(STL.News) Though sports have been around since before the existence of any of the modern technological luxuries we enjoy today, the industry has become intricately tied to said tech advancements. For example, were it not for the TV and radio, who knows if sports would be as popular as they are right now. However, the growing technological evolution continues to change the way we experience sports.
Though our passion for athletic competition has not waned (in fact, it has only grown), the way we choose to express that passion has certainly evolved over the years. In part, we do have technology to thank, or blame, for that fact. In this article, we would like to explore how fan engagement with sports has changed due to tech advancements.
Sports Betting
Just as sports have been around since the dawn of humanity, so too has sports betting. Placing a wager on the outcome of a game is not a new concept. In fact, we have evidence that suggests this has been happening since the Ancient World. However, the rise of the internet has given way to a brand new form of betting, unlike anything we’ve ever seen before.
Of course, we are talking about online bookmakers. These websites allow fans to place a wager on the internet without having to worry about finding an operating, local sportsbook. Excellent sites like NetBet Sport provide a thrilling experience for fans who want to put a wager on their favorite team or player. Best of all, many of these sites are mobile compatible, so you can wager on the go or at home.
Sports betting online has actually managed to bring a lot of new fans to sports. The iGaming industry (online gambling) is a growing market, and online casinos often double as bookmakers. Plenty of gamblers with no interest in sports have checked out sportsbooks as a new gambling outlet but have stuck around for the thrill of the sport itself.
Streaming Services
The radio was a huge game-changer in the sports world. People no longer had to be physically at a game in order to enjoy it. They could hear real-time commentary on the game and follow along. Then, when the TV came around, fans could actually watch the game, sometimes in real time, and feel like they were right there in the arena.
The internet has managed to combine the two into one. Today, there are streaming services that let you listen to game commentary or watch the match in real time. Often, people have to pay subscriptions for the service, but sometimes it is available free of charge and absolutely legally. Whether you are at home, on the go, or even enjoying a lunch break at work, you have access to a streaming platform via your smartphone.
There are some platforms that will even upload the games as digital files after all is said and done. This means that even if you’ve missed the live broadcast, you can watch the rerun, just like you might on TV. The only difference is, you can do this any time you want. Fans often re-watch particularly exciting games, for example.
Streaming services have also done a great job of enhancing the betting experience. Live wagers, or in-game betting, wouldn’t be possible without streaming, for example. For those who don’t know, live betting involves placing wagers on a game in real time. Bookmakers will often stream said game, so participants can even watch it directly on the website.
Fan Engagement
Athletes are among the celebrities that we revere most in society. They are people willing to put their bodies on the line to achieve greatness. It is no wonder that some fans would like to interact with their favorite athlete and tell them how much they like them. Once upon a time, this was only possible through happenstance or some sort of fan gathering. However, tech advancements have changed that.
Clubs, teams, and even individual athletes all have fan accounts where they can talk to and communicate with their fans at a reasonable rate. Not only that, but these pages serve as a gathering for like-minded people who wouldn’t mind discussing the club’s, team’s, or player’s future, past, and current activities. On top of that, Discord servers exist where fans can form closer bonds and create a tighter community.
The Future of Tech and Sports
Tech advancements are an amazing aspect of modern society. It isn’t just sports betting that they’ve impacted. Restaurants, pubs, and even sports bars can benefit from changing technology. But what does the future of tech in sports have to offer? Many are excited about the evolution of virtual reality, or augmented reality, for example.
What effect could VR and AR have on sports? As a matter of fact, it could be quite profound. Imagine this: you are sitting on your couch in a headset. All around you is not your living room but a digital recreation of the stadium where your favorite team is playing. You are surrounded by other avatars, all of which are having the exact same experience as you.
This is what virtual reality sports could be like. Live, real-time broadcasts of the games that the fans could experience as if they were truly there. The same principle might work with augmented reality as well, though that is certainly less likely. The experience sounds amazing, but why hasn’t it been put into place yet?
Well, the simple reason is that virtual and augmented reality are simply not at a point where they can do live broadcasts just yet. The VR and AR fad came and went, and people sort of lost interest. Many were expecting the high-intensity experience of TRON right from the start. However, the first games that came out for the VR headsets were not all that visually impressive or exciting.
Closing Thoughts
Though sports may be much older than many believe, the market today is intricately tied to technology. With each new development in broadcasting tech, we will inevitably see a change in the sports industry. We hope this article has shown how the world of athleticism and the digital age can work together for a unique and fascinating experience for everybody.
