4 Awesome Ways to Improve Sports Fan Experience in Stadiums

Live sporting events bring the games to life. You cannot compare it to watching a game on a screen. What makes such events more interesting is the on-ground experience. 

Take, for example, the Super Bowl. Fans don’t only pack the stadium to watch football. They also flock in to see the performances and enjoy the live events. Couple this with good food, drinks, and a fun atmosphere, and you have a sure winner.

Stadium event organizers must look for ways to keep the fans happy and engaged. And, there are some effective ways to do this, as we will show in our article. 

1. Enhance Efficiency With the Right Technologies

Improving fan experience requires streamlining internal processes. With higher efficiency, event organizers can concentrate on ensuring audiences are happy. 

The organizers now have technological innovations like POS systems for stadiums to help with that. The software allows service providers to serve patrons faster, without increasing operational costs. 

The management, for instance, can monitor logistics around food and beverages. That means receiving orders, accepting payments, arranging deliveries, and managing inventory can be done in one platform.

Such systems also offer many functionalities like cloud-based server protection and reporting platforms.  More so, they offer convenient experiences as they are compatible with mobile devices.

The patrons can also benefit from such technologies. Think about it this way. Once you get into the stadium the first thing you want to do is stock up. Stock up on drinks, food, and snacks. But, no one likes to line up. And, you also don’t want to miss one second of the ongoing entertainment.

In-seat concession deliveries can enhance the live sporting experience. Patrons make an order via mobile apps and the service providers bring it to them.

1. Innovative Solutions to Enhance Engagement

Fans go to the stadium because they want the atmosphere and on-ground experience. Attendees screaming all around, and the opportunity to see your favorite player in action add to the excitement. But, there is another way to take the experience a notch higher. 

• Virtual and augmented reality allow fans to feel like they are in the field or court with the other players. Imagine the thrill of a tackle or touchdown, while hearing fans erupt with elation.
• AI technologies learn user behavior. Over time such innovations can provide recommendations to fans. All these increased the level of personalization.
• Customized, exclusive mobile content for fans. Integrating mobile and social media platforms enhance engagement amongst fans. 
• Technologies like biometrics and facial recognition can help do away with paper tickets. And, they are an excellent way of avoiding long queues of fans awaiting entry into the stadium. User identification will be fast, allowing for more efficiency. And, the organizers can reduce fraud incidences with such.
• High-speed Wi-Fi connectivity makes their experiences not only memorable but also shareable. Poor internet connectivity can be frustrating. Investing in high-speed connections will make the fan experience much better. The organizers should take advantage of real-time interactions on social media platforms. It provides a wonderful opportunity to share important messaging.
• Promotions to increase the level of interest. Fan challenges and interactive quizzes keep audiences engaged throughout.

1. Offer In-Stadium Incentives and Opportunities
   
   

In-stadium seat upgrades can also enhance the fan experience. If the stadium has empty premium seats, they can put them up for sale to attendees.

And, they can make the offering more attractive by reducing seat prices. It is better to make a few dollars off the seats, than letting them remain empty. 

The other option is to increase engagement with contests. One of the rewards could be an opportunity to upgrade their seats.

Live sports organizers must offer more connected experiences. Most stadiums have giant screens all over. The content includes match analysis and interesting data around the ongoing games. 

Legalized betting can be another way to enhance the fan experience. In the US, the Supreme Court lifted the federal ban on sports betting in 2018. Legal sports betting is now possible in more than 20 states. The potential for the sports and betting industry is huge. 

In-arena and real-time betting provide an opportunity for audiences to engage. They can place bets using the data on the screens within the stadium. The organizers will benefit from advertising and sponsorship opportunities from the betting companies.

1. Safety Priority in Covid Times

The reality for anyone living post-2020 is that the corona pandemic is here with us. Live sporting events felt the impact of the breakout. Subsequent quarantines and social distancing hit the industry hard.

A Bloomberg 2020 report highlighted the financial impact of the pandemic. The National Basketball Association had a 10% income plunge. The loss of ticket revenue was as high as $800 million. Merchandise sales and sponsorships fell by $400 million. Major League Baseball saw a revenue decline of $7.7 billion. 

The good news is that many countries lifted some of the Covid restrictions. But, the disease is still here with us. So, health and safety continue to be a big concern. Event organizers must be more stringent about safety measures. 

Fans would want to know that they are not compromising their health by attending live matches. The organizers must adhere to CDC guidelines on public gatherings. These include wearing masks and hand washing.

Others are sanitation areas and a level of physical distancing. They should also be more active in passing safety messages to attendees.

Final Thoughts

Improving fan experiences in stadiums has many facets to it. These include creating better engagement and more interactive activities. It is not only about watching the match. Other activities such as entertainment can draw in crowds.

The organizers must also ensure efficiency in processes. Technologies like POS systems for stadiums can help with these. Using the technologies will enhance services. The app connects to critical areas like production, inventory management, and delivery.

Enhancing the fan experience also means engaging more with them. The organizers must look for opportunities to interact. Such include running contests, quizzes, and other promotions. They can also offer facilities like seat upgrades and concession deliveries.

Interesting stats, facts, or statistics on screens will help capture the audience’s attention. The legalization of sports betting means such information can help players place strategic bets.

And finally, health and safety continue to be a priority in these Covid times. Organizers must assure fans that they are taking measures to keep everyone safe.