Real - Time In - Game Interaction (Sports, Social Media, and Security?)

by Erecca Nacion
When social media was introduced into the world and our community, privacy is a huge issue associated with these new platforms of interaction. Through social media, people are able to find valuable personal information on any given individual. Police are even taking advantage on these social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram to monitor chatter that could tip them off to potential criminal activity in their communities.

Now these privacy issues in social media are now coming into regards of live sporting events. Turns out officials from sporting events are watching what fans are doing before they ever even scan a ticket to get inside a game. Security firms tasked with monitoring fan behavior to stop them from rushing the court, threatening a coach or player, or getting rowdy during a big game are increasingly turning to social media as a predictor of whether or not fans will get feisty.

For instance, A the Minnesota Vikings fans were getting ready for the final game at the Metrodome in December, officials at Whelan Security notices social media chatter suggesting some might rush the field and try to steal a piece of history. The firm that provides security for the Vikings had more guards present that day to maintain calm during the team’s win.

Sport enthusiasts were able to post anything they would like on social media in regards to live sporting events, but now as security is now looking at fan’s tweets or posts to predict behavior can diminish the interest of real – time in – game interaction due to the risk of getting arrested or kicked out of stadium. Let’s say a fan would to post or tweet something feisty during a sporting event, but only did so in good fun and ends up getting consequences for it. As a sports fan what is your opinion on this? Comment down below and tell us if this will affect the amount of tweets a post per game. (Meredith, 2014)

References:

Meredith, L. (2014). Security Eyes Social Media For Feisty Fans. Retrieved from Associated Press: http://www.columbian.com/news/2014/mar/30/security-eyes-social-media-for-feisty-fans/

Real - Time In - Game Interaction (Twitter and Its Effect)

by Erecca Nacion
Twitter is significantly the most important social media tool when it comes to real – time in – game interaction. Each tweet gives any user the voice to strengthen the relationship with fans. They give insight to what resonates most with followers in specific verticals (Twitter, Sports: The Impact of Tweeting With Photos, Videos, Hastags and Links, 2014). Athletes, Teams and Leagues can provide both the play – by play of a game and the color commentary. Sports teams and clubs can live – tweet big off – the – field moments, like drafts, press conferences and the unveiling of new players. For instance, @RedSox  live – tweeted games throughout last year’s World Series run, providing statistics, photos, and videos in addition to standard play – by – play. In Twitter is it important for any user to increase the average amount of “retweets” on each tweet to increase the maximum amount of reach to your account, thus increasing your followers in the long run.

Hashtags are one of the most important aspects of Twitter. Since its success on Twitter, the hashtag is now seen on all social media platforms. Hashtags draw attention to the real – time tweeting events, but they are only successful when it is a dedicated hashtag as it allows user to search for the topic and join the conversation. For instance, when @kobebryant live – tweeted a re – air of his legendary  81 – point game, he employed the hashtag #countonkobe, which was mentioned more than 80,000 times that day. The hashtag is still even in use to this day, and is always seen with new results daily. (Twitter, Live - Tweet During Sporting Events, 2014)

However the most important feature with a tweet would be the photos posted. Verified sports users most – retweeted Tweets contain photos, which have nearly 50% more Retweets than they would expect to get anyway. Pictures add color and texture to Tweets. For instance tweeting a photo like the one below gives sport enthusiasts a taste of what it’s like to be courtside, providing more real – time in – game interaction.

If you are a sport enthusiast on Twitter, write in the comments below on your opinion of Twitter giving you an insight to your favorite games.

References:

Twitter. (2014). Live - Tweet During Sporting Events. Retrieved from Media : https://media.twitter.com/best-practice/live-tweet-during-sporting-events

Twitter. (2014). Sports: The Impact of Tweeting With Photos, Videos, Hastags and Links. Retrieved from Media: https://media.twitter.com/best-practice/sports-the-impact-of-tweeting-with-photos-videos-hashtags-and-links

End of forums - Alternatives for sports fans

By Raman Khinda

With online forums coming to an end, it is becoming a lot easier to use Twitter and Facebook to generate a better discussion. With sports in general, it is becoming a lot easier for athletes to use twitter and Facebook to interact with their fans by tweeting and commenting in real time which is a huge advantage. This not only helps generate longer conversations but it also helps getting a discussion going during a live game that is being played.

The best part about these social media platforms I that it keeps everyone in the community connected because it is real time rather than having a comment being posted a few days after you have posted onto a forum.  The new generations of social media users typically do not know what forums are and this really shows how old and traditional they have become.

The disadvantage to forums is that they lack platforms in which they could be used on. Nowadays almost everyone has or needs a cell phone and everything can be found on it. It is generally difficult to post onto online forums without getting onto a computer or laptop to comment. With Twitter, Facebook and even Instagram, users that have their phones with them at all times are able to keep in touch with the latest sports news and keep up with their favorite athletes.

Social media has changed the way we look at the internet and it has changed the way we watch and see sports. With live tweets on twitter about recent scores and information on trades that have been going on in each major sport gives users the ability to stay connected anywhere they are. With Facebook, users can follow and like certain team pages and get instant feeds on what is happening. Instagram can also post live scores as well as what athletes are doing in their daily lives.

Laird, S. (2013, October 3). How sports fans engage with social media . Retrieved March 31, 2014, from Mashable: http://mashable.com/2013/10/03/sports-fans-social-media/

Real - Time In - Game Interaction (Super Bowl XLVII)

By Erecca Nacion
Before social media, people would only talk about the Super Bowl if they were true sports enthusiasts and true football fans. The past Super Bowl in February 2014, fans of the sport would speak of the brutal crushing of the Denver Broncos as Seattle Seahawks won 43 – 8. However, the Super Bowl stopped being about just the game a long time ago. It’s been about the ads, the halftime show and as well as the social media reaction. In 2013, 24.1 million tweets were sent about the game and halftime show. This year 24.9 million. (Mendoza, 2014)

The Top 5 peak moments are here below (Sullivan, 2014):

1. 381 , 605 TPM: @Percy_Harvin 87 yard kickoff return for a TD to open 3^rd quarter
2. 71, 775 TPM: Jermaine Kearse (@chopchop_15) 23 – year TD pass Russell Wilson (@DangeRussWilson) with 3:11 remaining in 3^rd quarter
3. 244, 889 TPM: Malcolm Smith (@MalcSmitty) 69 – year interception return with 3:36 remaining in 2^nd quarter
4. 229, 533 TPM: End of halftime show featuring @BrunoMars and @ChiliPeppers
5. 215, 540 TPM: Give It Away Now by @ChiliPeppers featuring @BrunoMars

As anyone can see, sports enthusiasts are fond of Twitter to proceed in a conversation/discussion of any sporting event such as the Super Bowl. However, Facebook has been eager to insert itself into the real – time communication about live events and news along the lines of its rival Twitter. One of their many strategies was to offer sport celebrities increase exposure and free “amplified distribution” as a kind of quid pro quo incentive for posts about the game. (Sterling, 2014)

It’s not a big surprise that the Super Bowl commercials are what everyone looks forward to, sport enthusiast or not. In 2014 a big trend was seen in 57 percent of the ads shown during the sporting event, the hashtag.  Here’s a scoreboard of the final count, based on a total of 54 national ads reviewed (Sullivan, New Record for 2014: Hashtags Mentioned In 57% Of Super Bowl Ads , 2014):

1. Hashtags: 31 total, 57% of ads overall
2. Facebook: 5 tot of ads overall
3. Twitter: 4 total, 7% of ads overall
4. YouTube: 3 total, 6% of ads overall
5. Shazam: 3 total, 4% of ads overall
6. URLs: 22 total, 41% of ads overall

Through these ads it is seen that it has become relevant for any company to bring social media into their marketing strategies. Here is the Bud Light commercial that incorporated their hashtag, #UpForWhatever.

Can’t wait to see what 2015 SuperBowl has in store for us. Comment below on your take of the Super Bowl 2014. 

References: 

Sterling, G. (2014). Facebook Maps SuperBowl Fan Engagement From 185 Million Conversations. Retrieved from Marketing Land: http://marketingland.com/facebook-maps-super-bowl-fan-engagement-185m-conversations-72920

Sullivan. (2014). New Record for 2014: Hashtags Mentioned In 57% Of Super Bowl Ads . Retrieved from Marketing Land: http://marketingland.com/hashtags-super-bowl-2014-72658

Sullivan. (2014). Twitter: More Super Bowl Tweets Than Ever, No Blackout Or Waldrobe Malfunction Required . Retrieved from Marketing Land: http://marketingland.com/twitter-most-super-bowl-tweets-ever-72717

Mendoza, D. (2014). 10 Best Social Media Moments of Super Bowl XLVIII. Retrieved from CNN: http://www.cnn.com/2014/02/03/us/super-bowl-moments/

End of forums – Embracing Instagram

By Raman Khinda

Regardless of whether or not athletes use online forums, they are becoming increasingly active in social media and it’s no longer only Facebook and Twitter. Athletes and also NBA teams are posting pictures of their daily lives and routines on Instagram. Pro basketball players like to flash what they have. From their sneakers to jerseys, players like to display what they have and Instagram is a great tool.

Instagram is a great tool for fans to follow certain high profile athletes and it gives them an essence to the day in the life of what they do. The NBA is full of many players with different personalities on and off the basketball court. The league’s most popular players can display themselves to their fans and followers with updated pictures of what they are doing whether it would be training, practicing, on court pregame, post-game and deep into their personal lives. It gives their followers a sense of being in close relations to them and pictures posted can generate comments by fans.

Here are some athletes to follow on Instagram according to their flashy pictures posted.

1.       Chris Bosh #chrisbosh

He has 506, 790 followers and loves to post pics of sneakers and other basketball gear. He is a two time champion with the Miami Heat that also has a unique fashion sense.

2.       JR Smith #teamswish

With 605,293 followers, JR loves posting shots of the New York Knicks locker room as well as his sneaker collection.

3.       Chris Paul #cp3

Chris has 1.2 million followers and has one Instagram picture of shoes being delivered to his home by the truckload.

4.       Lebron James #kingjames

Lebron loves to be in the spotlight. With 4 million plus followers, he loves to post pics of his sneakers especially his signature line of his own exclusive collection.

Gandu, G. S. (2013, November 18). The 12 best NBA players to follow on Instagram. Retrieved March 11, 2014, from Sneaker Report: http://sneakerreport.com/features/best-nba-players-instagram/10

The Social Athlete Bandwagon- Advice to Athletes on How to use Social Media Responsibly

By Jessica Cruz

Social media is a tool not a toy- as an athlete you must use social media platforms such as Twitter and Facebook as a tool to improve your personal brand. Use it to communicate with fans. Bring positivity to your fans because they appreciate those things.

If you share/ retweet it, you own it as well- whatever tweet or post you share/retweet, it will be posted on your profile and essentially will reflect you. It is irrational that many athletes believe that even though it is not their tweet or post, it won’t hurt them. 

Have fun responsibly- post/tweet things that show a positive side of you. Whether it is personal photos of you with some fans or with your pets it shows your fans that you’re not just an athlete.

There is an article from a website called Basketball For Coaches which gives the do’s and don’ts of social media for basketball players. Although this article focuses on basketball players, these tips are very helpful for any athlete. Here is the link: http://www.basketballforcoaches.com/dos-and-donts-of-social-media/

The Social Athlete Bandwagon- Top 5 Athletes on Social Media

By Jessica Cruz

Based on athletes active on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook this is the top 5 athletes on social media

1. Cristiano Ronaldo 

With 25.1 million Twitter followers, 4.1 million Instagram followers and 76.4 million likes on his Facebook page, the Real Madrid forward has dominated the social media world. Ronaldo connects with his fans by answering their questions, thanking his fans for their support and promoting his brand such as his new mobile game, Cristiano Ronaldo Footy. 

2. Kaká

The Brazilian midfielder, has earned himself 18.4 million Twitter followers, 1.5 million Instagram followers and 26.7 million likes on his Facebook page. With photos of him practicing, Kaká gives his fans a chance to see his progress with the team without actually being there.

3. LeBron James

LeBron James has built himself a brand on social media. With 12.2 million twitter followers, 5.2 million Instagram followers and 17.2 million likes on his Facebook page, the Miami Heat superstar has made his way through social media to connect with his fans. Lately on social media, LeBron has been promoting his charity called LeBron James Family Foundation.

4. Neymar Júnior

FC Barcelona forward/winger currently has 10.1 million Twitter followers, 4.2 million Instagram followers and 18.7 million likes on his Facebook page and growing. Although his tweets and posts are mostly in Portuguese, Neymar shares photos and interacts with his fans though contests and updates on his playing condition.  

 5. Kobe Bryant

This NBA superstar has had 4.5 million followers since joining Twitter last year on January. Bryant has also 2.2 million Instagram followers and 18.4 million likes on his Facebook page. Kobe Bryant has been using social media to promote his latest product, BodyAmor SuperDrink. Online, He is known for sharing personal photos, being honest and sharing his thoughts on just about everything.