The evolution of fandom: How 30 years of insights help ESPN engage multiple generations of fans
The media industry is seeing a paradigm shift as Gen Z and Gen Alpha fans choose to follow sports in different ways than older generations. Using 30 years of insights from Sports Poll, SSRS and ESPN will show how sports fandom is evolving and present six dynamics that we’ve identified to engage multiple generations of fans.
For more than 50 years, sports fans engaged primarily by watching live games on TV. But now we are seeing a paradigm shift: Gen Z and Gen Alpha fans choose to follow sports in different ways than their parents and grandparents. Fandom is about more than just watching live events on TV now. Today, there are more sports to follow and more ways to engage but there is also more competition for fans’ free time. This means that sports organizations and media must evolve if they want to engage younger fans while keeping their core fan base satisfied.
For more than 30 years, the Sports Poll team at SSRS has partnered with ESPN, providing valuable insights on the evolution of sports fans. We’ll explore six key dynamics driving fan engagement across generations and demonstrate how these insights help ESPN develop strategies to maintain leadership and adapt as the media landscape changes.
Key takeaways:
- Understand how sports fan engagement is evolving using 30 years of Sports Poll research.
- Learn how to use six dynamics to help increase engagement with fans across all generations, including Gen Z and Gen Alpha.
- Discover how ESPN is using Sports Poll insights to create strategies for fans with increasingly diverging demands.