Communicated Content – Sports have been embedded in the fabric of America’s culture for many years. For example, the Major League Baseball league was founded all the way back in 1869, yet still hosts games to this day. Additionally, the United States is home to an entire host of top professional sports organizations like the NBA, NHL, and NFL. Collectively these are known as the ‘Big 4’ and have historically birthed millions of dedicated fans and countless talented athletes over the decades. It’s clear to see that the U.S. has an impressive sports resume. However, nowadays sports culture in the country is flourishing even more so as the modern era forges new opportunities for both spectators and teams.
Read on to learn about just a few of the ways that the industry’s landscape is evolving.
More MLS Expansion Teams Enter the Scene
The boom of expansion teams is nothing new to the U.S.’s sports climate. In fact, new franchises are added to major leagues all the time in an effort to respond to demographic changes like population growth. However, recently we have been seeing one league, in particular, introduce a variety of expansion franchises. The MLS (Major League Soccer) may not be as popular as European football, but there’s no denying that it has grown rapidly since its foundation back in 1995.
The league started with only 10 teams and now has 27 and counting. Management has already stated that the plan is to continue developing with a goal of reaching up to 32 teams (same as the NFL) by 2023. Austin FC is the newest team in the league, with Charlotte FC slated to be added early next year. This tells us that pretty soon the MLS could be a real contender for making the ‘Big 4’ into the ‘Big 5’.
Online Betting is Gaining Legal Traction
If you are a sports fan in America, by now you probably know about the trend of online and mobile sports betting that is sweeping the nation. Nowadays, more and more bookmakers are entering the scene thanks to the passage of bills that make wagering legal in certain states. The regions that do not yet offer to bet are hard at work to get legislation in motion, and the ones that already do offer wagering services are using various marketing strategies to bring more fans on board.
One example is Tennessee which legalized online betting back in November of 2020 and has since launched many opportunities for first-time users to enjoy the activity. For instance, Tennessee free bets and bonus promotions connect fans with a selection of secure and trusted platforms from leading oddsmakers in The Volunteer State. Today, over two dozen states allow residents to place bets legally online. It may be only a matter of time until lawmakers in nearly all 50 have some type of approval process in order.
5G Technology Revolutionizes the Gameday Experience
Technological advancements are making sports more engaging and exciting for modern-day fans. What is possible now in terms of gameday experiences was only a dream years ago. The implementation of 5G wireless networks in major sports venues across the country is just one example of this, with huge stadiums like Miami’s Hard Rock, Denver’s Empower Field at Mile High, and Los Angeles’ SoFi Stadium serving fans with the technology.
5G makes the gameday experience more social and interactive as sports supporters are given free rein to use their mobile phones to share content and even participate in live betting without the fear of bad network connections. In the future, as these next-generation networks expand, we can expect 5G-equipped stadiums to be the norm in the U.S. and beyond.
TikTok and Other Social Networks Boost Engagement
The rising popularity of leading social media networks like TikTok and Instagram is also adding a new level of depth to fan engagement. Because of their supreme entertainment value, these apps are able to make sports culture in the U.S. even more profound, turning non-sports lovers into dedicated fans. They also give us inside looks into the lives of sports celebs which makes them seem less like strangers and more like friends. Sports brands and teams are also not unaware of how big of an influence social media has on fan engagement. This is why they are constantly implementing strategies that grow followership and enhance visibility.
