Earlier this year, Brand Keys released its annual Sports Loyalty Index and announced that “after years in the #2 spot, Major League Baseball is now tied with the National Football League with the most loyal fans.”
According to Brand Keys and summarized by The Business of Sports, fan loyalty is driven in four ways: pure entertainment, authenticity, fan bonding, and tradition. State-of-the-art stadia or arenas often fit into that “authenticity” category. Done right, newly built or renovated facilities can demonstrate a team’s commitment and willingness to invest in a long-term relationship with its community and fans.
So what makes a great sports venue? What elements in a stadium create such a fun, exciting, game day experience that the on-field performance is (almost) immaterial? New technologies have made big screen jumbotrons, digital signage, and even our hand-held mobile devices more interactive than ever before. How does technology impact our experience at the game?
What do you think? Do you have a favorite sports venue? Tell us here in a quick online survey.
Sports is all about passion and personalities, and to me there’s nothing better than seeing a team’s personality and its fans’ passions come alive in the home stadium or arena. What are you passionate about? Take the survey and look for results to be published here in the weeks and months ahead.
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Ron Turner, FAIA, LEED® AP, is Gensler’s director of sports and entertainment, and a principal in the Los Angeles office. A recognized leader in international sports facility design, Ron Turner has over thirty years of experience dedicated to creating iconic event center designs that generate increased revenue, build civic brands, and employ innovative technologies. As a founder of sports design practices for Ellerbe Becket, NBBJ, RTKL and now Gensler, Ron has led design teams for numerous professional and collegiate venues and sports-anchored entertainment districts around the world. Contact him at ron_turner@gensler.com. |