Sports tourism is a massive industry, with fans traveling near and far to watch their favorite teams compete. The global sports tourism market is estimated to be worth over $800 billion. From major international events like the Olympics to local Little League games, sports bring people together. But the sports tourism experience could still use some improvements. How can cities, teams, and leagues enhance the adventure for traveling spectators? Here are some ideas.

Making Cities More Fan-Friendly

For big sporting events, host cities have a lot to manage. Public transportation, crowd control, vendor permitting – the municipal to-do list goes on and on. But city governments could do more to roll out the welcome mat for visiting fans. Here are a few ideas to make cities more sports tourist-friendly:

1. Provide Special Event Transit Passes

Finding your way on public transit in an unfamiliar place can be confusing. Cities could make it easier by offering discounted multi-day passes specifically for getting to and from sports venues. Passes could work across trains, buses and subways for seamless transportation access. No more fumbling with payment or getting lost on the way to the stadium.

2. Set Up Fan Zones with Entertainment and Activities

Don’t just corral sports spectators into an area outside the venue. Treat fans by setting up interactive entertainment zones around big events. Have live music, fan fest areas with games and activities, opportunities to meet athletes and spaces for enjoying local food and drink. This transforms waiting around into an unforgettable experience.

3. Streamline Vendor Permitting

Street food and merch sellers can add to the atmosphere, but vendors often get bogged down in city bureaucracy applying for event permits. Cities could create special sports tourism vendor permits that fast-track and simplify the process. More local businesses could participate, giving fans more eating, shopping and sightseeing opportunities.

Helping Teams Better Connect with Traveling Fans

Sports franchises rely on their hometown devotees, but clubs and leagues could do more to specifically enhance the experience for road-tripping visiting fans. Here are some ideas for teams to better engage traveling supporters:

1. Spotlight Away Fans on Jumbotrons

Don’t just point cameras at excited home crowds. Flip the script by highlighting visiting fans who made the trip to catch their squad as the “away” team. Show them having fun and rooting on their club, even in enemy territory. This makes them feel appreciated.

2. Discount Merchandise for Away Fans

Visiting supporters want to rep their team on the road, but may not want to pay full price for gear in the arena shop. Teams could offer special discounted merchandise discounts for away fans, like 20% off hats and shirts. This allows traveling diehards to show their colors.

3. Share City Recommendations

Teams know their hometowns well, but away supporters may not know the best spots to eat, drink and be entertained. The home club could provide visiting fans with pamphlets or emails highlighting top local attractions near the stadium, reco’ing nightlife, restaurants, museums and other sights. Making traveling easier for opposing fans might seem counterintuitive, but it breeds goodwill.

Optimizing the Schedule for Fans

Sports league offices are primarily concerned with pleasing TV networks, who pay huge sums for broadcast rights. But optimizing the timing and flow of competition for hardcore attending fans should also be a priority. Here are some schedule tweaks leagues could make:

1. Avoid Weeknight Games

Wednesday night games may work for TV, but they are tough for traveling supporters. Trying to get to a weeknight game means more fans have to take time off work, book a hotel, pay for extra childcare and more. Sports tourism would grow if leagues stuck to mostly weekend and holiday games.

2. Release Schedules Earlier

Often the following season’s schedule isn’t finalized until a few months before. For fans planning trip-of-a-lifetime experiences to see their team on the road, that’s not enough lead time. Releasing preliminary matchups further in advance would allow traveling supporters to better prepare for their away game road trips.

3. Group Road Games Together

When leagues set schedules, stacking away games on consecutive weekends makes regular season road trips more feasible for hardcore traveling fans. The tour of back-to-back away games becomes part of the adventure rather than sporadic long-distance treks.

Helping Fans Connect with Players as People

Seeing high-paid professional athletes up close can feel distant – they seem untouchable. But leagues, teams and players themselves can use social media and in-person interactions to remind fans that underneath the lights, cameras and cheers, players are relatable people too.

1. Social Media That Feels Real

Athletes’ social accounts are understandably clogged with sponsor plugs and hype. But working in some real talk can help fans get to know players’ personalities. Give honest thoughts on movies watched, hometown shoutouts, favorite foods, pet pics. Social interaction that feels authentic, without overly curating one’s image, goes a long way.

2. Quick Conversations During Warm-Ups

Some players are chatty during warm-ups, while others intensely focus with earbuds in. But taking 60 seconds before tip-off or first pitch to casually greet a couple of fans with a fist bump, handshake or quick chat makes their night. Even a brief hello breeds a special personal connection.

3. Fan Forums and Focus Groups

Teams could host online fan forums, surveys and focus groups allowing supporters to share suggestions, concerns and experiences right to the club. Fans provide thoughts anonymously, teams aggregate feedback, and then players and management openly respond to the perspectives. This two-way communication loop demystifies the star athletes.

New Tech Makes Watching More Immersive

Finally, new viewing formats and technologies are creating more immersive and social in-stadium experiences for traveling supporters. Sports teams are wisely investing in these tech upgrades.

1. Second Screen Experience Apps

New apps like FanDuel allow fans at the game to view live odds and stats, bet on in-game action, post reactions on social channels and more – all from their seats. These second screen experiences make attending the game more interactive and engaging.

2. Enhanced Replays on Video Screens

Instant replays improve all the time on TV, but in-stadium jumbotrons lag. Investing in high-def screens and the latest slo-mo, multi-angle replay tech gives attending fans the same ability to review pivotal moments. Quality in-house video enhances the live experience.

3. Improved Food and Drink Ordering

Waiting in chaotic concession lines can mean missing key game action. New mobile ordering and in-seat delivery streamline buying food and drinks. Sports tourism is upgraded when fans don’t have to sacrifice viewing for nachos and beer.

Conclusion

From smoother travel logistics to immersive technologies, plenty of opportunities exist for enhancing the sports tourism experience. This industry thrives on fans’ passion and willingness to hit the road to support their favorite team. When clubs, municipalities and leagues make that spectacular journey easier, cheering audiences will reward them with unforgettable loyalty. By working together to provide discounts, improve access, optimize scheduling and strengthen connections, sports can give traveling supporters the experiences they dream about.

FAQs

What are some ways cities can be more sports fan friendly?

Cities can provide special event public transit passes, set up entertainment zones around venues, streamline vendor permitting, promote local attractions and businesses, and take other steps to roll out the welcome mat for sports tourists.

How can teams better engage with traveling away team fans?

Clubs can spotlight out of town fans on jumbotrons, offer them discounted gear, provide city recommendations for sights to see, group away games on the schedule, and take other measures to enhance their experience visiting a new place.

How can leagues structure their schedule to accommodate traveling superfans?

Leagues can optimize the calendar for attending fans by avoiding weeknight games, releasing the schedule further in advance, grouping away games in a row, and not prioritizing TV over live spectators.

What can players do to connect with fans as real people?

Athletes can use social media in an authentic way, take a moment to casually greet fans during warm-ups, participate in online fan forums, and find other ways to break the superstar bubble and relate to supporters.

What new technologies are revolutionizing the in-stadium viewing experience?

Second screen experience apps, enhanced big screen replays, mobile food and drink ordering, gambling integration, 5G connectivity, and augmented reality are some tech advances now being applied to create a better in-person fan experience.