How technology is improving the fan experience – and creating legal challenges for clubs and leagues

Sports organizations are leveraging tech innovations to engage fans in new ways to drive the industry forward, connecting and involving sports fans more than ever with their favorite players, teams and leagues.

Being a fan was once a fairly passive activity that involved going to games or watching them on television, reading up on players and teams, and buying related merchandise. Now sports fandom is a whole new ballgame, with the development and use of interactive content, social media platforms, wearable tech, connected venues and even a new football league controlled by fans.

Technology is being used to not only push the boundaries of sports fan engagement but also to redefine the nature of fan participation. But the new level of fan involvement brings questions about how the personal information collected by sports organizations and third parties should be used and legally protected. Accordingly, this article examines:

• Why fan engagement is so important;

• The latest innovations in tech and media;

• The new legal challenges facing clubs and leagues.