Like these initiatives of years gone by, modern fan projects require detailed planning and excellent organizational skills, but now sports marketers have the digital tools and communication methods to step up their game. Anyone who’s seen the huge card displays common among soccer crowds over the years will have seen an effective fan activation idea in play. What are fan activation ideas?įan activation ideas, or fan projects, are a broad church that covers any activity that makes the fan feel so “animated” that they feel they are part of the live event.īy encouraging them to participate, a good fan project makes fans feel seen and heard, strengthens the bond between them and the team, and increases the chances of them coming back for more.

Put together, they can be a winning formula that redefines what the fan experience is and satisfies new generations of fans that demand varied entertainment options and round-the-clock-engagement. More and more, sports organizations are coming up with ambitious fan projects with the help of the latest tech innovation and creative thinking. Īs Tim Ellis, the chief marketing officer of the NFL said to the New York Times, “What we know is that if you don’t acquire a fan by the time they’re 18, you’re most likely never going to get them. Nowadays, kids have a computer in their pocket which connects them to seemingly endless alternative forms of entertainment. Anxiety about missing out on a share of the lucrative sports market, expected to hit a global figure of $826 billion by 2030.Īs frustrating as these obstacles are, sports organizations must still continuously come up with new and inventive ways to appeal to younger generations of fans, or risk losing them forever.įor generations, teams have relied on parents passing their love of sports to their children.High effort to stand out from competitors to appeal to a younger, more demanding crowd.

The struggle to come up with original, inventive ideas.If you’re a sports marketer, you’ll have seen first-hand the challenges that come with this task, including: Yet, creating a successful idea can be difficult. For sports clubs seeking to connect with a changing fan base, well-executed fan activation ideas are a powerful way of driving both engagement and revenue.

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