The digital revolution has had a clear effect on all aspects of industry. Video games and film have clearly changed for the better because of the new technology. Stunning visuals are now part and parcel of both industries. But the effect that digital technology has had on visual media could have been predicted. What many may be surprised to learn is that the sports market is also greatly affected by the new tech.
Sports organizations are using new digital discoveries to create a revolution in the realm of athletic competition. The technology enables for new and exciting interactive methods for fans. The implementation of these new tools has enabled fans to go from passive spectators to active participants in the game itself.
Sportsbooks are Thriving
Sports betting platforms are the go to example of active engagement in the sports community. Bookies allow fans to interact with the market on a deeper level. Fans have always wanted to show their support by backing a team monetarily. Sportsbooks allow people to do just that, while also making the experience a lot more fun. But betting has existed long before the digital revolution. That begs the question about how it relates to the topic at hand?
Most by now have certainly heard of the online gambling industry. iGaming is a term that often is used to refer to casinos and poker rooms. But it also encompasses online sports betting platforms that focus on the best odds around. Platforms like Puntit Canada have shown an incredible ability to keep fans engaged and interested in sports. They’ve also proven that they can provide top quality odds on a wide range of games.
The interesting thing about online sportsbooks is that they are evolving alongside the rest of the industry. Bookmakers began with straightforward offer of “to win” odds. But the evolution in digital technology meant that the odds makers could improve their offers. The success of the sports betting industry today is largely a byproduct of this evolution. Digital technology has had far more of an influence on sports than simply better sportsbooks however.
Social Media Provides Two-Way Communication
Sports fans have always been quite opinionated in regards to their favorite games. The passion that many feel for the sport of their choice can clearly be seen in the culture that has formed around athletic competitions. We have examples like fantasy football and simulated reality cricket, which show just how far some fans are willing to go to get the most out of a sport. But the opinions would often fall on deaf ears a few years back. Social media has completely changed that.
Digital communication platforms provide a two-way communication method that allows fans and athletes to interact with each other. Social media is now omnipresent in our society. The average person has at least one social media account. But the craze does not stop at just individuals using Facebook. We can see examples of branding agencies using social media to give businesses a brand new identity. Businesses themselves use it to interact with customers as well.
Sports clubs and athletes have also taken advantage of social media to establish a stronger bond with their fans. European football clubs operate multi-million follower accounts across multiple platforms. Fans can share stories about games that they’ve enjoyed and discuss their favorite moments from the teams’ histories. Individual athletes also run successful social media accounts, through which they interact with fans on a personal level.
Athlete Creators Are Sweeping the Web
The interaction between fans and athletes doesn’t end at social media. Many sports professionals have now taken to the realm of social media to share their insights on training regimens and workout routines. The practice seems to be especially popular among martial artists, who have particularly useful insights when it comes to the topic of self-defense. But the athlete-creator boom goes far beyond simple training tutorials.
Many athletes of the older and retired athletes have formed connections in the sports world. It is why so many of them have moved away from sports entirely, and stepped into the realm of show businesses. The most popular example of athlete creators is the new wave of retired players who’ve launched their own podcasts. Some of these podcasts relate to the sport that the athlete was famous for. A retired football player may start a football commentary podcast for example. But it is also common for athletes to launch interview podcasts where they sit and chat with fellow athletes or even other celebrities.
It is also interesting to see that there are now creators who’ve switched over to being athletes. It is obviously far less common for an online content creator to go into professional sports. But there are some pretty interesting examples of it happening. The most prominent right now would have to be Jake Paul. Though most would know him primarily as a YouTube, Jake Paul has had a pretty noteworthy career as a professional boxer as well.
The Future of Digital Tech in Sports
Many may wonder what the future of the sports market holds with such incredible innovations already being so prominent? Some believe that immersive viewing experiences are going to become a lot more common place. The go to example for immersion right now is virtual reality. The concept has been thoroughly explored in science fiction and fantasy. But the latest available tech has brought VR much closer to reality than fiction.
Virtual reality could play a pivotal role in sports moving forward. Imagine a world where you can visit the stadium of your favorite football club while never once getting up off of the couch. It certainly seems impossible when you think about it. But that is exactly the kind of experience that virtual reality can provide for sports fans in the future.
It is worth noting that the possibilities of VR are still only theoretical. The technology is not yet developed to a point where it can do all of the fantastic things that the sci-fi writers of the past have imagined. But some experts believe that we may reach those lofty goals in ten to twenty years’ time.