Sports Fans Into Fans Of Your Brand

67. Vikings, VenueNext Announce Partnership to Enhance Fan Experience at U.S. Bank Stadium

68. Colorado Springs Switchbacks investing in facility improvements to enhance fan experience

69. Texas Rangers Enhance Fan Experience and Energy Efficiency at Globe Life Park with Eaton’s Advanced Ephesus LED Lighting and Controls System

70. Play ball: Nats deploy software, social media to boost game experience (Video)

71. Major upgrades for fans to enjoy at Busch Stadium

72. Jacksonville Suns owner Ken Babby creating new experience at ballpark

73. Why sponsors want more out of sports sponsorship

74. Mitel to Power Seamless, Real-Time Communications for San Diego Padres

75. MLB exhibition at Victory Field a fun experience for players, fans

76. What’s new at U.S. Cellular? Video boards, cheesy beefs and homecoming

77. Four reasons why every cricket fan must watch a match live in the stadium

78. Magic App Update Will Allow Fans To Select Team Lineups

79. Kings Fan Spin Class to Power 4K Center-Hung Video Board in New Arena

80. San Francisco Giants Ready To Give Fans Unique Virtual Reality Experience At AT&T Park

81. Olympique Lyonnais Blazing A Trail For Fan Experience Apps In Europe

82. Breaking down the best fan experiences in Vancouver sports

83. The Lady Bears’ Success on Court Boosted by Strong Fan Support

84. Tripleplay and Triple Jump Technologies partner to deliver unique connected stadium experience

85. ’Shoe refitting on tap at Ohio State

86. Great example of how new style of communication can acquire new fans!

87. Argentine football club Tigre launches implantable microchip for die-hard fans

88. Bengals give loyal fan draft-day experience

89. What the shortening human attention span means for marketers

90. Demographic segmentation: How 7 football organisations target the next generation online

91. SEAT London 2016 – a boat-load of learning!

92. Defining fan engagement

93. DENVER NUGGETS LION KING CAM FAR SUPERIOR TO KISS CAM

94. I Want to Know, Want to Go, Want to Share Fan Engagement at Warp Speed

95. Know the 5 Secrets of Formula E to Build Real Fan Engagement | Hangout Resume

97. A Game Plan for Enhancing Fan Engagement

98. PART TWO: Measuring fan engagement: an introduction

99. Inside Real Madrid’s Game Plan For Digital Domination

100. The Orlando Magic Becomes First NBA Team to Deploy and Integrate iBeacons Via Team Mobile App in Amway Center

101. WTW: Discussing Fan Engagement with Bas Schnater

102. Australian Rugby Union dives into data in new deal with sports marketing group Perform

103. Why Microsoft invests in sports: Marketing chief says ‘it’s about people’s passions’

104. How this Hollywood vet is using virtual reality and storytelling to disrupt the sports world

105. Argentinian football club begin implanting fans with season ticket microchips

 

 

 

 

AFL Fan Engagement 2016
Fan Engagement, Resources, Sports Business, Sports Marketing

Team by Team: 2016 AFL Fan Engagement and Fan Experience Activations

AFL Fan Engagement 2016

AFL Fan Engagement 2016

The 2016 AFL season get’s underway this Thursday night at the MCG with the Richmond Tigers taking on the Carlton Blues in what will be one of 207  hotly anticipated Aussie Rules matches played across the country.

Fans will be excited for the footy happening on the field but what else can they look forward to in terms of the fan experience both inside the stadium and while their online at home, in another state or country, on a mobile or tablet or even with their own virtual reality headset?

Just like I posted a couple of weeks back ahead of the start of the 2016 NRL season (See here: Club by Club: 2016 NRL Fan Engagement and Fan Experience Activations), this AFL club by club fan engagement recap will examine what each of the 18 teams are doing for their fans to drive deeper connections, engage their sponsors with their fans and shine a light on how these teams are listening to their fans.

Disclaimer: All of these team fan engagement activations and fan experience ideas have been sourced from the club’s social media pages and team websites, therefore there may be a great idea which I’ve missed. In this case please reach out to me on Twitter at @MrBlairHughes and I’ll update the article.

Adelaide Crows

The Crows held their season launch on Friday at Adelaide Oval and online offer fans the chance to participate in AFC Quizzes.

Adelaide also have a fan jet called Crows Jet that can fly fans interstate to matches as well as their own Crows Match Day Lottery.

Fans were also given the opportunity to be the ’19th man’ (although why not woman too?) in the team photo.

Crows Jet

Crows Jet

Crows Quizzes

Crows Quizzes

Crows Season Launch

Crows Season Launch

Adelaide Be The 19th Man

Adelaide Be The 19th Man

Crows Lottery

Crows Lottery

 

Brisbane Lions

The Lions have a wealth of fan engagement happening in 2016 and it probably a bit easier for them with their own ground as they can make full use of front Stanley Street area of The Gabba for their Lion Park fan zone.

Brisbane offer fans the opportunity to share their member stories in their Your Club, Your Stories online portal, include behind the scenes shots with their Snapchat account, produce weekly member only online TV Recovery Reports and Training Resources as well as offer healthy eating insights from player Daniel Rich with his Richie’s Recipes.

The Lions through sponsor Hyundai offer Game Day Parking incentives for fans and the member’s only area Hyundai Terrace, the ability to Train with the team, downloadable season calendars and wallpapers as well as free on field Kick to Kick fun after the final siren which enables kids to have a kick of the Sherrin at the end of the game.

The Lions have not forgotten about their female fans as well as their hugely successful Women of the Pride group continues to go from strength to strength in engaging their female fan base.

Lions members can participate in the members road trip for the Geelong match.

Fans can also get their name up on the Member’s Wall at The Gabba for home games as well as cast their vote in the Hall of Fame jersey.

The Lions recently held a Family Fun Day and in partnership with the Brisbane Roar A-League team also offered a creative collaboration which saw the chance for 5000 A-League fans to come to a Lions AFL game and they in turn returned the favour and let 5000 AFL fans head along to one of the Brisbane Roar’s games across town. Read more here on this: Brisbane Roar, Brisbane Lions announce ticket deal

Brisbane Lions 'Richy's Recipes'

Brisbane Lions ‘Richy’s Recipes’

Members Road Trip

Members Road Trip

Lion Park

Lion Park

The Hyundai Terrace- Lions

The Hyundai Terrace- Lions

Train with the Lions

Train with the Lions

Park Inside 50- Lions

Park Inside 50- Lions

Brisbane Lions

Brisbane Lions

Lions Snapchat

Lions Snapchat

Brisbane Lions

Brisbane Lions

Brisbane Lions Members Wall

Brisbane Lions Members Wall

Lions Vote for Hall of Fame Guernsey

Lions Vote for Hall of Fame Guernsey

Lions App

Lions App

Brisbane Lions - Lion Park

Brisbane Lions – Lion Park

Brisbane Lions- Your Stories

Brisbane Lions- Your Stories

Lions Kick to Kick

Lions Kick to Kick

 

Carlton Blues

The Blues push the boundaries and offer fans some unique fan engagement from their player Music Playlists, Blues Museum Blueseum and Carlton Wine Club to their Member’s Stories portal and Ikon Park Carlton Ghost Tours.

The Blues have held a family day, host regular open training sessions, let members names be on their jersey, gave away free posters at a recent family day, let members in for free at the NAB Challenge games, meet the players for signing sessions and even ran an exclusive members opportunity where fans could win heaps of prizes as a different player’s locker revealed new information each day in the lead up to the new season.

The Blues The Journey: Inside the reset of a football club documentary was a great watch for fans of any club to view.

The Journey: Inside the reset of a football club

The Journey
The Journey:
Inside the reset of a football club

Carlton also engage their fans with exclusive on demand audio through their audioBoom channel that features press conferences, radio interviews and raw behind the scenes sounds. As part of their Blues Wall of Fame at Ikon Park the club have installed a beautifully tiled wall of famous players and moment which each have a QR Code that links back to an audioBoom post therefore meaning that a fan can come out to the club and use their phone to interact with the feature while also hearing interesting insights and sounds from that era as they walk along.

Blues News audioBoom

Blues News audioBoom

Carlton Wall of Fame

Carlton Wall of Fame

Carlton

Carlton

Carlton Blues

Carlton Blues

Carlton

Carlton

Carlton

Carlton

Carlton Locker Room Fan Giveaways

Carlton Locker Room Fan Giveaways

Blues Open Training

Blues Open Training

Carlton

Carlton

Meet The Players- Carlton

Meet The Players- Carlton

Carlton MOG Playlist

Carlton MOG Playlist

Carlton- Member Stories

Carlton- Member Stories

Blues Wine Club

Blues Wine Club

Carlton Ghost Tours

Carlton Ghost Tours

Blues Player Playlist

Blues Player Playlist

 

Collingwood Magpies

The Magpies have a host of fun things for fans from their special match day deals and special day deals to their family fun run and walk event and even their Collingwood Cartoon.

Collingwood have run an intra club match, host regular training sessions, have the opportunity for a coach to win an ultimate coaching experience with Nathan Buckley’s staff and have their Magpie Army as well that engages fans across the globe.

There’s plenty to look forward to for Magpie’s fans as this article ‘AFL clubs fear a costly ‘contest’ in match-day experience’ points out that ‘Collingwood president Eddie McGuire bemoaned a “sterile” atmosphere at matches last season, prompting the Magpies to revamp their cheer squad, which will now span three bays at the MCG. The Pies will also have sausage sizzles at their Olympic Park home ground before the match, with fans able to march to the MCG together.’

Collingwood's Magpie Army

Collingwood’s Magpie Army

Collingwood Magpies

Collingwood Magpies

Collingwood Magpies

Collingwood Magpies

Collingwood Magpies

Collingwood Magpies

Collingwood Family Fun Run and Walk

Collingwood Family Fun Run and Walk

Collingwood Cartoon

Collingwood Cartoon

Collingwood Open Training

Collingwood Open Training

Essendon Bombers

The Bombers have some exciting multicultural fan engagement happening at the club with their unique Embracing India Indian supporters hub on their website.

Essendon will play a country game against Geelong this year and have also featured this in their country portal on their home page. Essendon Country Hub

The Bombers players and staff have even been out to members homes to present them with their 2016 memberships which is always a nice touch and puts an unexpected smile on fans faces.

Essendon are just one of a number of teams who have seen the rise in podcasting and have jumped on this hugely popular media to engage with their fans. Their Lloyd’s Lowdown is a very successful podcast that amongst other audio like pressers, match sounds and interviews with players and fans has seen the club generate over 1M listens. Listen to Lloyd’s Lowdown here:

Bombers fans are being encouraged to wave their jackets at key moments of the 2016 season in an effort to get the crowd pumped up and as a homage to the famous Kevin Sheedy jacket waving moment. Skip to 3.44 here to view that classic AFL moment.

Embracing India- Essendon

Embracing India- Essendon

Essendon Surprising Members

Essendon Surprising Members

Essendon Country Fan Engagement

Essendon Country Fan Engagement

Essendon Embracing India Portal

Essendon Embracing India Portal

Fremantle Dockers

Freo have their Digital Docker online magazine, offer fans free fixture Docker’s Wallpapers and have some good deals for members at their home games with seat upgrades throughout the season.

The Dockers also offer a valuable array of educational programs and worksheets in their Welcome to Freo resources to get young fans involved with the club and learn healthy habits and participate in player visits to schools.

Dockers Digital Magazine

Dockers Digital Magazine

Fremantle Dockers

Fremantle Dockers

Fremantle Wallpapers

Fremantle Wallpapers

Welcome to Freo- Kids Worksheets

Welcome to Freo- Kids Worksheets

 

GWS Giants

The Giants G-Man Kids Site is a must view for teams thinking about doing something similar. NRL teams like Parramatta and Souths lead the way here with their kids sites however this is one of the best in the AFL.

GWS fans can download free GWS Wallpapers, vote for their Giants MVP each round,

Their Giants G-Man Kids Zone is also worth a look for what happens on game days at the ground and online.

GWS fans can cast their say in their GWS ‘Your Say’ while the club even held a GWS Hidden Camera Surprise for fans who found a lucky orange ticket.

Giants Wallpapers

Giants Wallpapers

GWS Fan's MVP

GWS Fan’s MVP

Meet G-Man

Meet G-Man

GMAN Wallpaper

GMAN Wallpaper

GWS Wallpapers

GWS Wallpapers

GWS Giants Hidden Camera Surprise

GWS Giants Hidden Camera Surprise

GWS Wallpapers

GWS Wallpapers

GWS G-Man Kids Site

GWS G-Man Kids Site

GWS 'Your Say'

GWS ‘Your Say’

Geelong Cats

Geelong are on Snapchat, have held a family fun day and have allowed fans the chance to be in the team photo. 

Their HALF CAT’S TELSTRA ALLSTARS TEAM enabled junior fans to be in a run on team at the family day. 

Geelong Snapchat

Geelong Snapchat

Geelong Family Day

Geelong Family Day

Geelong Photo

Geelong Photo

 

 

Gold Coast Suns

Gold Coast let fans be in the team photo, host a TV show for members called Sun Burnt, held a family day at their home base in Metricon Stadium, offer VIP match day experiences and held an open training session on a Gold Coast beach for fans.

The team are calling on fans to have their pictures featured on their giant Suns social wall and in good news for fans who like to stay connected at the stadium, Metricon Stadium has just announced details regarding free Wi-Fi in the ground for fans on match days. Read more about that here: Metricon Stadium completes Wi-Fi roll out.

The Suns fan zone is one of the best in the country in any sport and needs to be seen by other sports fans to understand it’s excellence and best practice in providing a unique fan experience. From their football paddock, giveaways and live stage with bands to members bars, abundance of social media picture opportunities and gourmet food options the Suns fan engagement is top notch. I have attached some pictures from when I visited in 2014 and 2015 and hope to be back this year to see how it has improved.

GC Suns

GC Suns

GC Suns

GC Suns

Be in the Suns Team Photo

Be in the Suns Team Photo

GC Suns Open Day

GC Suns Open Day

Open Beach Training with The GC Suns

Open Beach Training with The GC Suns

GC Suns Social Wall

GC Suns Social Wall

 

Suns Fan Engagement

Suns Fan Engagement

Hawthorn Hawks

The Hawks Humans of Hawthorn is a great take on the popular Humans of New York while fans can also fly the flag at Hawks home games in 2016 with their Fly The Hawks Flag campaign.

Hawthorn’s ‘Call It’ App allows fans to participate in the action on their second screen with other fans while fans can also join up to the club tipping comp.

Instead of having a typical family day, Hawthorn have opted for a Night Market event complete with food trucks which is a nice change. More on that here Hawks Family Night Market

The Hawks are also letting fans design their alternative jersey for 2016 with details found here Design our alternate guernsey

Hawthorn Hawks Humans of Hawthorn

Hawthorn Hawks Humans of Hawthorn

Hawthorn 'Fly The Flag'

Hawthorn ‘Fly The Flag’

Hawks Tipping

Hawks Tipping

Hawks Night Market

Hawks Night Market

Design the Hawks Alternative Jersey

Design the Hawks Alternative Jersey

Design the Hawks Alternative Jersey

Design the Hawks Alternative Jersey

Hawks App

Hawks App

 

Melbourne Demons

Melbourne have a wealth of fan engagement happening this year from their Kids Deezone which features a section where young fans can submit a book review, play footy shuffle and participate in other activities.

The Dees Women’s Team section is a showcase of what is happening to engage supporters for the games that the women play this year leading into the new national competition while the Pledge Per Win is a way for fans to contribute a sum of cash after every win that directly helps the club.

Melbourne also have free Wallpapers for fans, held a family footy festival, allowed fans to be in the team photo and host open training and signing sessions for fans as added bonuses.

DeeZone

DeeZone

Melbourne Demons

Melbourne Demons

Book Review- MFC

Book Review- MFC

Demons Family Day

Demons Family Day

Melbourne Open Training

Melbourne Open Training

Melbourne Festival of Football

Melbourne Festival of Football

Melbourne Demons

Melbourne Demons

Demons 'Meet The Players'

Demons ‘Meet The Players’

Melbourne Family Day

Melbourne Family Day

Melbourne Wallpapers

Melbourne Wallpapers

Melbourne Pledge Per Win

Melbourne Pledge Per Win

North Melbourne Kangaroos

The Roo’s digital presence is quite engaging as they do all the regular social stuff however also have a Gif’s section that is a nice touch.

Along with this, North also offer fans the chance to participate in club Quizzes, held a big family fan day and have also released a special retro jersey as seen below.

NMFC Gifs

NMFC Gifs

NMFC Family Day

NMFC Family Day

NMFC Retro Gunerseys

NMFC Retro Gunerseys

NMFC Quizzes

NMFC Quizzes

Port Adelaide Power

Port have released a special retro jersey from their first season for fans. 

PAFC Retro Guernsey

PAFC Retro Guernsey

The rendition by PAFC fans of INXS’s classic tune ‘Never Tear Us Apart’ at home games at the Adelaide Oval is probably one of the greatest sights by any sporting team in Australia right now and needs to be seen in person (I hope to get over this year for a match) This collaborative fan sing along from Port fans has become a stand out anthem at games. Watch it here now

Port Adelaide have also held open training days and have exclusive member benefits with their PAFC App

PAFC Open Training Session

PAFC Open Training Session

PAFC App

PAFC App

Richmond Tigers

The Tigers offer fans a superb match day fan experience with music performances and the new addition in 2016 of being able to control and access around one kilometre of LED signage plus the big screens at key periods on match days.

Tigers fans can get their hands on free Tigers Wallpapers and young fans can be the 2016 Tiger Cub.

Richmond Fan Engagement

Richmond Fan Engagement

Richmond Tigers

Richmond Tigers

St Kilda Saints

The Saints are utilising Snapchat in 2016 to provide fans with AAA footage and pics from behind the scenes on match days and throughout the week.

St Kilda also held a family day and a jersey presentation and have much more to come in 2016 by the looks of things.

Saints on Snapchat

Saints on Snapchat

St Kilda Jumper Presentation

St Kilda Jumper Presentation

Sydney Swans

The Swans fan engagement is world class best practice and offers fans exceptional Match Day fan experiences.

Young fans can be the team reporter with the Red Rookie Reporter while the women’s L@SS ‘Ladies of Sydney Swans’ is a great way for female fans to get closer to the game and team.

Fans can catch a ride for free to the game thanks to this Be Driven To Match Day bit of fan engagement from sponsor Volkswagen.

Swans fans can hear from the players directly with their Swans Player Blogs while also getting pumped up at games and getting involved with the #HCFGOSWANS social call to arms.

The Rainbow Swans LGBTI group is also a brilliant way that the Swans are showing how inclusive they are to all fans which in 2016 is brilliant to see from a major sporting team in Australia.

 

160209VWheader

Swans Red Rookie

Swans Red Rookie

Rainbow Swans LGBTI Fan Group

Rainbow Swans LGBTI Fan Group

Rainbow Swans

Swans

Swans

Sydney Swans

Sydney Swans

Sydney Swans- Lift to the Game

Sydney Swans- Lift to the Game

L@SS Swans

L@SS Swans

Swans Player Blogs

Swans Player Blogs

Sydney Swans Fan Engagement

Sydney Swans Fan Engagement

West Coast Eagles

The Eagles run fun fan WCE Competitions throughout the season, produce interesting audio with their EAGLES FM digital audio channel, hold regular Open Training Days. 

The Eagles FREE zone offers an array of fan benefits as seen below while the Global Eagle global fan zone means Eagles fans all over the world can engage with each other and the team. 

The Eagles have held a family fun day and have also released a 30th anniversary guernsey for fans in 2016. 

WC Eagles

WC Eagles

Eagles Fan Day

Eagles Fan Day

WCE 30th Anniversary Guernsey

WCE 30th Anniversary Guernsey

WC Eagles Fan Fair

WC Eagles Fan Fair

WC Eagles Fan Engagement

WC Eagles Fan Engagement

West Coast Eagles 'Global Eagle'

West Coast Eagles ‘Global Eagle’

WCE 'Rick's Fun Stuff'

WCE ‘Rick’s Fun Stuff’

Western Bulldogs 

The Doggies offer fans a weekly Bulldogs Cartoon, a special ‘Ask a Bulldog’ segment, information and ways for fans to get involved with their Bulldogs Women’s Team as well as ways for men to look after their health with their men’s health focused Sons of the West program. 

Young Western Bulldogs fans can learn healthy eating tips in their online Bulldogs kids zone called ‘The Pack’ and also participate in reading challenges with the Bulldogs Reading Program. More on The Pack can be found by following the links. 

Bulldogs fans have been able to go to interstate open training days while junior fans can be the ‘Pup Press Reporter’ for each game and also participate in a junior member training session with a player. 

Bulldogs Cartoon

Bulldogs Cartoon

Bulldogs Women's Team

Bulldogs Women’s Team

Bulldogs 'The Pack'

Bulldogs ‘The Pack’

Bulldogs Kids Zone

Bulldogs Kids Zone

Western Bulldogs Open Training

Western Bulldogs Open Training

Western Bulldogs Pups Press

Western Bulldogs Pups Press

Bulldogs Junior Member Clinic

Bulldogs Junior Member Clinic

AUS OPEN 2016 Fan Experience
Fan Engagement, Sports Business, Sports Marketing, Stadium Adventures

AUSTRALIAN OPEN 2016 Fan Experience Review

AUS OPEN 2016 Fan Experience

AUS OPEN 2016 Fan Experience

Taking place every January for two weeks in Melbourne, Australia, the Australian Open tennis tournament is a world class innovative fan experience that showcases the largest fan site in the world for a major Grand Slam tennis tournament at 250,000 square metres. From best practice digital fan engagement to gourmet food and endless fan activations, this is Australia’s premier sporting event for fan engagement for fans of all ages.  

AUS OPEN 2016 Fan Zone

AUS OPEN 2016 Fan Zone

The Australian Open prides itself on providing an exceptional fan experience and for this years event they included a new Australian Open Festival site that was completely free for the public and only around 500m from the main tennis arena. The new AO festival space in Birrarung Marr near Flinders Street station was designed to host a free tennis-inspired festival for all ages and offered tennis games, a giant TV screen to watch matches on plus gourmet food and drinks and other fan activations like photo opportunities with giant tennis balls. Designed as the new ‘front door’ of the Aus Open, the new festival area was certainly a winner for fans who were already going to the tournament as well as for those who just wanted to experience the free site. 

AUS OPEN 2016 Festival Site

AUS OPEN 2016 Festival Site

AUS OPEN 2016 Festival Site

AUS OPEN 2016 Festival Site

AUS OPEN 2016 Festival Site

AUS OPEN 2016 Festival Site

Aus Open 2016: Festival site at Birrarung Marr

Aus Open 2016: Festival site at Birrarung Marr

Aus Open 2016: Festival site at Birrarung Marr

Aus Open 2016: Festival site at Birrarung Marr

AUS Open 2016: Canadian Club Bar

AUS Open 2016: Canadian Club Bar

AUS Open 2016: Canadian Club Bar

AUS Open 2016: Canadian Club Bar

The tournament offers free trams to and from the event from the main CBD station (Flinders Street) with these free trams being well staffed with Metro staff on hand to help fans get to and from the tournament with ease. The journey time is only a short 10-15 minute ride to and from the door of the venue from the centre of Melbourne so it’s a worthwhile option for fans especially due to the drop off and pick up location at the venue and because it’s free for ticket holders. Without a ticket to the event you would need to use a MYKI card meaning you will have to buy one of these in advance from a 7/11 for $6 and then touch on the tram/train for $3.79 each way. Parking is also affordable and can be made on site for only $15. 

The food and drink on offer at the Aus Open is more than just pies, hot dogs, softdrinks and beers and is more about showcasing the local delights from Australia’s best restaurants and producers such as the Gelato Messina tennis creations as well as a big focus on gourmet, healthy and fresh Greek, Italian and traditional Australian cuisine. There is literally something here for even the fussiest of diners or for those with dietary requirements such is the abundance of vegetarian, vegan and gluten free options which is great to see as it means the organisers are truly catering for all fans. 

AUS OPEN 2016 Food

AUS OPEN 2016 Food

AUS OPEN 2016

AUS OPEN 2016

Healthy food options

Healthy food options

Gelato Messina Food

Gelato Messina Food

In terms of going the extra mile for fans there are some amazing fan experiences on offer at the Aus Open. From behind the scenes tours, meet and greets with past and present players, to their relaxing day spa and butler service that sees food and drink delivered to your seat, fans can even rent a personal tennis commentator or be picked up from their house or hotel in an official KIA Aus Open car and be driven to the tournament like a professional player! 

AUS OPEN 2016: Jurlique Spa Lounge

AUS OPEN 2016: Jurlique Spa Lounge

AUS OPEN 2016: Behind the scenes tours

AUS OPEN 2016: Behind the scenes tours

The digital fan engagement from the Aus Open is superb and always touches on the new and exciting things happening in the the digital world to engage with fans from all over the world. From their snapchat account featuring interesting and exclusive behind the scenes moments, emoji messaging keyboard and use of audioBoom to capture insightful audio stories from fans to their use of Periscope to get live raw video action and interviews for fans, asking fans where they were for seat upgrades using #AOSOCIALSUITE to their creative Twitter emoji’s featuring a Koala in a cork hat and Leyton Hewitt, the tournament continued to out do itself online in 2016. It didn’t stop there though as there were also Twitter takeovers with tennis legend Rod Laver, the #EmiratesCheckIn which enabled fans to win prizes and the Guvera playlist which collated players favourite tunes and asked fans to make their own playlist. 

AUS OPEN 2016: Emoji's

AUS OPEN 2016: Emoji’s

Aus Open 2016: Seat Upgrades

Aus Open 2016: Seat Upgrades

AUS OPEN 2016: Emoji Keyboard

AUS OPEN 2016: Emoji Keyboard

AUS OPEN 2016: AO Social Shack

AUS OPEN 2016: AO Social Shack

The physical presence of the AO Social Shack also delighted fans with virtual reality and social media activations like the Aus Open 360 World ‘lab’ which let fans experience a sensory explosion from all angles of the on court action, trophy photo opportunities and the insta-mosaic where fans could tag themselves and #AOSelfie on Instagram to in return receive a free polaroid print out and be featured in a giant mosaic of 4000+ fan photos. The AOSocialShack also included Twitter chats with players that expanded to live streaming ‘people pressers’ using Periscope at the Social Shack. The ‘Social Suite’ in Hisense Arena provided a VIP social experience for fans that engaged with the Australian Open on social media. Through Facebook, fans have also been able to custom brand their profile picture with an AO frame detailing who they support such as ‘I’m Team Tomic’.

AO Social Shack

AO Social Shack

AUS OPEN 2016 360 World

AUS OPEN 2016 360 World

AUS OPEN 2016 360 World

AUS OPEN 2016 360 World

AUS OPEN 2016 Insta-Mosaic

AUS OPEN 2016 Insta-Mosaic

AUS OPEN 2016: Insta-Mosaic

AUS OPEN 2016: Insta-Mosaic

AUS OPEN 2016: Insta-Mosaic

AUS OPEN 2016: Insta-Mosaic

AOSelfie Mosaic

AOSelfie Mosaic

AUS OPEN 2016 Facebook

AUS OPEN 2016 Facebook

In terms of freebies, various crews of sponsor volunteers are seen wandering the venue handing out free merch to fans like a Canadian Club USB fan for your phone, plastic racket fans from Guvera to Blackmore’s health products which all had fans lining up to grab a free giveaway. 

Aus Open 2016: Freebies

Aus Open 2016: Freebies

Aus Open 2016: Freebies

Aus Open 2016: Freebies

AUS OPEN 2016 Freebies

AUS OPEN 2016 Freebies

The massive Novak’s World enables fans to immerse themselves in Novak Djokovic world and experience the power of virtual reality by using Oculus Rift goggles to feel like you are apart of Novak’s world as he prepare to play while the ANZ Tennis Hotshots area is a dedicated kids fan zone with loads of tennis activities for kids of all ages.

AUS OPEN 2016 Novak's World

AUS OPEN 2016 Novak’s World

AUS OPEN 2016: HotShots Fan Zone

AUS OPEN 2016: HotShots Fan Zone

There are countless opportunities for autographs at the Open with both Autograph Island and the Yonnex Autograph site seeing players visit over the course of the tournament to sign fans merch. Fans were also able to get their face on the cover of Australian Tennis magazine, enjoy priority access by showing their bank card, receive free neck and shoulder massages, seat cushions and upgrades over at the Medibank Private members refresh lounge and even be transported to the tournament in free predi-cab rides. 

AUS OPEN 2016 Pedi Cab Rides

AUS OPEN 2016 Pedi Cab Rides

AUS OPEN 2016: Autograph Island

AUS OPEN 2016: Autograph Island

AUS OPEN 2016: Yonnex Autograph Booth

AUS OPEN 2016: Yonnex Autograph Booth

Aus Open 2016: Yonnex Autograph Station

Aus Open 2016: Yonnex Autograph Station

Aus Open 2016: Yonnex Autograph Station

Aus Open 2016: Yonnex Autograph Station

AUS OPEN 2016: Free pedi-cab rides

AUS OPEN 2016: Free pedi-cab rides

AUS OPEN 2016: Free pedi-cab rides

AUS OPEN 2016: Free pedi-cab rides

Photo opportunities for fans are endless here and include giant tennis balls that are featured across the site to TAC’s ‘LookOut’ campaign which was designed to glamorise the ‘no phone’ strut to educate distracted pedestrians. The Twitter #AUSOPEN hashtag sees people standing all over the big hashtag cut out and the trophy photo sessions allow fans to hold the trophies for a picture all illustrate how fans can walk away with a swag of timeless photographic memories. 

AUS OPEN 2016: TAC Lookout

AUS OPEN 2016: TAC Lookout

AUS OPEN 2016: Photo Ops

AUS OPEN 2016: Photo Ops

Photo Ops at the 2016 AUS OPEN

Photo Ops at the 2016 AUS OPEN

AO Social Shack

AO Social Shack

The Nikoleodeon Inflatable World was a playground featuring kids TV characters while the Kia Creative suite enabled fans to step into the shoes of a tennis champion and lift the AUS Open trophy while also showing off their drawing skills to enter a drawing competition for their chance to win prize packs. Music fans were also not left out as the The Open sessions saw performances by Australia’s top music artists throughout the course of the tournament with all these gigs being included in the price of admission.

AUS Open 2016: The Open Sessions

AUS Open 2016: The Open Sessions

AUS OPEN 2016: Nickelodeon Inflatable World

AUS OPEN 2016: Nickelodeon Inflatable World

There was a bigger emphasis on fitness fan engagement as over at the Wilson’s World Wide demo, fans were testing their skills against competitors around the world by participating in virtual reality fitness challenges whereas in the Fitbit Cardio Tennis site fans of all ages were able to get fit and have fun with a group workout on the court while the Medibank Private Fan Zone saw had fans moving to virtual reality skills tests. There was also a ‘Brazilian Booty Workout’ and ‘Partner Push Up’s’ as well as part of other fitness inspired activations for fans.

AUS OPEN 2016: Wilson Marque

AUS OPEN 2016: Wilson Marque

AUS OPEN 2016: FITBIT Cardio Tennis Workout

AUS OPEN 2016: FITBIT Cardio Tennis Workout

AUS OPEN 2016 Fan Zone

AUS OPEN 2016 Fan Zone

Aus Open 2016: VR Fitness

Aus Open 2016: VR Fitness

Along with free water fountains and cool fresh air and water blowing stations the whole site has heaps of phone recharge stations as well meaning your phone will never need to die here. 

AUS OPEN 2016: Free phone charging stations

AUS OPEN 2016: Free phone charging stations

AUS OPEN 2016: Optus Phone Charging

AUS OPEN 2016: Optus Phone Charging

Water Fountains

Water Fountains

The 2016 Australian Open once again solidifies it’s presence as the premier fan experience in Australia. While there are so many exciting and creative things happening in the world of fan engagement, the Australian Open not only shines a light on the big movements in technology such as virtual reality but also on the little things that put big smiles on fans faces and make them much more engaged while watching the tennis both in the stadium and at home, wherever that may be in the world. But don’t take my word for it, just make sure it’s on your sports bucket list and I’m sure you’ll agree it’s one of the world’s exceptional fan experiences. 

 

AUS OPEN 2016

AUS OPEN 2016

Aus Open 2016 #Headbandforgood

Aus Open 2016 #Headbandforgood

AUS OPEN 2016

AUS OPEN 2016

Aus Open 2016: Fan Zone

Aus Open 2016: Fan Zone

Aus Open 2016: Fan Zone

Aus Open 2016: Fan Zone

 

2015 ICC CWC Case Staudy
Fan Engagement, Resources, Sports Business, Sports Marketing, Stadium Adventures

How audioBoom shared the ICC 2015 Cricket World Cup

Can you believe it’s been nearly 12 months since the 2015 ICC Cricket World Cup?

At audioBoom we helped share the sounds of the matches around Australia and New Zealand by providing the hosting and distribution of exclusive audio content to engage fans at the stadium and online around the world.

We captured sounds including interviews from fans, press conferences, crucial moments in matches and much much more that generated hundreds of thousands of listens.

These posts were embedded seamlessly in the CWC’s website and on social media where our embed players play natively without being redirected to our site.

The full channel from the CWC can be viewed here ICC Cricket World Cup Channel

We work with the biggest names in sport, news and entertainment from the Premier League to Cumulus.

We host, distribute and monetise audio content all for free for professional organisations. In Australia we’re working with Macquarie Media, SEN, RSN, AFL, A-League and many more.

If you would like to find out more about how your business can get involved take a look here http://choose.audioboom.com/ or shoot me an email blair@audioBoom.com

2015 ICC CWC Case Staudy

2015 ICC CWC Case Staudy

FAN ENGAGEMENT 2015
Fan Engagement, Resources, Sports Business, Sports Marketing, Stadium Adventures

Fan Engagement 2015 Year In Review: 101 Global Fan Engagement Activations

What a year 2015 has been for fan engagement in the sports business.

From digital delights to giveaways galore 2015 has seen some outstanding fan engagement activations from across the globe. With innovative and fan first ideas ranging from the areas of ticketing, virtual reality, merchandise and food to iBeacon’s, fitness and 3D printing, clubs and stadiums have been working hard to listen and increase the emotional loyalty amongst fans and drive deeper connections through storytelling between all parties. 

As a passionate fan engagement and sports fan, I wanted to highlight the impressive work that has been produced in 2015 by putting together a brief (ok it’s pretty extensive actually) summary of some of the best global fan engagement ideas from this year and shine a light on the hard working marketing, digital and fan engagement teams who do so much for their members and fans across the world.

This is in no particular order and is by no means the definitive list of the ‘best in fan engagement’ from this year however it should be viewed as a launch pad for a discussion about what else was brilliant in fan engagement from 2015.

Please feel free to share your thoughts on anything I’ve missed and I’ll add them to my 2800+ fan engagement Pinterest board here: Blair’s Fan Engagement Ideas Pinterest Board. 

Finally, a big thank you to all of my sports business and fan engagement followers and colleagues who constantly share ideas. 

Without further delay, let’s get started.  

1. The LA Dodgers always have some of the best fan giveaways with this year’s including a Hispanic heritage night, social media night ‘Back to the Future’ Movie night and Running night, Pups at the Park as well as giveaways that included fans getting their hands on one of 10,000 free yoga mats at Dodger Stadium.

LA Dodgers

LA Dodgers

LA Dodgers

LA Dodgers

LA Dodgers

LA Dodgers

LA Dodgers

LA Dodgers

LA Dodgers

LA Dodgers

LA Dodgers

LA Dodgers

2. As part of NRL Grand Final week the NRL hosted an epic fan zone called NRL Nation at Darling Harbour in Sydney. The site featured digital activations, signing sessions, photo opportunities and much more. NRL Nation

NRL Nation

NRL Nation

NRL Nation

NRL Nation

3. The 49er’s created an interesting ’Ninerfier’ contraption in conjunction with Levi’s that saw fans get ’Ninerfied’ before heading into Levi’s Stadium. The team also gave out free shirts on the opening game day, launched their Twitter vending machine and kept evolving the fan experience with their app that features loyalty rewards as part of the Faithful 49 and also shows you the fastest moving toilet lines! Faithful 49

49ers/ Levis Stadium

49ers/ Levis Stadium

49ers/ Levis Stadium

49ers/ Levis Stadium

49ers

49ers

49ers/ Levis Stadium

49ers/ Levis Stadium

49ers/ Levis Stadium

49ers/ Levis Stadium

4. Super Rugby team Western Force held a ‘Superhero Saturday’ themed event which let fans in for free if they wore a superhero costume. Super Hero Saturday

Western Force

Western Force

5. Sporting Kansas City allowed fans to pass around their US Open Cup trophy through the whole crowd at Sporting Park for their MLS game in October.

Sporting Kansas City

Sporting Kansas City

6. Melbourne Storm gave fans the chance to have their name on the team banner and win seat upgrades on the centre line in a private bar. Furthermore Melbourne also let young fans engage in a junior reporter type activation. The Storm also led the way in increasing loyalty among their members with their Lightning Rewards program. More on this here Lightning Rewards

Melbourne Storm

Melbourne Storm

Melbourne Storm

Melbourne Storm

Melbourne Storm

Melbourne Storm

7. Ronda Rousey had a cool activation called #WalkoutWithRonda for the UFC fight against Holly Holm in Melbourne, Australia.

Ronda Rousey UFC

Ronda Rousey UFC

8. The Brisbane Broncos held a live video signing of a new player. Brisbane Broncos contract signing

Brisbane Broncos

Brisbane Broncos

9. The Seattle Sounders march to CenturyLink Field is a fan engagement masterpiece that needs to be experienced and continues to grow every MLS season.

Seattle Sounders

Seattle Sounders

10. Carlton Blues used audioBoom’s recording widget to have fans record in their message of thanks to retiring player Chris Judd. The Blues also used audioBoom to record over 100 short audio biographies of club legends and then put these into QR codes around the club house on colourful plaques to encourage fans to visit the club and use their phones to access this special historical team content. 

Carlton also held a 90’s themed game to commemorate the 1995 Grand Final win and they even dropped everything in the club shop by 19.95%. Furthermore their ‘bongo cam’ which sees fans play the bongos on the imaginary drums was a good laugh while the Virgin Australia activation which saw a virtual plane fly around the outside fence was also impressive as it saw a whole row of fans pick up a free return flight to the US. 

Carlton Blues

Carlton Blues

Carlton Blues

Carlton Blues

 

Carlton Blues

Carlton Blues

Carlton Blues

Carlton Blues

11. Boston Celtics featured a game called ’Shot in the Dark’ that had a fan blindfolded while shooting at the hoops for a prize at the TD Garden.

Boston Celtics

Boston Celtics

Boston Celtics

Boston Celtics

12. Western Australian AFL teams Fremantle Dockers and West Coast Eagles held good fan engagement initiatives such as the #FlyTheFlag and #TheWestIsFinals that had fans participating on social media.

West Coast Eagles

West Coast Eagles

Fremantle Dockers

Fremantle Dockers

13. The 2015 Rugby World Cup saw over half a million fans come into the 15 fan zones around England. RWC Fan Zones

Rugby World Cup 2015

Rugby World Cup 2015

Rugby World Cup 2015

Rugby World Cup 2015

14. Cricket Australia and beer company VB teamed up to call on fans to earn a place in the Australian cricket team by having their name on the jersey. Fans are able to nominate the person who has inspired them to work hard and take action. The most inspiring stories will win their nominee’s name on the shirt of an Australian cricket player for the VB ODI series this summer. VB promotion

Cricket Australia/ VB

Cricket Australia/ VB

Cricket Australia/ VB

Cricket Australia/ VB

15. New fan zones from Sunderland, Chelsea and West Bromich Albion all gave their respective fans extra value on Premier League game days.  

Chelsea FC Stamford Bridge

Chelsea FC Stamford Bridge

Sunderland AFC

Sunderland AFC

16. The Melbourne Cricket Ground listened to fans and lowered the prices of food and drinks and saw massive rises in consumption. The consumption of hot pies increased by over 130,000 units, chips were up 37% (150,000 additional sales) and salads also went up by over 130%. MCG food prices a big hit with fans

MCG

MCG

17. Pittsburgh Steelers held a women’s training camp. Steelers Women’s Training Camp

Pittsburgh Steelers

Pittsburgh Steelers

18. A-League club Melbourne City streamed real time data and statistics from GPS tracking devices to fans during matches this season by transmitting the information directly to the scoreboard video screen at home matches and made the data available on social media apps and its website. Game data to stream live for Melbourne City football fans

19. The NY Mets let fans had a ‘Beer Passport’ for fans who could sample various New York craft beers at Citi Field.

NY Mets/ Citi Field

NY Mets/ Citi Field

20. EA Sports asked fans of the Australian women’s football team, the Matilda’s to choose the player for the cover of FIFA15. EA Sports Matilda’s

EA Sports/ Matildas

EA Sports/ Matildas

21. Orlando City SC put fans faces in their squad numbers on the back of their jerseys.

Orlando City SC

Orlando City SC

22. Melbourne Demons asked young fans to submit a book review which was an educational bit of fan engagement. Melbourne Demons Book Review

Melbourne Demons

Melbourne Demons

23. The NFL’s Baltimore Raven’s created emoji’s for fans. Raven’s Emoji’s

Baltimore Ravens

Baltimore Ravens

24. The QLD Firebirds ANZ Championship netball team provided free healthy recipes for fans such as nutritious bean burritos and chicken bites.

QLD Firebirds

QLD Firebirds

25. Copa America changed some of Chile’s bus shelters to resemble goals in the lead up to the event.

Copa America

Copa America

26. Sydney’s Allianz Stadium offered free pies to fans who used their mobile food ordering app. Allianz Stadium pie deal

Allianz Stadium

Allianz Stadium

27. While Match.com and MLB.com teamed up in 2014 to give singles another reason to cheer during the season by giving members the opportunity for single baseball fans to connect online, the Atlanta Hawks encouraged fans to use the mobile app Tinder to transform Philips Arena into a premier social networking hub in the NBA as part of their “Swipe Right Night”. Atlanta Hawks Tinder Night

Hawks Tinder Night

Hawks Tinder Night

MLB Singles

MLB Singles

28. The FFA Cup let fans choose the football design for the ball used in the 2016 club competition. Design the Westfield FFA Cup 2016 ball!

FFA Cup

FFA Cup

29. The St Louis Ram’s NFL team created a wellness zone for fans at their stadium complete with football skills drills and healthy nutrition tips. St Louis Rams Wellness Zone

St Louis Rams

St Louis Rams

30. The Central Coast Mariners paid homage to their coastal traditions and history by honouring the Central Coast Life Saving Association with this special jersey for fans. 500km up the road, fellow A-League club the Newcastle Jets did something similar with their Australian Air Force inspired kit for fans. CC Mariners SLS Jersey

CC Mariners

CC Mariners

Newcastle Jets Air Force Jersey

Newcastle Jets Air Force Jersey

31. The NJ Devils held a cross fit workout session for fans at The Prudential Centre ahead of their NHL match.

NJ Devils

NJ Devils

32. The Australian Diamonds wrote fans a sick note pass for fans to give to their employers for the Netball World Cup after their win.

Australian Diamonds

Australian Diamonds

33. The El Paso Chihuahuas held their Wiener Dog Race. I’ll just leave it at that.

34. The Cricket World Cup and Tui teamed up to give fans the chance to win 1M by buying a $30 ‘bullseye’ shirt and money if they caught a six. The $30 shirt, part of the Tui Catch a Million promotion, encouraged cricket fans to purchase the shirt and attempt to cleanly catch a ball for their chance to win up to $1 million. 

Cricket World Cup 2015

Cricket World Cup 2015

35. The Gwinnett Braves let pregnant fans into CoolRay Field for the game and then added that if you went into labour during the game that your child would get a lifetime of free birthday parties from the team. Gwinnett Braves

Gwinnett Braves

Gwinnett Braves

36. The NSW Blues rugby league team had fans names on their jerseys in conjunction with beer company VB.

NSW BLUES

NSW BLUES

37. The San Francisco Giants printed ‘first game’ certificates for fans at AT&T Park.

SF Giants

SF Giants

38. Sydney Swans and ANZ Stadium gave free massages to fans at their AFL games.

Sydney Swans/ ANZ Stadium

Sydney Swans/ ANZ Stadium

39. The NY Islanders held their Beard-A-Thon which is acelebration of the great tradition of the playoff beard. Beard-a-thon® was launched in 2009 and since then, over $3 million has been raised for all participating NHL team charities.

NY Islanders

NY Islanders

40. Richmond Tigers let fans design their own AFL trading card. Richmond Tigers Footy Cards

Richmond Tigers

Richmond Tigers

41. The Rugby World Cup ticket design introduced a Rugby World Cup first as it used augmented reality technology as part of the ticket design to enable fans to engage with the tournament through interactive content. RWC 2015 Augmented Reality App

Rugby World Cup 2015

Rugby World Cup 2015

42. The Australian F1 Grand Prix again produced a fan engagement masterclass with in excess of 100 various activations that fans could participate in. However the one that I enjoyed seeing the most and which cost nothing to facilitate was when the gates to the circuit were opened to the fans who then proceeded to bolt to the finishing line while collecting leftover bits of race car tyre rubber along the way. 

AUS GP F1

AUS GP F1

AUS GP F1

AUS GP F1

43. The 49ers and SAP had a few fun virtual reality activations at Levi’s Stadium that included the ‘Quarterback Challenge’.

49ers/ Levis Stadium

49ers/ Levis Stadium

44. Geelong gave a free jersey away to fans who signed up to a three game Cats AFL membership

Geelong

Geelong

45. Charlton Athletic in London put a couch on their sideline for fans to get up close and personal at the game.

Charlton

Charlton

46. The NRL Bulldogs let fans be the game day photographer and also created a private Instagram account to unveil the 2016 jersey. BULLDOGS USE PRIVATE INSTAGRAM TO LAUNCH 2016 JERSEY

Bulldogs NRL

Bulldogs NRL

Bulldogs

Bulldogs 

47. Chelsea FC and the Netball World Cup’s Australian Diamonds created fan zones that featured digital print out’s of fans with star players as a memorable keepsake. 

Chelsea FC Stamford Bridge

Chelsea FC Stamford Bridge

AUS Diamonds

AUS Diamonds

48. The All Blacks and sponsor AIG created the AIG HAKA 360 that in their words ‘Combining a love of rugby with a passion and commitment to innovation for its customers, AIG is pleased to bring Virtual Reality (VR) innovation to All Blacks fans through our branded Haka 360° campaign. The virtual Haka 360° experience app directly connects fans with dynamic All Blacks content which can be brought to life with the use of VR headsets. Imagine standing on the pitch amongst the All Blacks pre-match, watching the team performing the traditional Maori Haka up close. This is the thrill the Haka 360° app and headset delivers.’  All Blacks 360 Haka

All Blacks

All Blacks

49. The Toronto Raptors held #DrakeNight and had perks such as a “Hotline Bling” booth where fans could film their own gif-worthy dance moves within the video’s colourful confines. Those moves were then shown on the Raptors’ official Vine account. Drake Night

Raptors Drake Night

Raptors Drake Night

50. The Gold Coast Titans held a rock and roll night and created a ‘fan of the match’ while bringing back classics like ‘catch the bomb’.

GC Titans

GC Titans

51. The LA Kings and StubHub combined at the Staples Centre to have fans create their own commemorative ticket by going into a ticket booth and adding different features on a touch pad.

LA Kings

LA Kings

LA Kings/ StubHub

LA Kings/ StubHub

52. AFL team Collingwood Magpies gave out free polaroid photos to fans at the MCG.

Collingwood

Collingwood

53. The Detroit Tigers and DooB teamed up to turn fans into 3D models. At a Tigers game against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, fans could undergo the “DOOB-lication” process that begins with posing in a 3-D-scanning system with 54 high-definition cameras to capture every angle. After the scan, the photos are sent to DOOB’s processing facility in Brooklyn. The printing process takes up to 18 hours with the curing process adds another week. Tigers fans being turned into 3-D models

DooB Detroit Tigers

DooB Detroit Tigers

54. ANZ Stadium created the ‘Fanometer’ that let fans vote to see if Tottenham or Sydney FC would own the Sydney Harbour Bridge with their team colours. 

Fanometer

Fanometer

55. The O2 and the Rugby World Cup worked together to feature fans names on the roof of the O2 for the ‘Wear The Rose’ campaign. The roof was transformed into a giant, blooming rose and a canvas for fans tweets. England fans can have their own messages of support projected onto The O2 roof

Rugby World Cup 2015

Rugby World Cup 2015

56. The NBL hosted an educational night for coaches to attend and learn from the NBL coaches.

NBL

NBL

57. Doncaster Rover’s #MyLocalScream Halloween themed match invited fans to mingle with mascot Donny Dog and the first team players in a day of scary fun, including ghost walks, spooky stories and a special Halloween party with the players in the Belle Vue Bar after the match. MY LOCAL SCREAM

Doncaster Rovers

Doncaster Rovers

58. The Netball World Cup in Sydney featured a brilliant FanFEST that included in excess of 25 interactive, digital and netball themed activations ranging from a nail and hair salon and chill out lounge to skills zones, daily netball fitness sessions and digital lip sync battles that were so popular that every national team squad ended up joining in and doing their own rendition to Taylor Swift’s hit tune ‘Shake It Off’. The creation of the fan experience started long before the tournament with the NWC website offering fans the chance to choose the official on court music playlist, bib bunting for the fan caves of those who could not attend and the establishment of a netball fan dictionary to educate newcomers to the sport. FanFEST also included digital activations from The Creative Shop such as the Fan’s MVP where fans could select their player of the tournament on a digital touch screen, ‘Cover the Court’ where fans could test their footwork, the virtual reality ‘Perfect Pass‘ game which tested fans passing skills and the ‘Cheer Cam’ which enabled fans to record their celebrations to Australia’s previous Netball World Cup wins.

2015 Netball World Cup

2015 Netball World Cup

2015 Netball World Cup

2015 Netball World Cup

2015 Netball World Cup

2015 Netball World Cup

2015 Netball World Cup

2015 Netball World Cup

59. The Tennessee Titans NFL team held a Football 101 day for female fans. Football 101

Tennessee Titans

Tennessee Titans

60. The A-League had a great fan engagement concept for the A-League Grand Final where they let fans choose a food item for sale in the stadium, who would sing the national anthem, have a say in the man of the match voting, vote on what song the band Peking Duk would play as well as decide what the ‘walk out’ song would be when the teams made their way to the field. It was all part of Hyundai’s Letting the Fans Choose campaign. A-League Grand Final Fan Engagement

61. Leicester City and Walker’s combined to create a special ‘Vardy Salted’ packet of chips for fans of Premier League record breaking goal scorer Jamie Vardy and then had these available for fans along with a note of thanks in every seat.

LCFC

LCFC

62. The Wallabies and Qantas gave fans the chance to choose the design of the Qantas plane that would send the Wallabies over to London for the Rugby World Cup.

Wallabies

Wallabies

63. Scotland’s Hearts of Midlothian football club unveiled a new kit that featured all 8,000 names of supporters who rescued club from extinction and who donated at least £120 to the rescue fund. Hearts Fan Jersey

Hearts

Hearts

64. The WS Wanderers teamed up a licensing deal with rockers KISS to run a limited edition of merch. WSW and KISS

WSW

WSW

65. The Jacksonville Jaguars were the first NFL team to release their own video game. It’s called “Duval Dash,” named after the county that Jacksonville finds itself in. The game at com is an 8-bit game. Jags Duval Dash

Duval Dash Jags

Duval Dash Jags

66. The Australian Ice Hockey League gave fans free rides to the games through Uber.

AIHL

AIHL

67.  The Seattle Sounders let fans design the 2016 scarf design. Sounders Scarf Design

Seattle Sounders

Seattle Sounders

68. Hawthorn Hawks hid a jersey in a park for fans to find and the results were TV gold (and brown)! How this only has 400 odd views is beyond me.

69. The Football League created the ‘Own The Arch’ Twitter campaign to see which team could get the most support. Here you can see Tottenham’s attempt as #SpursAtWembley. Fans given chance to ‘own the arch’ through Twitter vote

Wembley Stadium

Wembley Stadium

70. The Australian Open Tennis featured a plethora of fan engagement activations however one of the best was the Twitter vending machine that let fans tweet away and receive a code back that they could then use for the vending machine which would in turn drop a prize for fans.

Australian Open Tennis

Australian Open Tennis

Australian Open Tennis

Australian Open Tennis

71. The Cleveland Browns gave a fan the chance to host and interview players (along with free food) as part of their official podcast.

Browns

Browns

72. Auckland’s Eden Park and AirBNB combined to offer fans the chance to stay over at the stadium while the Sydney Swans and the SCG did the same thing in Sydney. 

Sydney Swans & AirBNB

Sydney Swans & AirBNB

All Blacks/ Eden Park

All Blacks/ Eden Park

73. LAFC asked fans to choose the colours of the team’s design scheme from five colours. 

LAFC

LAFC

74. Taranaki Rugby Club had players sleep over night at fans houses. 

Taranaki Rugby Club

Taranaki Rugby Club

75. The Rugby World Cup and Gilbert teamed up to run the #PassItOn campaign that had fans send in a video of themselves receiving and giving a pass of a Gilbert Rugby ball. 

Rugby World Cup 2015

Rugby World Cup 2015

76. The All Blacks and Air New Zealand music video for #CrazyAboutRugby was one of the best music/safety videos created.

 

77. The Seattle Seahawks had a ’Nail Your Gameday’ activation where fans could pick up nail polish in the colours of the team.

Seattle Seahawks

Seattle Seahawks

78. The BlackCaps cricket team released a ‘leave pass’ for fans to give to their bosses for the 2015 Cricket World Cup.

BlackCaps

BlackCaps

79. The NJ Devils and a host of other teams all had a designated driver program which gives fans a free soft drink if they sign up to drive their friends home. 13224177b99cc2130ce60312f89a5116

80. The moving sideline contraption ‘SlideLiner‘ was a feature at the Real Madrid Vs Manchester City match at the MCG. 

MCG SlideLiner

MCG SlideLiner

81. The Pittsburgh Penguins and CONSOL Energy Center used ibeacon technology to create a beacon-triggered experience for fans that sent them content that is location specific by way of the Penguins app. Once fans are in the arena, the beacon-triggered content is released, greeting the device users with special content. Once they reach the Mario Lemieux statue, an interactive experience is launched and they are provided with various types of discounts and offers for concessions.

82. The NRL Dragons had a social media booth at their Allianz Stadium game where fans could grab a picture in a special camera booth.

St George Illawarra Dragons

St George Illawarra Dragons

St George Illawarra Dragons

St George Illawarra Dragons

83. The Washington Redskins app gave season ticket holders the team news before the media received the news. Redskins App

Redskins

Redskins

84. Twitter teamed up with the Aussie cricket team for the Cricket World Cup to send back twitter replies to fans who tweeted the team a message of support. The pic that came back featured your name on the back of the team jersey. Similar activations of thanks via twitter replies were also used by the Aussie Diamonds netballers, the Matilda’s and the Wallabies for their big tournaments.

Twitter/ Australian Sports

Twitter/ Australian Sports

Twitter/ Australian Sports

Twitter/ Australian Sports

85. The NY Jets had a ‘Make Your Own Bobblehead’ activation at MetLife Stadium that saw fans create a digital bobble head version of themselves. NJ Jets Game Day

NY Jets/ Metlife Stadium

NY Jets/ Metlife Stadium

86. The MCG hosted ‘Sunday Fundays’ which let kids into the ground for free for Sunday AFL games and also featured a ‘kick to kick’ on the ground after the match and a special kids meal deal with free trading cards. AFL Sunday Funday

MCG

MCG

87. The 49er’s Uplause decibel reader at Levis Stadium and at other stadiums and arenas in the US greatly added to fans creating more noise and support in the stadium with this snap of the crowd reaching 111.1 at the 49ers being deafening. 

49ers/ Levis Stadium

49ers/ Levis Stadium

88. Fan Zones at the Auckland Nines, NRL Grand Final, Aus Open, Cricket World Cup and AFL Grand Final were large and successful fan engagement activations.

CWC15

CWC15

Auckland 9's

Auckland 9’s

Auckland 9's

Auckland 9’s

AFL

AFL

89. The FA Cup asked fans to take a snap during the FA Cup games with the winning picture to feature on the Cup final ticket. Get your Instagram photo on Emirates FA Cup Final tickets

FA Cup

FA Cup

90. Westpac Stadium in Wellington, New Zealand listened to fans and brought in NZ craft beers for Wellington Phoenix game days. LOCAL WELLINGTON CRAFT BEER AT PHOENIX HOME GAMES

Westpac Stadium

Westpac Stadium

91. The NFL’s Vikings and 49ers engaged in a ‘Vine Off’ and executed what is the first collaborative Vine exchange in professional sports.  On Monday Night Football Stage, Vikings And 49ers Strategically Execute First ‘Vine-Off’

92. The MLB introduced ’SnapBat’ which was a red and white baseball bat that took selfies of fans and players. 

Snap Bat MLB

Snap Bat MLB

93. For the first time ever, fans decided the AT&T MLS All-Star captain using Snapchat. Fans had to take a screenshot of the player they wanted to be captain with one screenshot equalling one vote. For the first time ever, fans will decide the AT&T MLS All-Star captain using Snapchat

MLS

MLS

94. US Open fans were able to try to return Maria Sharapova’s 100mph serve via virtual reality. US Open Fan Engagement

95. The LA Kings had a neat virtual reality set up at Staples Centre whereby you could have your pic taken standing in front of a screen and then afterwards the mascot or player were in the picture with you. More on this here: Toshiba is pleased to feature PictureMe app in LA Interactive located next to the Figueroa Bar on the main concourse of STAPLES Center. This new mobile app is allows fans to take photos with ‘digital doubles’ of star Kings players. Operated from a media console embedded within Toshiba’s 65-inch Touch and Get kiosk, the augmented reality app projects a digital image of the selected player adjacent to the fan allowing for a memory-making photo opp. Kings introduce new off-ice elements as season begins

LA Kings

LA Kings

LA Kings/ Staples Centre

LA Kings/ Staples Centre

96. Taranaki Rugby Club had an offer whereby if a player scored four or more tries then every fan received free hot chips. 

Taranaki Rugby Club

Taranaki Rugby Club

97. The Tampa Bay Bucs launched RED which was a new campaign aimed to “celebrate the female fan base’ that featured game-day style tips to experiencing the Bucs all-new virtual reality quarterback training technology.  RED Women’s Movement – Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Tampa Bay Bucs

Tampa Bay Bucs

98. The MLB had a Twitter lock down to celebrate National Coffee Day meaning that only MLB followers could access the deals and giveaways. 

MLB

MLB

99. Major League Soccer team NYCFC let fans choose the captain’s armband design. 

NYCFC

NYCFC

100. Hibernian asked for fan input into what colour they wanted for their 2016/17 home strip. Hibs fans asked to pick favourite shade of green for new home shirt

Hibernian

Hibernian

101. Proving just how simple and easy fan engagement can be, the Seattle Sounders MLS team had a ‘Smile Cam’ at their fan appreciation day in October. 

Seattle Sounders/ CenturyLink Field

Seattle Sounders/ CenturyLink Field

 Thanks for reading.

Please feel free to share your ideas from the year that was in fan engagement. 

Merry Christmas and happy holidays.

49ers
Fan Engagement, Resources, Sports Business, Sports Marketing, Stadium Adventures

San Francisco 49ers and Levis Stadium Fan Experience

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49ers

It’s 2am and I’m up to catch a 5am flight from Kansas City to San Francisco for today’s 49ers game in Santa Clara. Today is going to be a long day of travel and probably one of the longest ‘away days’ I’ve done. I had a 530am flight to Phoenix, Arizona with a two hour lay over and then a direct flight to San Fran. By the time I make it to San Francisco it’s 10am. I make the quick trek to my hotel, dump the bags and then hit the ground running for what would prove to be another two and a bit hours of travel to the 49ers Levis Stadium. 

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Transportation

I make my way to San Francisco’s Union Station in downtown San Fran and pay US$20.50 for a day return which takes me to Levis Stadium. The huge CalTrain disembarks at 1pm packed with fans heading out early to the 5.35pm Thursday Night Football game and passes through 20 odd stations before we all disembark and cross the tracks for a small light rail type train to then take in another 20 odd stops to Mountain View station where Levis Stadium is located. It surely is a decent effort (100km or so) to get from downtown San Francisco to the stadium however with fellow NFL fans to talk to and a clean, safe and smooth ride in this modern transport it’s really quite a breeze. 

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Parking and Tailgate Set Up

I step off the train at Mountain View station, walk across the platform and the car park ($60 US per car to tailgate) and stadium are in full view and it is a sight to behold. This is a stadium which greatly defines what an outstanding fan experience is all about and as I had heard a lot about it, it was thrilling to finally be able to experience it. As I walk in I start to feel thirsty so kindly ask the first tailgater I see in if I could buy a beer off him. Without hesitation he reaches into his huge esky packed with beers, soft drinks, waters (any good tailgater knows you have to be smart with the fluids!) and the biggest Grey Goose I’ve ever seen and hands me a beer and a handshake. It’s this type of hospitality that the tailgate is famous for as within the next few minutes we’re both being offered BBQ meats, seafood and other football food staples I stay for an hour or so talking about the success of Jarryd Hayne, fan engagement, life in the US and the tailgating experience before heading into the stadium but not after the guys had given me a few more beers to get set for the night.

As I leave the car park tailgating area and head into the stadium I notice that there’s a substantial bicycle area for fans who have chosen to ride to the stadium. I remember seeing something similar at Aston Villa’s Villa Park in Birmingham in the past so it’s great to see that the stadium is accommodating to those fans who chose a healthy way to get here today.

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Levis Stadium and 49ers App’s

I had previously downloaded both the extensive 49ers and Levis Stadium app and was excited to test these two out today, especially as they are integrated with one another on game day. 

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Mobile Ticketing

After extensive security procedures that included walking through the metal detector followed by a metal detector wand search and finally a pat down I was able to continue entering the stadium. Opening the Levis Stadium app I was able to view my ticket and scan the QR code at the electronic check point to enter the stadium. 

Using today’s hashtag and the app, my name was then displayed on the screens inside the stadium which was a very cool feature, especially as the app sent me a notification informing me that my ‘check in’ was coming up on the screens. As other’s have mentioned the beauty of this is that fans can be rewarded for their first, 50th or 100th visit for example by the NiNerds.

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NiNERDS

Just as you pass through the mobile ticketing area you are greeted by the NiNerds reps who are on hand to help fans with any stadium related queries they may have. From finding your seat to where you can purchase a gluten free vegan hotdog these guys are helpful, tech savvy and are here to look after  the needs of fans. I had a great chat at the gates with Michael and Noemi but also later noticed them running around during the game helping fans with queries.  

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Way-Finding 

One of the best features in the app is the way-finding element which directs you right to your seat inside the stadium using GPS. While I normally get a kick out of doing a full inside and outside walk around a stadium, this was a great feature that gets fans to their seats quickly.

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WiFi

Free WiFi which was super fast all day long even with 70,000 here today. It made ordering food and drinks, way-finding, mobile ticketing etc all very easy. The only thing this stadium or future stadiums need now is retractable USB charges under or in front of your seats.

Cup Holders

Every seat has a cup holder. Just brilliant to keep your beer cold. 

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Food

The food options inside Levi’s Stadium rival that of some of the best stadiums for food that I’ve visited in the past such as Yankee Stadium and the MCG. 

Fans have the option of over 180 items such as garlic fries, pizzas, burgers, pretzels, hot dogs, curries, steamed buns, burritos, asian style rice bowls and BBQ fare as well as having the option to either have their food delivered to their seat or grabbing it through express pick up. It was also interesting to see a over 14 vegan food concessions and other healthy options throughout the stadium as well as plenty of craft beer varieties to choose from. 

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In-Seat Ordering 

An aspect of the app which I was keen to test was the in-seat ordering for food and drinks. While I have tried these a few times in the US in the past, this was by far the best example of how to do this. 

I started by going into the app’s in-seat ordering section. Food was fairly priced for stadium food with a fee of $5US attached to in-seat ordering which does seems a bit high (but not if you’re ordering a stack of stuff).

While there are only about 15 options to choose from (drinks, hot food, snacks) I was able to select a hotdog and gatorade, punch in my credit card details and see where the food would come from. I hit one hurdle in that I had to fake a US postcode (11111 worked) where it asks for the address details that match your credit card because my 4 digit Australian postcode was not allowing the process to continue. It obviously makes no difference though as my order was processed. This part of the app is incredibly user friendly and all in all took 90 seconds to order (after I realised I needed to make my postcode 5 digits. I guess though if you didn’t know US postcodes are 5 digits then you’d have an issue). I set the timer on my phone and watched as the app screen moved from ‘order processed’ to ‘being prepared’ to ‘en route’.

I’ve got to say that it was a pretty cool sight to watch as the Levi’s Stadium staffer walked down the aisles with a bag holding my food and drink. As Shane Harmon mentioned in his look at Levi’s Stadium a few months back, this whole process still involves a human and the one issue that that human has is that after they come down to your row they then need to identify you and get your items to you. I was in the middle of the row, about 15 seats in and although I had been watching her walk down the aisle I was able to gesture to her ‘Yep, Blair? Yep that’s my order’. The issue here and it’s obviously not a massive one, but the delivery person then needs to come all the way into your row/seat and check your phone’s order screen to see that they are delivering the items to the right person. In a way this means that they get in the way of other fans however this was a 5 second job and I doubt that it affected fans sight angles.

So how long did it take for me to order, the food to be prepared and then delivered right to my seat? 18 minutes and 31 seconds! Outstanding in my opinion and an element every stadium needs so that fans never miss any of the action or have to wait in lines. The hotdog was tasty, piping hot and came with mustard, ketchup and relish while the gatorade was ice cold. The $5 fee is probably a bit steep for just two items but if you’ve got a group of mates ordering a stack of food and drinks then it’s nothing. 

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Restroom Way-Finding

A cool function of the Levi’s Stadium app is the way-finding function in the ‘Around Me’ section of the app to show you which toilets are the closet and which have the shortest queues. I asked some of the NiNERD’s how they work out which lines are the shortest and input that into the app and was amazed to hear that there is a person standing outside each restroom area who feeds this information into the app. Again a process that needs a human to facilitate the task however a very cool feature that is thinking about fans first. 

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Fan Engagement Activations (Around Levi’s Stadium concourse)

Two hours until kick off and the concourse fan zone areas are pumping with people running around between sponsor activations and picking up freebies left, right and centre. The 49er’s sponsor stands are complimented by food trucks, bars and diverse fan zones. 

I start by checking out the ’Ninerfier’ Levi’s activation which has fans put a piece of their 49er’s gear on a mobile conveyor belt type contraption (I mean seriously, how do I describe what this thing is!) and watching it pass through various odd but colourful elements before coming off the conveyor belt and being ’Ninerfied’. Fans receive a ’Ninerfied’ pin and then have their photo taken as a memento. An interesting bit of fan engagement that really goes back to the idea of fan culture and being granted approval (‘You’re now Ninerfied!’) of sorts by the team.

I pick up a free sign and calendar from CSN and then move on to the SunPower stand where I score a free set of 49ers sunnies just by playing a bit of trivia with their quiz activation. While I wasn’t a 49ers member, 49’ers members are able to earn points by checking in every 20 minutes at the Faithful 49er’s stand. I couldn’t see myself doing this every 20 minutes to earn rewards but I’m sure hardcore fans would be taking advantage of every chance to gain points in this program to then put towards prizes and upgrades. 

Next was the SAP ‘Quarterback Challenge’ which was the first of a few virtual reality activations that I would see today. Fans had the chance to use Oculus goggles to play a game as a quarterback while over at the Toyota fan zone fans were participating in raffles and a wheel of fortune type game for prizes while TV commentators did a live outside broadcast surrounded by fans. This stand also had dedicated phone charging stations while I also counted heaps of ‘Juice Bar’s’ throughout the stadium that were often surrounded by fans charging their devices and what appeared to be making new friends. 

Continuing throughout the various stands I noticed more opportunities for fans to win prizes, enter competitions and receive freebies like packets of chips. At the NRG stand fans could pick up another pair of 49ers sunnies and have a go at snapping their photo with a players face cut out. The photo theme is a constant in fan engagement and there were another two sponsor stands that had prizes for fans who had their pictures taken. The Yahoo Sports stand were giving fans free ‘ Go Niners’ 49er’s rally towels while Intel were encouraging fans to ‘Be The SuperFan’ and have their photo taken with super hero type colours put over the top before being showcased on big screens around the stadium. 

A feature that I have seen at a few stadiums was the designated driver stand where fans can opt to be a designated driver and in return they receive a free soft drink and the chance to win prizes. The Levi’s Stadium one was called Good Sports and is sponsored by Bud Light. 

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Fan Engagement Activations (Inside Levi’s Stadium)

I made my way inside the stadium and started walking around the venue to see what was on offer for fans. 

Making my way to my seat I found a note in the cup holder telling me that our section was going to be participating in a bit of TIFO fun. It was a great sight to watch the banner come down over our heads in the stadium. 

I captured the noise meter at the stadium reaching 112.1 which was by far the loudest I had heard at any stadium where they employ this. It was actually that loud that it was almost unbearable in terms of noise, even if it was a good sight to see fans going crazy with their war cries and screams. Every effort is made in these US stadiums and arena’s to ‘Make Some Noise’ and these noise readers really help facilitate that with fans. 

Listen to the 49ers fans here

The 49ers offer merch ‘item’s of the game’ throughout the day, show fan’s selfies on the big screen, have a 49er’s band, a fire twirling squad and have game day and post game (provided they win) offers on food and even haircuts too. 

There were some more virtual reality activations inside the stadium such as this giant helmet contraption however from my observations, it seemed as though more people just wanted a photo with this than actually participate in the VR feature. 

Sponsor’s Verizon had a section for upgrades, SAP had interactive quiz machines while Yahoo had a fantasy sports touch screen wall with trivia and photo opportunities however it was a bit odd to see kids playing this when it’s a gambling type activation. 

Listen to the 49er’s drumming band here

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While the actual team needs to start winning on the field, it’s clear that this is one of the best stadiums in the world right now for providing fans with an exceptional fan experience. There are things here that fans can’t get at home therefore Levi’s Stadium are providing interesting aspects that hopefully means more fans are making their way out to the stadium and switching off from their home sports cave experience. From the beacon technology to VR work to the in-seat ordering and toilet line feature and all the little things outside of their impressive app, it’s evident that 49er’s fans have something very special here on game day and I for one can’t wait to get back here to try it all out again. 

Sporting Kansas City
Fan Engagement, Sports Business, Sports Marketing, Stadium Adventures

Sporting Kansas City and Sporting Park Fan Experience Review

Sporting Kansas City

Sporting Kansas City

I’ve seen a lot of great fan engagement around the world, participated in some great global fan experiences and met some creative sports business people over the years but tonight at Sporting Kansas I witnessed next level fan experience. It is incredible here and the fans love it. I have never met such passionate fans in all my travels. The fan engagement was outstanding. From the MySKC photo, their SKC app, the healthy food options to the TV’s in the toilets and local Kansas craft beer and coffee collabs, the fan zone and the way they let their fans pass a recent winning trophy around the whole stadium resulted in an epic fan experience.

Backtracking slightly and it’s 1am in NYC and I’m up and roaring to go for a 3am flight first to Chicago with a two hour stop over and then another two hour flight into Kansas City for today’s MLS game. I’ve heard a lot about the SKC fan experience at Sporting Park so I’m running on excitement as I navigate La Guardia, Chicago O’Hare and Kansas City airports on this gorgeous Wednesday morning in America.

This was one of the pictures I snapped of the landscape from up high.

SKC

SKC

I caught an uber from my Kansas airport hotel to Sporting Park around 4pm and I could not have had a more knowledgable driver on Kansas and it’s sporting teams. Having talked to my driver, Abdi on the half hour highway journey out to the stadium, it sounds like theres a real community spirit here amongst SKC, Chiefs and Royals fans.  

Listen to our chat about Kansas and its sporting teams here: 

After being dropped off at Sporting Park, I picked up my pass and started to soak up the atmosphere as fans were streaming in for this MLS fixture against the Colorado Rapids. 

Sporting Kansas City

Sporting Kansas City

Sporting Kansas City

Sporting Kansas City

Sporting Kansas City

Sporting Kansas City

It was really nice to see that the stadium was supportive of their local teams as they played the Royals MLB game on the big screen before the game got underway. Its something I’ve seen a bit more of on this trip with teams throwing their support behind other local teams like Mr Met’s appearance at the Devils game.  

Sporting Kansas City

Sporting Kansas City

Sporting Kansas City

Sporting Kansas City

The SKC App

The SKC app is one of the best around from a sporting team or stadium. Why? Developed by Sporting Innovations just down the road here in Kansas, the app has some very cool functions. 

Fans can access 360 degree view game replays for key moments, view play by play details and view a heat map of the team. As well as this, the app allows fans to take their personalised picture with the MySKC function that has a new pre-loaded background template in the app which then when accessed by the club enables fans to have their pictures shown on the big screens. Fans also have access to buy food, drinks and tickets through the app as well so the convenience is there for all fans to utilise.     

Sporting Kansas City

Sporting Kansas City

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Fan Zone

I was instantly impressed with the fan zone around the stadium that featured inflatable jumping castle type kids activities, a smaller football pitch and free giveaways from a local hospital. The wall feature is also a good photo opportunity for fans. 

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Sports Bar

Walking around at half time I also found a sports bar which was one of the biggest I’ve seen in a stadium before. Complete with scarves, big screen TV’s and comfy seating you’d think you were in an actual bar and not a stadium.

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Local Collaborations 

One of the really neat things about Sporting Park is that SKC has a few exciting local collaborations with coffee company The Roasteries producing their special ‘Sporting Blend’ and Boulevard Brewing’s Boulevard beer which was delicious! (Is the worst thing about travel being that you can’t really lug around a 6 pack? I’d be buying cartons of these if it was easier) 

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Food

There are plenty of tasty options here from healthy vegetarian, gluten free and vegan options like salad wraps and carrots and hummus packs to endless BBQ fare varieties, gourmet hot dogs and even meat pies!

Sporting Kansas City

Sporting Kansas City

Sporting Kansas City

Sporting Kansas City

The Fan Experience

While at Sporting Park, I was able to talk to SKC’s Digital and Comms manager, Jonathan Kaplan who talked extensively at half time with me about the fan experience here. It’s the little things that make the fan experience at SKC so special as for instance before the game started fans had been encouraged to arrive early for a special pregame ceremony where the club owner addressed fans thanking them for their support. It wasn’t one of those generic thanks though, fans seemed to really love this owner and the way he genuinely speaks to them as here it’s obvious that everyone is apart of one big soccer family. Jonathan explained that at Sporting KC they really try hard to cater for every fan’s needs and that it’s all about the kids and getting them hooked from an early age. 

 The team do these great pre-game videos as well which informs fans about all the key info ahead of the game

I was also very fortunate to chat with Andy from Boulevard Brewing who shared his story about what the term fan experience means to him. It’s a great story so I encourage you to listen in here: 

I loved how all the way finder signs and toilet signs had little soccer men and women figures kicking soccer balls around as their image. The little touches go a long way for fans. They also have HD TV’s and surround sound in the toilets so you don’t miss any of the action! 

Sporting Kansas City

Sporting Kansas City

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Sporting Kansas City

Sporting Kansas City

In game Fan Engagement 

The crowd at MLS needed no extra fan engagement fun as they were one of the most rocking vocal crowds I’d witnessed across my sport travels. Hear the SKC fans now: 

The SKC team did a few of the same things that I’d witnessed at other US games like ‘guess which ball or where the ball is’ and trivia on the big screen however they took it a step further with the wiener race that saw fans race 50m then try to kick a goal while holding a hot dog. It sounds ridiculous and odd but I swear this had the most laughs and was strangely hilarious to watch. That’s the thing about fan engagement though as it can be free to set up, fun for fans, random to watch yet all it needs is creativity. 

While other activations also included a photo booth, face painting, commemorative scarf giveaways and autograph signings, the best fan engagement activation on the night wasn’t from a sponsor but was when the US Open Cup trophy which SKC had recently won, was passed around the whole stadium. Every fan in every stand got to touch it and take a photo as the game went on as a SKC rep kept a close eye on the cup from a distance. This was truly a great idea but having talked to Jonathan later on in the night he informed me that they also let select fans take home another trophy for a day each and allowed them to do a trophy takeover style bit of fun on the clubs social media whereby some fans took the trophy out to dinner. It’s really obvious that the fans here love soccer and this club such is the devotion they have but also as the club listens to them and goes out of its way to be creative and supportive of fans needs and ideas. 

Sporting Kansas City

Sporting Kansas City

Sporting Kansas City

Sporting Kansas City

Sporting Kansas City

Sporting Kansas City

WiFi

The stadium is serviced by free high speed WiFi which was very fast throughout the game even though they were having some issues on the night where it was dropping out, but it sounded like this was a one off. Again it was good to see another club and stadium with an impressive interactive and integrated app. 

SKC Fan Engagement

  • MySKC in app function allowing fans to take a picture and have it personalised with a foreground overlay shot. This game featured the two team jerseys.
  • Local collaborations with a coffee company and beer brewery to produce two SKC styles of beer and coffee. Sporting Blend from The Roasterie and Sporting Boulevard from Boulevard Brewing. Both nice drops!
  • Experience upgrade offers in the SKC app for fans to score upgrades
  • Ability to add credit in the app to make purchases inside the stadium for food, ticketing, merch.
  • Skills tests for kids. Inflatable soccer field as well as smaller fields for football fun
  • Free zip bag giveaways from a local hospital for Breast Cancer Awareness month
  • TV’s in the loos so you don’t miss any of the action
  • Loo’s all have funky soccer type pics on them which is a nice fan touch
  • Healthy options including vegan food. The stand and food looked fresh and healthy.
  • Salute to service and hero’s of the game. Defence veteran respect
  • Trivia on the big screens for fans
  • ‘Weiner Race’ where fans had to run with a hot dog and kick a football into the net. Was random but strangely fun to watch.
  • Raffles for prizes
  • ‘Where’s The Winner’ fans have to guess which ball on the big screen is the winning ball. Bit of fun for kids.
  • Freebies deals for fans post match if team hits a certain target like 2 goals or a win.
  • Fans were able to pass the US Open Cup around the stadium so every fan was able to get a picture and see the cup up close. This was one of the best ideas I’d seen.
  • Face painting 
  • Autograph signing
  • Photo booth
  • Commemorative scarf celebration and giveaways

The SKC fan experience is one of the best I’ve seen in the MLS as not only are the club continuing to do some exciting things and set the benchmarks for world class fan engagement but the fans here are very loud and passionate and they want to and do get to have their say on club matters. While the NYRB and LA Galaxy stadiums both have great set up’s for fan engagement and those teams provide a really fun day out however Sporting Park for a SKC game feels like you’re apart of a big family who are all passionate about not only the team (which every team does) but also apart of contributing to the stadium experience for fellow fans. It feels like every fan here (with female fans making up a larger than normal presence for a teams membership base) has greatly invested into this fan experience for the betterment of soccer in Kansas and the US. The culture here is one of support and respect for fans and where fans are able to access smart fan first technology which greatly adds to the fan experience. 

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Celtics
Fan Engagement, Sports Business, Sports Marketing, Stadium Adventures

Boston Celtics and TD Garden Fan Experience Review

Celtics

Celtics

On Monday morning I started the first day of four consecutive 3am or earlier starts as today I left NYC for Boston at 3am on an Amtrak train from Penn Station to Boston South Station where I took in a Boston Celtics game at the TD Garden in North Boston.

After a long day walking around Boston and Fenway Park which I noticed had this very cool ‘kids only’ entrance I made the trek to the TD Garden where both the NHL Bruins and NBA Celtics play matches. It’s situated above a subway station in North Boston and houses merch shops and plenty of green wall art features for the Celtics.

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Celtics

Celtics

One thing on this trip which I have been amazed at has been the amount of advertising for fantasy sports. Whether it’s FanDuel or DraftKings, I can literally not turn my head without seeing an ad on a bus shelter, TV screen, ribbons at the matches, train stations (the Boston North station felt like a political party was running ads for an election! Ads were everywhere for DraftKings). I’m talking advertising that is way more than normal. Advertising that feels a bit odd. Fantasy sports have well and truly arrived though, whether it’s showing the latest stats in the stadium or these ads it’s a huge thing here right now.

Fantasy Sports Ads

Fantasy Sports Ads

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Fantasy Sports Ads

Fantasy Sports Ads

Fantasy Sports Ads

Fantasy Sports Ads

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Celtics

Walking round the concourse pre-game I noticed that the Celtics had a photo booth area where fans could have their pic taken with various props and receive a print out after. There was also balloons available for kids in Celtics colours and face painting on offer as well for kids to get kitted out before the match against the Brooklyn Nets.

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I ventured up to my seats after a walk around the venue checking out the food on offer. Big slices of pizza, orange beers, local Sam Adam craft beers as well as standard stadium grub choices.

The fan engagement on offer at the Celtics included:

  • photo booth area with fun props print out

  • Lucky row where one row would win prizes

  • Shot in the dark where a fan had to shoot 3 hoops blindfolded to win a prize

  • Parquet derby cars where kids raced around the court for prizes

  • T-Shirt Toss where the team threw shirts into the crowd. Some of these went 40-50m high!

  • Balloons in Celtics colours

  • Celtics on court crew girls/guys dancers and flag bearers

  • Commemorative coins. Fans could buy a special coin for the game

  • Dance cam. These were hilarious, especially when they sliced the one guy into quarters on the big screen. Video to be added here

  • Pre-game TV show. The Celtics are doing a pre-game TV show that goes live to fans

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