Sports are one of the favorite past-times of fans across the world. From baseball to bobsled, hockey to golf, football to triathlon, there are many sports that are well-loved the world over. But in almost every sport, particularly sports like baseball, football, and basketball, the game has been revolutionized and modernized at almost every level. Gone are the days when going to a baseball field was a gathering at a placid field to watch your favorite players. Instead, multi-billion dollar stadiums exist with brand partnerships, high-definition screens, and attractions for the younger fans. Everything from gear to the fan experience has been changed in many ways, but below are the 10 main ways that sports have been revolutionized.
Computer-Aided Design
Both CAD and other computer programs have contributed greatly to revolutionized logos, clothing design, merchandise creation, gear and apparel, and even the gear used by players and athletes.
Stadiums
Stadiums have drastically changed over the years, from calm and serene baseball fields filled only with the excitement of the game and fellow fans to multi-billion dollar sports amusement parks with brand associations, in-seat ordering systems, and high-tech mammoth displays. And there are predictions being made that these stadiums will revolutionize once more in the coming years. The stadiums have been revolutionized, but they also revolutionize how the game is viewed and played.
E-Commerce
E-commerce has had a great hand in changing the way people buy tickets for games, and it’s resulted in big bucks for the ticket-selling companies and the teams alike. These days, a big game can sell out over an e-commerce site in minutes to hours.
The Internet
The internet has drastically changed the way sports are viewed, talked about, attended, how fantasy sports are tracked, how scores are tracked and dispersed, and more.
Training Tools
Practice is no longer a way to work out some kinks before a game or event. Instead, training tools like video, body measurement tools, and software has turned every move an athlete makes during practice into a case study to be analyzed and learned from before the next practice or event.
Social Media
No one is rushing to the street corner to talk about a game the next day. Instead, play-by-play discussions are had via social media, fan bases are cultivated there, and there is another layer of team-fan interaction that didn’t exist before.
Digital Film
Since running out of film isn’t an issue anymore, every second of every event from every angle can be captured in one continuous shoot, which helps trainers and coaches analyze the strengths and weaknesses of each athlete and the team as a whole. It also allows for a wider, more rapid dispersion of images to the media and others.
Brands
Brands have revolutionized sports in many ways. Not only are there brand/team relationships that bring in big bucks for both teams and advertisers, but stadiums sell branded food and merchandise, partner with brands for aspects of construction and advertising, and have essentially turned most sports into businesses. In fact, most teams themselves are brands. This has substantially increased the amount of money involved in sports, and has commercialized most games and sports events to a large degree.
Television
Television has been able to bring sports into the living rooms of fans everywhere, and, once again, commercial advertising partners have turned this into a marketing opportunity. But it also helps fans who can’t get to the ballpark or hockey stadium enjoy sports from their home.
Video Games
Having video games that depict sporting events and allow users to choose which player they want to be allows them to feel as though they are a part of the game. But it also works as a marketing tool, since these games make fans feel more attached to and involved with their teams and players, so they’ll be more likely to engage in the game itself.
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Sean Poynter is a former college athlete and freelance writer. His work concentrates on the partnership between sports and technology. He spends his free time researching the latest technology news and following his favorite sports teams.
