G’day everyone, I hope that this latest blog post and infographic finds you well especially given the unprecedented circumstances we’re all in at the moment.
How is everyone going with everything at the moment? It’s a pretty stressful and overwhelming time for everyone but it seems that we’re all coping pretty well with self-isolation, COVID19 concerns and everything else that’s going on in our lives. Whose missing live sport? The smells and sounds of the game-day? It will be all back before we know it.
Like millions of others, both my wife and I have lost work but life does go on and you have to keep moving. I’m deeply saddened to hear about plenty of my hard-working friends and colleagues from the sports business world who are struggling at the moment because of redundancies or lost income. We’re all in this together and things will get better. I know how hard these reps have all worked for fans in stadiums all over the world so they should be very proud of what they’ve achieved and hopefully will be able to come back to their clubs or venues when the time is right. I’m in the same boat and while there’s not much I can do to help, all I can say is that I’m always happy to listen and talk to anyone if they feel like a virtual chat or a catch-up.
It’s important that we check in on one another at this time but also that we stay active and focused mentally and so because the former school teacher in me can’t just sit still and not want to help, I’ve put together another free quick fan engagement infographic which will help global to grassroots clubs all over the world.
I scoured the web looking at what over 400 global teams were doing for fan engagement content ideas at this time and was blown away at the creativity and innovation coming from these hard-working teams at this time to still provide educational and entertaining content to connect fans.
From mental fitness webinars, kids activity workbooks and recipe creations to Zoom backgrounds, bitmoji’s and fitness challenges it’s been very impressive to see how teams across the world have adapted during COVID19 to provide fans of all ages, but especially young fans with ways to stay connected to the game and their teams.
I have therefore attached below another FREE fan engagement resource that I have put together along with the bullet points of all the ideas for easy access below too.
I have also added the images to my 8000+ strong fan engagement Pinterest board which has an abundance of ideas that have come in useful for teams over the years. Visit the FE Pinterest here.
Also if you haven’t seen any of the other fan engagement infographics that I’ve put together then you can find them here.
If something doesn’t make sense then please just ask and I will assist you with more information about what the bullet point represents.
As with the majority of things I do in the fan engagement space, I don’t ask for much in return for my services as I care about young fans and making the best fan experience possible. I love what I get to do and as a fan first and foremost myself this will never change. All I ever ask is that you respect me and my work and let me know if it came in handy and reach out if you found it helpful.
The best part about what I’ve been able to do here has been to network, help out and meet likeminded people in sports biz from all across the globe who one day I can introduce my soon to be born child to your team and stadium and not just go on my global stadium journeys by myself. With a baby girl on the way in July, I can’t wait to be doing this and instill in them my love for stadium architecture, trying diverse F&B and catching different sports in different parts of the globe. With COVID19 going on and no real end in sight, it’s important that we understand that we all have so much to look forward to and for me, I can’t wait to welcome my first baby and soon to be sports fan into the world.
Thank you for reading and I hope that this free resource comes in handy for you.
Have a good week, keep smiling and stay positive.
This will all be over soon and fans will be back on the Kiss Cam, cheering their teams on and also complaining about the price and quality of stadium F&B in no time!
200+ Fan Engagement Ideas To Entertain, Educate And Connect Sports Fans During COVID19
- Check in on elderly members/fans
- Word search
- Stay Home Bingo card
- Spot the ball
- Colour in the player/club emblem/jersey
- Draw the player/ground/emblem
- Throw back pictures/moments/memories
- Nominate a team
- Challenges
- Zoom wallpapers
- Team/Player wallpapers
- Podcasts
- Classic calls/flashbacks
- Play back old games
- Coronavirus hand washing techniques/instructions
- Deliver care packages to fans
- VR ground visits
- YouTube/Video shows/recaps and rewinds
- Hero of the team (emergency services fan shout outs)
- Feel Good moments/pics/videos
- Art competitions
- Story Time. Players read kids books/stories to young fans
- Countdowns and votes (best jersey/game/player etc.)
- Connect 4 Mascot challenges
- Google Home to engage with fans at home
- Photo of the day
- Family Nominations
- Q&A’s
- On This Day
- Skills challenges
- Fitness/work out/training tips
- Team commentate fans skills/videos
- GIF challenges
- Twitch e-sports gaming challenges
- Re-watch classic games
- Share your fan story
- Utilising fan generated content
- Repurposing merch for medical supplies
- Instagram/FB Live with players/team
- Beat the clock online jigsaw puzzle challenges
- Emergency/Health services branded merch
- #FromTheArchives
- Old player profiles
- Choose your ultimate team lineups
- Mental Health Messages and Tips
- Classic game replays
- What Self-Iso Personality Are You?
- Quizzes
- Polls
- Social games
- Replay games via Twitter updates
- Club Spotify music playlists
- What are the players up to updates
- CEO messages/emails to fans
- Player video messages to fans
- Game day dress up
- Twitter/FB/Insty take overs
- Send letters to the team
- Player pen-pals
- Dogs of the club/team/fans
- Activity sheets/kids worksheets
- Legend Q&A with past player
- The People’s Presser
- Ultimate Quaran Team
- Memes
- Pixelated pick the players
- My ‘Insert Team’ Story
- Top 100 games/moments/memories/players/jerseys
- Virtual Match day Predictions
- Random Acts of Kindness
- Inside the training session
- 60 seconds Qs with the player/coach
- Fan profiles
- TikToks
- Tattoo profiles of the players
- Live Q&A
- Choose your ultimate fantasy team
- Match day program flashbacks
- Fun Facts
- Virtual autographs
- Match day merch offers
- Merchandise daily deals
- Fan Virtual Meet Up
- Online Quizzes Ex. Kahootz
- Archival footage
- Free access to exclusive content
- Cooking and recipe shows
- Online fan party
- Mini documentaries
- Exclusive special merch
- Good News Stories
- Stay Home Messages
- Send us your crazy graphic design requests
- Guess the player names from the emoji’s
- Bracket challenges
- Charity Challenges
- Merch giveaways
- Stadium wallpapers
- Your Stadium Memory
- Virtual Game Days
- Personalised jersey wallpapers
- Player fashion shows
- CRIBS- player home lockdown version
- Players/team letters to fans/members
- #OpenDoorChallenge
- Fan Art Fridays
- #GetYourKitOn
- Donate A Membership
- Retro plays of the week
- Stat attacks
- Classic game breakdowns with ex players/coaches
- Specials on training range merch
- Stories behind the big moments
- Team/Player Yoga
- Animal Crossing jerseys
- Surprise fans with calls/videos
- Individual Training Programs
- Food Bank Appeals
- Name The Goal/Try/Moment
- Show and Tell (Show Us Your Sports Cave)
- Backyard Skills Challenges
- Arts & Crafts
- Community hero of the week
- Home Workouts
- Old photos from yesteryear
- Your Call From Home- Fans commentating big moments
- Show Your Colours- send in pics in
- Team colouring in books
- Guess The Player- Who Am I?
- What Happens Next?
- Fan discounts for team sponsors- support local businesses
- Thank You Messages to fans
- What comes to mind when you see this kit?
- Your Birth Month and First Letter of your name = Your Career/Name etc.
- Find a word
- Scoreboard challenge
- Word Challenges: Team scattergories
- Spot The Difference
- Share Your Ticket Stub Memory
- Guess which season these jerseys are from
- Trading Card Flashbacks
- Retro Team List Tuesday
- Share favourite merch items
- Whose Tattoo?
- Isolation Task/Name
- Mental Health/Fitness webinars
- Fan video messages of support for the team
- Player/FOH profiles
- Alternative design random jerseys
- Design a banner
- Old news stories from papers
- Fan/Member of the week
- Animated GIFs
- Cartoons
- This Week: Run a schedule of what’s on for fans
- Inspirational quotes
- Anything mascot related: Colouring in, wallpapers, cut outs
- Virtual Happy Hour’s knock off beers/drinks with team/fans
- Live chat with a former star
- Share baby photos of players/team
- Build the ultimate stadium meal
- Thank you shout outs to health care workers
- Game plan breakdowns- show attack/defence plays
- Team/Player pays it forward with free coffees/meals for members/health care workers at local businesses
- Team maze challenges
- Reading challenges
- Fans/Members nominate a local business that deserves recognition
- Virtual cheerleading/dance sessions for fitness/kids
- What’s in the player’s fridge?
- Hand washing technique cards
- Player Bitmojis
- Art contests
- Make up tutorials
- Fan challenges- draw players/ask a question for social live
- Virtual radiothon
- Art workshops
- Sudoku worksheets
- Video chat with the mascot
- Kids recipe book
- Write letters/notes of support along with the team to health care workers
- Showcase players hidden talents
- Showcase fans/members hidden talents
- Promote fans/members of the club local businesses to the fan base
- ‘I Stay Home For….’ Cards
- Community Support Roster- show who the team supports
- Paper Bag Puppets
- Write a letter to the mascot
- Rivalry Recaps
- Mascot/Player printable cut outs
- Group fitness classes/steps challenges
- Virtual Vacations frames for fans
- Stay At Home Match Notes/Sheet
- Make a player out of household items cardboard etc.
- Virtual watch parties of classic old games
- Where’s the mascot (where’s wally etc.)
- Fan hall of fame
- Guess the attendance of the retro game
- Name the score of the classic game
- Mascot trading cards
- Send in fan messages for the team to go up in the sheds for their return
- Fan call from the CEO
- Write a match day review from a past game- writing challenge
- Printable posters
- Letterbox drops of merch/letters from players to members houses
- Junior fan of the day during COVID19
- Fan caricatures
- Team DJ doing a set live on social
- Junior reporter commentates a classic game
- Kids only fan forum
- Kids only team presser
- Members/fans merch lucky dip live
- Memory games
- Virtual members wall
- VR ticket/merch/mascot hunts
- Kids/parents fans/members only fitness/health session live by team
- Stay at home pass
- Printable trophies and cups
- Promote fans membership loyalty i.e. 5, 10, 20 years memberships
- Harness, use and showcase fan generated content
- Print out club size charts
- First game day at home certificates
- Game day memorabilia auctions/giveaways
- Fan/member appreciation day/week
- Make a team flag at home
- At home ‘cams’ team filters for Oblivious cam, Kiss cam, etc.
