Advancements In Major League Baseball Impact On Fan Engagement And Interaction

Advancements in Technology in Major League Baseball Impact on Fan Engagement and Interaction.

Mason Walsh Expository Reading and Writing Mr. Jurich March 31, 2024.

Picture yourself in the stands of any Major League Baseball (MLB) stadium. The energy from the crowd, crunchy peanuts, and the sweet sound of the crack of the bat. Now, imagine technology reshaping that experience far beyond the game. Baseball has always been a game of tradition, combining innovation with its pastime traditions. In the 21st century, the league has made significant progress in implementing new strategies and additions to technology. Not only is it impacting the game for players, but it sparks the conversation about the impact technology has on fan engagement

Sports entertainment can be found in more ways than watching baseball. Think about something that is fun, easy, and free that relates to the MLB. That thought is fantasy baseball. Used through mobile apps and websites, it teamed up with ESPN to create a motivated interest for younger generation fans. Without any age requirements, fantasy sports are very competitive and they serve the purpose of engaging with player statistics and performances each game. Living in the new era of technology, advancements in data and analytics in MLB have carried over into fantasy baseball leagues. It brings fun into the game where the participants act as the owners of their drafted team. Similar to fantasy baseball, sports betting is where the competition is at. Sports betting is “competing” against the bookmakers to win money through a legal sports book, and from there, anyone over the age of 18 in most states can bet on any game to win or choose over or under a player’s projection. With the rise of the internet and technology, sports betting is becoming more popular. Also, expanding more ways to add more entertainment from a phone or computer makes it a lot easier for both parties with the help of advertisements and sponsorships. Advertisements and

“Redesigned MLB App headlines new tech for ‘23,” MLB.COM, March 28, 2023. https://www.mlb.com/news/mlb-app-redesign-new-technology-2023. I really like how Adler describes what the MLB did to the format of the MLB Ballpark App. Whether you're at the game, watching TV, or streaming the game from your phone, the Ballpark App has news, highlights, live scores and updates, and personalized to your own interests. I think it would be really cool to use this article in my essay because it’s important to talk about the technology used to stream games and follow up to date with stats and scores. Chen, Meihong, Fuzhi, Su, Tai, Feng. “MLB Marketing Strategies and Industry Promotion Approaches,” Frontiers in Psychology, June 22, 2022. https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychology/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.802732/full All three authors are credible as this was an extreme amount of research and writing to be done. With multiple paragraphs detailed to the fullest, this information was very reliable in my essay because I was able to connect how MLB is engaging in and expanding in other cities. Also, the MLB has been working with outside countries, recently playing in Mexico and South Korea. This goes to show how the game is growing and more fans have a passion to watch baseball and follow their favorite teams. “Evolution of Baseball Stadium Lighting,” 1000Bulbs.com Blog, March 21, 2016.