On the latest Sporticast episode, hosts Scott Soshnick and Eben Novy-Williams speak with Rick Burton, an author and sports management professor at Syracuse, about how sports leagues and their owners are adapting to new demands from the next generation of sports fans.
Burton co-authored a recent Sportico op-ed titled, “Fun Wins: Why Sport’s Future Hinges on Joy, Speed and Surprise.” It argues that the sports leagues of tomorrow are at their best when the viewership or in-person attendance is fun. That’s often more visible in the smaller upstart sports or properties, such as the Savannah Bananas or the upstart 3×3 women’s basketball league Unrivaled.
The trio discusses a number of those new leagues. Who is doing fun the best? What are their tactics? That includes a discussion of augmented reality–or fully virtual–sports. TGL, the golf league backed by Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy, debuted this year as an AR experience. Zed Run, a virtual horse racing platform that was popular back in 2021, may have been a few years ahead of its time.
They also talk about the more established leagues. Major League Baseball stands out as a league that has recently made major changes to its gameplay to improve its watchability. They discuss who might be next.
They close by talking about MLS. Burton recently co-authored a book about the American soccer league. They discuss the specific teams that have done the best at fostering a fun in-person experience and talk about the league’s Apple media deal, which has both its benefits and its drawbacks.
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