As a millennial, I'll admit it: one of the toughest things about going to a sporting event is unplugging. And I'm not the only one. The next time you are at a baseball or football game or watch one on television, pay special attention to the fans in the crowd. What you'll probably notice is that many of them are not watching the game, but rather are texting, tagging themselves on Facebook, taking selfies, and doing other things with their smartphones. Attending a game is just another social experience, and vendors are beginning to use our mobile behavior to better market their offerings.
One case in point was the NBA
All-Star Game. Knowing that many smartphone users allow push notifications
to notify them of any new promotions (more than 67%
polled have received a shopping notification in the last six months),
organizers of a virtual bobble head doll booth in the area, used iBeacon
technology to notify fans nearby of the booth. More than 700 people attended
the booth because of the social promotion. The same vendor that did this also
used iBeacon technology to promote a 20% off coupon at the team store at
another sporting event.
What does this mean for the future
of sporting events? App
development companies will continue to use this technology to enhance their
apps for marketability. We have already seen this in malls and department
stores as shoppers can receive product information and special promotions just
for their proximity to a certain product. More and more users are willing to
reveal their locations and lessen their privacy to enhance their shopping
experience, and we should see stadiums and vendors use this technology more in
the future.
Image: Shutterstock
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