Thread by @JoeMcFarland

As discussed on the new @ABDugoutStories podcast, I find the future of live, in-person sports to be fascinating heading into the future. As someone at the forefront of sports in #yyc hosting with @calstampeders & @WHLHitmen, it will be a challenge. #RandomJoeThoughts

It isn't just going to be a challenge to convince fans to come back to their favourite barns to be shoulder-to-shoulder with strangers in a post-#COVID19 world. That is only going to be one aspect of it. The other is very consumer-centric. #sports

In my mind, it's not enough to just lean on the sport itself to drive fans back to the stands. Sure, some fans are there for the baseball or hockey or football. But I would argue most fans are there for the experience. Will they walk away saying "that was a great time"? #sports

Are they going to want to come back? Were they really immersed in the game & the contests & everything or will they look back on it & think it would have been better to spend the time at a movie or mini-golf course or home with Netflix? #sports

Because let's be honest here: many people are going to be hurting for cash. The expendable income they have for "fun" is going to be spread thin & #sports will be lumped in with movies, etc. So what are organizations going to do to get those fans back?

Yeah, there will be a novelty aspect to getting back in the stands & cheering for the local team. But I think this break is allowing many fans to reimagine how their money is being spent & I think some have realized they don't NEED to be at games all the time. #sports

And if it is costing $500 (or more) for a family of 4 to go out for a night to watch their favourite team, they are going to think twice. So what are teams & leagues dreaming up to convince those fans that the wait will be worth it? Or are they going back to the old well?

This is something I noticed even before #COVID19 hit. Fans (especially in #yyc) were shying away from their local teams. Not because they wanted to stop cheering, but because of the economy & overall cost. It will be worse next season. So planning better be underway.

I honestly can't wait to get back on mic & #MakeSomeNoise. However, I am concerned that fans won't be as excited. We gotta think outside the box to get fans back & keep them. Even I am thinking about how I will have to change my approach a bit. #sports

I'm not sure how that will look or sound, but when I turn the mic on, I want fans to be excited. I want them to laugh or cheer or be engaged. But I also don't want my "act" to be stale. I want fans to come back & say "that was cool." It's an opportunity & challenge I welcome.

Anyways, that does it for this lengthy thread. But I do believe #sports will be different. That doesn't mean it has to be bad. It's an opportunity for us to do those things that maybe we wanted to, but were scared to rock the boat. Let's go! Let's do it! TTFN! #MakeSomeNoise