Major League Baseball hosts some of the most watched sporting events. Each year, more than 70 million people attend games. It’s not just the games that bring so many people to the stands. You can’t experience the live experience, from the smell of hot dogs and the sounds of a roaring audience, if you watch at home. Many fans lost this experience during the COVID-19 epidemic, which led to a national halt to live sports events.
Attendees will find themselves drawn back to normal events as they are able to experience something new. You need to know what your fans want and what keeps them returning to your sporting events. These are the top five reasons that people attend sporting events. Here’s how to make it a memorable experience for them.
1. Networking and socializing
Sporting events can bring people closer, whether it’s your friends who came along or those sitting next to you. Perhaps it’s the shared passion for the same team, or simply the joy of sharing a beer with someone new. Every sports fan has a story to tell about their mid-game interactions with interesting people, regardless of the reason.
Corporate networking events can also be held at sporting events. Although smaller teams may offer the most accessibility for your company, events that are open to all levels of sport can be a great place for networking. A live sport event can be an alternative to a company party, happy hour or entertainment after a long day of work at a conference.
Do you want to encourage attendees to mingle, mix and network? You could organize a pre-event cocktail hour, or ask your guests to introduce their selves to the person sitting next to you.
2. Halftime shows
A good halftime show is a great way to entertain your fans. Halftime shows are great for keeping the crowd entertained while the teams rest up and plan. Some fans find the chance of a great performance at halftime more appealing than watching live sports events.
Consider the best halftime show that you have ever seen. What was it that made it so special? You can create memorable memories for your guests by channeling that spark. It may even become the thing they will be talking about for many years.
3. Giveaways and promotions
To engage your attendees, you might consider incorporating contests to your events. A contest could give you a chance at a locker room tour, meet and greet with the team or a VIP package for a future game. To generate excitement and increase your social media presence, you could also offer a ticket giveaway. Lucky attendees can walk away with cool swag or even a brand new car at the biggest sporting events. They may also have the chance to enjoy the cheers of the crowd at a trivia or basket contest.
Merch is a great way to get sponsors involved and increase brand recognition. Branding your event is only possible with merch. You and your sponsors get free advertising every time someone wears the hat or t-shirt they received at your event.
4. Team spirit
People, especially sports fans, are naturally competitive. There will be some smack talking and team camaraderie when opposing fans are seated in the same venue. This is the ideal environment for diehard fans to show their team pride with painted faces.
You can inspire team spirit among attendees at your event by thinking of ways to do this. Encourage your fans to share photos on social media with a hashtag that you create, regardless of whether they are there in person or at home. Fans who are passionate about their team should consider adding challenges and activities to the group.
Social media is more than just great for engaging during sporting events. You can also use it to help you sell tickets. Use paid ads or organic posts about your event to encourage attendees to share them.
5. Making an impression
You can take your date to the ballgame, or you can woo a client. Sporting events can be a great way for someone to have a good time, with food, drinks, and entertainment all in one spot.
Make your event appealing to show attendees that it is unique. Make sure you brand your event to make people feel special and share it with others. You can offer a variety of packages from the basic ticket to a VIP option.