Social media has become a vital tool for sports fan engagement. After the outbreak of the Corona Virus, people were locked in their homes but actually living in the virtual world. Everything was virtually done, from making appointments with the doctor, attending online classes, and buying groceries. Similarly, when the public was unable to attend the live sports events at the stadium and many sports events were canceled, the authorities were determined to engage the audience digitally. Many fan engagement apps and websites were launched during the pandemic to entertain the fans and audience. New technologies were introduced; fan pages and groups were created on Facebook and Instagram. Hence, a lot of strategies came into play soon after the outbreak of the Covid-19. Below are some ways in which digital media helped improve sports fan management after the outbreak of the Corona virus.
Building Communities and Connections
Digital media played a significant role in improving connections and building pleasant bonds among the fans as well as the sports celebrities. People joined groups and followed the fan pages as well as official accounts of their favorite sports person on a regular basis to remain
up-to-date and know more about them. In addition, celebrities went live to interact with their fans, which engaged and encouraged more audiences to connect with them digitally. Not only this, but people were able to enjoy quality family time while watching matches and having discussions at home, all the while building strong connections with their family members in the real world too.
Social Media Creating a Buzz
Social media has been quite effective throughout the pandemic as far as promotions and discussions are concerned. Since the spring activities were suspended, the fans were eager to get the latest news of their favorite teams and players. In addition, it allowed the fans to share their opinions, views, concerns, and perspectives online that the sports industries and authorities acknowledged.
Creation of Advanced Technologies
Some latest technologies and apps were introduced, such as live-streaming apps, video conferencing, etc., which helped in building virtual communities that, as a result, increased fan engagement.In addition, a lot of online games were launched that served as a source of entertainment and improved fan engagement virtually. Also, some Canadian sports businesses even created virtual stadiums for the fans.
Creating Special Fan Moments
Many sports organizations created special fan moments such as giving rewards, incentives for participating in online surveys, competitions, programs, games, etc. They even arranged meet-ups with their favorite celebrities online to improve fan engagement.
So, this is how digital media played a vital role in improving fan engagement during the pandemic. The sports businesses and industries tried their best to increase fan engagement, which declined soon after the pandemic. And, digital media served as a great platform. As a result, fan engagement has evolved completely, which is now the new normal and continues even after the pandemic.