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- Survey carried out by Genesco Sports Enterprises (GSE) and The Harris Poll
- 74% in favour of VR broadcasts; 64% would welcome social media integration
New research by Genesco Sports Enterprises (GSE) has found that 76 per cent of US fans want more watch party-style viewing options as the major domestic sports leagues return behind closed doors.
With fans shut out for games by the coronavirus pandemic for the foreseeable future, the consumer survey carried out by the US consultancy firm Harris Insights and Analytics shows that the digital experience will be key to reaching fans at home.
According to the results of the survey, 74 per cent of respondents are also in favour of adopting virtual reality (VR) into productions, while broadcast innovations could also present sponsors with an opportunity to change how they engage with viewers.
Furthermore, 64 per cent also said that they would welcome social media integration into live sports broadcasts, while two-thirds of consumers want more second-screen viewing experiences.
“As we're now more home-oriented, home-gating will be on the rise, leading to more chips, soda, and beer being sold,” said GSE’s chief executive John Tatum. “In my 30-plus-year career in sports, I've never seen a greater opportunity for brands to directly engage with fans where they live.”
So far, Major League Soccer (MLS) is the only major North American sports property to return to play, with the opening game of its MLS is Back tournament in Orlando, Florida attracting an average 492,000 viewers on ESPN’s networks.
The National Basketball Association (NBA) is also gearing up for its 2019/20 restart at the Disney World resort in Orlando on 31st July, while Major League Baseball (MLB) has also confirmed plans for a shorter, 60-game 2020 season set to begin on either 23rd or 24th July.
The National Hockey League (NHL) has confirmed it will return with a 24-team 2020 playoff series from 1st of August in the Canadian cities of Edmonton and Toronto. The 2020/21 National Football League (NFL), the biggest of the US major leagues, is working on plans for its 2020 season, which is not scheduled to start until September.
New research by Genesco Sports Enterprises (GSE) has found that 76 per cent of US fans want more watch party-style viewing options as the major domestic sports leagues return behind closed doors.
With fans shut out for games by the coronavirus pandemic for the foreseeable future, the consumer survey carried out by the US consultancy firm Harris Insights and Analytics shows that the digital experience will be key to reaching fans at home.
According to the results of the survey, 74 per cent of respondents are also in favour of adopting virtual reality (VR) into productions, while broadcast innovations could also present sponsors with an opportunity to change how they engage with viewers.
Furthermore, 64 per cent also said that they would welcome social media integration into live sports broadcasts, while two-thirds of consumers want more second-screen viewing experiences.
“As we're now more home-oriented, home-gating will be on the rise, leading to more chips, soda, and beer being sold,” said GSE’s chief executive John Tatum. “In my 30-plus-year career in sports, I've never seen a greater opportunity for brands to directly engage with fans where they live.”
So far, Major League Soccer (MLS) is the only major North American sports property to return to play, with the opening game of its MLS is Back tournament in Orlando, Florida attracting an average 492,000 viewers on ESPN’s networks.
The National Basketball Association (NBA) is also gearing up for its 2019/20 restart at the Disney World resort in Orlando on 31st July, while Major League Baseball (MLB) has also confirmed plans for a shorter, 60-game 2020 season set to begin on either 23rd or 24th July.
The National Hockey League (NHL) has confirmed it will return with a 24-team 2020 playoff series from 1st of August in the Canadian cities of Edmonton and Toronto. The 2020/21 National Football League (NFL), the biggest of the US major leagues, is working on plans for its 2020 season, which is not scheduled to start until September.
