Another good example is baseball after the 9/11 attacks. Baseball became a very meaningful way for thousands of strangers to come together and try and get away from it all. A certain level of bonding together was felt in all Americans after 9/11, and baseball was a positive influence on that as a whole. Through the past decade of an economy in shambles, the sporting industry has been one of the few things that have thrived. The combination of social networking and advanced ways to get your sports have only helped this gigantic industry. Wenner's book has linked different generations with different social role models in the sports world.
Every generation has had players that young people look up to, but now social media has made it so fans get closer than ever before to their favorite players. Twitter has blown up so quickly and so many prominent athletes use it to the point where it has already started becoming a social norm to use it. Sports audiences have been able to be bigger than ever for any game. Now anyone can view live games on a computer, ipad or smartphone, as well as the watching a game in person or on TV. The sporting industry has also made huge profits through the use of live games on a phone. I read a sportsbusinessdaily.com article about the success of MLBTV and MLBAM. According to the article, in 2010 an app called MLB At-Bat was the highest grossing iphone app.
It's also become extremely easy to get tickets to games almost instantly. The article stated that over 34 million MLB tickets were sold in the 10' season, which was roughly half the attendance for the entire season. The technological advancements of the past five years have developed a new way we watch and therefore developing a new audiences. Wenner said that our cultural values are being expressed through sports media in terms of how close they are followed by the media. Watching a game on some sort of electronic device has just seemed to become the primary way people view games. Fans still attend games, but the audience has become much larger than whoever is watching it in the stadium. Before all the technological advances of our time, it used to be the people at the game were the only ones that saw it. In this generation a sports audience could expand 50 times the amount of people in the seats.
Sources: http://www.sportsbusinessdaily.com/Journal/Issues/2011/03/21/Media/MLBAM.aspx?hl=Sports%20Audiences%20and%20fandom%20&sc=0
Wenner, Lawrence, ed. Mediasport.
I echo all of these points. Most of the primary sports have thrived in this tech-savvy age that we are now in. The creation of "smart phones" and tablets like the ipad have revolutionized sports viewership. We, as fans, now have the ability to watch nearly any sporting event we want, anytime, anywhere. While it is very possible (and often likely) that users of these techy devices could watch these games online for free by some (semi) legal torrent site, the fact that Dom mentioned how the MLB apps were among the top-selling applications of the past couple years speaks volumes about sports audiences and fandom in general.
ReplyDeleteSports are part of American culture; as long as they exist, people will watch. It sounds very "Field of Dreams-y", but it's true. American people will always seek the camaraderie, escape, and excitement that sports provide. While some sports associations (like the MLS or WNBA) struggle to stay afloat, I am confident that fandom (especially within the four major sports & the NCAA) will only continue to increase as general public continues to utilize the available technology and athletes continue to embrace social media outlets. American sport is a thriving business and will remain so for years to come.
I completely agree with the fact that sports are part of the American culture and brings people together. Sports fans are part of a much larger group of people who all love a specific sports franchise. However, when fans go to games they become part of that culture and experience. The reason why many fans like going to games is to get the whole family experience. It is that whole camaraderie that the experience at being at the ballpark brings.
ReplyDeleteAs both Dom and Andy suggest, the fandom is only going to stay strong with the advancements in technology. Fans, who can't make it to the game or can't afford season tickets, now have multiple media outlets to view the game. Television, radio, live streaming online, mobile devices, etc. give fans the chance to follow the game and score of the team they love. Dom also mentions Twitter. Twitter gives fans an opportunity to connect with players on their favorite teams as well as fans. I follow some of my favorite players on the Celtics, Patriots, Bruins, and Red Sox and I get to see what is going on in their baseball lives and outside lives. I can also connect with Boston sports fans, because many players or organizations will retweet what fans are tweeting. This social media avenue only contributes to this companionship that comes along with being a sports fan.
Social media has certainly changed the way that we as an audience view sports. Different social medias have different effects on this as well. For example, I would never turn to Facebook for a professional sports opinion. It exists as an avenue for the undereducated sports fan to rant and rave about who knows what. However, Twitter exists as an outlet for the sports journalist. Sports analysts have also taken up some of Twitter's sports market. As a Twitter user, its main function to me is sports news. I can "break" breaking news to my friends and colleagues just by reading my NewsFeed. In fact, people tweeting about things other than sports annoys me. It gives us an instantaneous connection to the athletes we're reading about.
ReplyDeleteHowever, reading athletes' Twitters is terrible. We almost have to dehumanize athletes. Anything outside of the cookie cutter responses during interviews is going to illicit an instant reaction from the sports audience. Just ask Tim Thomas after he refused to meet with President Obama, or LeBrown James when he constantly sticks his foot in his mouth. Or Omar Minaya, who became the poster-child for why baseball executives shouldn't ever improvise---anything.
As a sports audience, we're getting a lot closer, and therefore the athletes have to move a little further away.
I agree with you on this one.. athlete’s tweets have become so censored because of criticism that it is almost pointless for them to tweet in the first place. Obviously athletes are in the public eye and have to conscientious of what they say but I agree when you say that because of that athletes have almost become dehumanized.
DeleteI definitely agree with Dom when he says that sports are a big influence in our culture. I think that events like the SuperBowl do actually affect some of our lives because it can bring people together in different ways, any event can. I also use sports as a way to relieve stress whether I’m playing them or watching them so I also agree with that point too.
ReplyDeleteWhen Dom brings says that the sporting industry has been one of the few things that thrived during a rough time for America it makes me think how much more important sports are to our nation than I think. I was young when 9/11 occurred however I remember how important the even was and how much baseball had an influence on the American people. I feel as though sports has a neutral ground that many people connect on which makes it such an important part of situations where people feel as though they need to come together.
I also agree with Dom when he presents the idea that our new technology is a reason for new audiences. It makes a lot of sense that people can get more interested in sports due to the fact that there are so many ways in order to connect to the industry. Its upsetting that less people are at the actual games versus sitting at home and viewing them because I think the games bring people together where as when your home you are very secluded. However, I also think that the fact that we can sit at home and view games makes going to an actual game a lot more special and brings in many more fans that we can relate to.
I think everyone brings up good points! I believe that as long as sports exist, fandom will always exist. I believe that Fandom as reached a whole other level with the tech savvy generation we live in. As Kevin said, those fans who cannot attend a game or cannot afford have multiple options to to access that game. Being a fan has become simple and convenient. There is now no excuse for someone to not watch a game or follow up with the most up to date news of their favorite sports team(s).
ReplyDeleteAs Dom stated, sports is one of those industry's as a whole that has not economically failed due to fans and their support. As we discussed in class, sports is a relief from the daily stresses of life. Even in some cases in times of a country's emotional distress. I specifically remember the first yankee game after the tragic 9/11 attacks. People were at the game not in Yankees jerseys but in american flags and patriotic attire. The fans turned to sports as an escape or an answer and I think thats something to remember when discussing sports fandom.
Dom makes several excellent points of sports fandom. Sports has definitely thrived to unify groups of strangers, and used as a tool to escape from every day stress. Dom says that in the past ten years sports have remained a constant and successful part of the economy, which to me is surprising. Don’t get me wrong, I am a huge sports fan and understand sports are an American staple. However, as people are losing jobs and have smaller paychecks, sports organizations are dramatically raising ticket prices and creating outlandish contracts for athletes. It’s interesting to think that the average Joe, who struggles to support a family still supports a team that offers an athlete almost 300 times more than he earns.
ReplyDeleteTo put things in perspective, my father and his siblings and cousins have been New York Jets season ticket holders since the early 1980s. It’s become a family tradition to meet on Sundays during football season for tailgating before heading into Giants Stadium to watch the game. Jets have been disappointing fans since 1969, but the fans still come back. The fans come back for the thrill of the game and the atmosphere it offers. I’ve grown up going to games with my family for as long as I can remember, and that is how I have become a die-hard Jets fan. In 2009, the Giants and Jets said goodbye to their long time home Giants Stadium to make way for the $1.6 billion Met Life Stadium. Tickets for the new stadium rose tremendously, and my family had to give up five of their usual ten seats. We rotated who would attend which game, but it wasn’t enough for my Dad’s generation to come. My Dad along with his siblings and cousins said they were not able to enjoy the experience knowing about the money they spent, and they passed the season tickets over to my older cousins. My cousins decided to only keep four of those seats, and even then the tickets are still expensive. And to think they are struggling to only sit in the nosebleed seats? Despite all of that, my family will tune in week after week on television because the Jets are a big part of our family tradition, even if the team owners have lost perspective on the average fan.
There is no doubt that sports are a part of American culture. Christina makes a wonderful point saying , “as long as fandom exists sports will exist”. I believe that the reverse is also true, and goes along with Dom’s first statement. As long as fans need something or somebody to root for than sports will exist. Sports, especially professional sports, are, in large part, played for the fans. If there were no fans to play for than there would be no point in professional sports. They are entirely dependent on each other. Not only do sports play a role in the formation of culture, there role is critical. There are so many negative things going on in the world, sports bring a positive. Sports give people hope in a world where hope often seems hard to come by.
ReplyDeleteIn reference to the relationship between sports and the media, especially social media, it is definitely tricky. It used to be enough simply going to a game, or watching the game on television. But as the media culture changed the culture of sports had to change with it. Now fans can surround themselves with sports 24/7 if they so desire. When fans become heavily involved with players and teams their behavior could start to become obsessive. That is where problems start. Fans believe that they have a voice in the decisions that go on within the teams, and go to extremes to have their voices heard. But, fans can’t control the sports they invest themselves in, no matter how many players they follow or comments they make on an article.
Whenever I think of crazy sports fans I think of the movie Fever Pitch. For those who don’t remember, it is a about a fan obsessed with the Red Sox. At one point talks about why he loves baseball saying, “I like being part of something that's bigger than me, than I. It's good for your soul to invest in something you can't control” (Fever Pitch). As human beings our natural inclination is to control and maintain everything in our lives. But, as I have previously said, fans can’t control the teams they invest themselves in. Sports fandom is a place for people to let go, and enjoy the people they are surrounded by and the sport itself.
Fever Pitch. Dir. Bobby Farrelly and Peter Farrelly. Perf. Jimmy Fallon and Drew Barrymore. Film 4, 2009. DVD.
I'm going to echo what others have said previously about social media. It has changed the way being a fan is. Now, you can be in contact with team executives and your favorite players year-round, rather than just during the season or important dates like a draft. Also, I follow Phil Hughes on Twitter, and through that I've learned he's a big Tampa Bay Lightning fan. Reading his tweets about that just make fans know that much more about him.
ReplyDeleteI agree with what everyone is saying here about social media and it's effects on sports and being a fan of sports. You are able to miss games but get updates on twitter. I follow Red Sox outfielder Darnell McDonald and I'm pretty positive he was tweeting during a spring training game. He also retweets and responds to a lot of fans on twitter which makes fans even more in tune with the game and the athletes that play it. You can now feel that you know more about the athletes and that may or may not make watching the games more exciting. People today can know anything and everything about their favorite teams with today's technology that has been mentioned above. This can turn people into the "ultimate" fan. However, knowing every stat of every player on the team doesn't make you a die-hard fan like many people claim to be. You could look up stats right now, memorize them, and spit them out tomorrow in conversation to look awesome. You got to stick with a team through the ups and the downs no matter what. Watching a playoff series and buying a championship shirt doesn't make you a real fan of the team. There's a difference between being a fan of a team and a fan of a sport. A fan of the team is watching that team and paying attention to them. Know who's on the team and how they're playing. Being a fan of a sport is knowing the sport and all the rules of it. Playing and watching random baseball games would make you a fan of baseball. Watching and following the Red Sox makes you the fan of a team. These obviously can go hand and hand.
ReplyDeleteSocial Media has changed the world of sports immensely in not only the way we root and watch but the way we interact. The aspects that I feel no one has touched upon is that fact that social media takes superstar athletes off of the pedestal that most sports fans place them on. It removes the obstacle in-between fans and athletes. It allows fans to get the inside look and actually see that athletes are human beings too and not these mythical superstars. By removing the barrier through social media not only has the sport change, it has changed the interactions fans have with athletes.
ReplyDelete- John Hood
Sports are clearly a great outlet for many fans. I agree with all the comments about twitter and social media affecting our culture. Personally I enjoy watching the games LIVE. But if i miss a game it isnt a big deal anymore. I have apps on my phone that allow me to follow my teams wherever I go. It is a great thing. I follow Hendrik Lyndquist the Rangers goalie on Twitter as well as Nick Swisher and Amare Stoudemire. These athletes are constantly interacting with their fans and it is just great to hear their opinions. There are many positives that come out of social media and two way communications between team players and their fans.
ReplyDeleteThere are a couple of interesting points about how technology has affected fandom. There are still many, many sports fans who enjoy going to stadiums to watch their favorite teams play, while many others prefer to watch games from the comfort and cheapness of their own home. With the ever-rising costs to attend a game in person, it will be interesting to see how trends move forward in attendance. When live attendance becomes so low that it begins hurting the franchise financially, will they choose to stop having their games broadcast to force fans to come to more games? This would probably have an extremely detrimental impact on the team's fan base, but there is no doubt that the franchise would have to do something to drive fans back to games.
ReplyDeleteTechnology has just made it easier--and in many cases, even better--to watch games at home. Many times, a TV gives us a better view of everything happening at the game. We don't have to sit outside in lousy weather and pay a week's paycheck to attend and eat at the game. The NFL is already battling with some of the issues with blackout streaks in Cincinnati and Jacksonville. It will be interesting to see how those problems are solved.
Finally, I have never been a person to care much for following athletes or trying to reach out to them on Twitter. I don't feel like I would gain anything from having an athlete tweet me, so there's really no need for me to even reach out. I certainly wouldn't root any harder for a particular athlete for mentioning me on Twitter. I like that athletes have access to reaching out to many people and I think it can have positive impacts on their marketability, but usually when athletes and Twitter make the news together, it is for a controversial tweet and not for reaching out to a fan.