Tim Duncan may be the best power forward of all time, but basketball has always been a team game. The 30 franchises that make up the league have generated a revenue pie in excess of $5 billion. The digital age has enabled this game to reach its worldwide audience anywhere, anytime. Teams can build up their own local fan base through the sundry of platforms available.
Much like our #NFLTechSeries, this time SportTechie delves into the digital strategies–from web, social media, mobile apps, and any other technological connection–of each team and analyzes them, including insights from some of the digital executives involved. Today, the #NBADigitalSeries 2013-14 continues with the San Antonio Spurs. Stay tuned to SportTechie this month for ongoing coverage of the #NBADigitalSeries.
Over the past decade, the San Antonio Spurs have been one of the most consistent teams to grace the NBA. Once again, the team is positioning itself for another run at an NBA title, which came oh so close last year.
With greatness comes a large fan following. Never before have there been so many ways for Spurs fans to interact with their team. Of course technology stands at the forefront of such a data-frenzied world, but at this point, that probably goes without mention.
Whether it’s the casual fan or the die-hard fan, the Spurs offer everything from social media, to apps, to a swagged-out RV. There is literally a way for every fan to engage with the team on multiple levels, as the team finds itself, once again, at the top of the Western Conference.
Where better to start than with mobile?
Phones: no one ever leaves home without them. For this very reason, it has become a go-to source for information, while on the flipside, a go to channel for fan engagement.
The San Antonio Spurs’ mobile app is great for a few reasons. One of them is its design. From the moment the user opens the app, the interface is easy to navigate and find the desired information. Up front, the app depicts current or upcoming game information, a news feed, the latest tweets, and schedule.
Designers could have stopped there and the app would still be very functional. But to further engage the user, the team has a live game radio feed available, a ticket purchasing option, box score, and other features that allow for a greater in-depth experience. Any fan of the team is sure to be happy with the quality of the app, no matter how avid they may be.
Of course, part of the function of the Spurs’ mobile app is its ability to integrate social media into the mix.
Social Media Enhances the Engagement
Having a player like Manu Ginobili on the court would be great for any team. But the guy also excels off-court, more precisely, on Twitter.
Forgoing the obvious and overstated social media facts, Ginobili brings something a little bit different to the table. The 6’5” Argentina native is a well-respected player. He remains present on both Facebook and Twitter, but tends to tweet more often; one or two tweets a day keeps the doc…err, how does that saying go? Either way, Ginobili is invaluable for the Spurs because of his social willingness to share more personal information. Fans really get a sense of what the guy enjoys doing in his free time and what intrigues him. What’s more, Ginobili reaches a larger target market with tweets in both English and Spanish. For that, the Spurs can be grateful.
The toughest game of the week is about to start. The twins with the flu. Long night awaits us. Good that I have an mvp on my side…
— Manu Ginobili (@manuginobili) December 30, 2013
Elsewhere in the social universe, the Spurs are active on Facebook and Instagram. While the team does manage a Pinterest account, it is followed by few and represents little besides a portal for merchandise purchases. Otherwise, the team remains quite active on the major social platforms, as one would expect. Facebook is great for keeping fans up-to-date with team happenings, score updates, and other basketball related news, and the Spurs manage to do just that.
And while Facebook is great, the Spurs’ Instagram is for fans that are less interested in written tales and more interested in pictorial offerings. Team supporters can expect a more streamlined storytelling process. One to two posts a day can be expected from the team, while the stories vary. Highlighting the team’s in-house DJ on 70’s night is something everyone can enjoy.
Additionally, YouTube is a social channel that is overshadowed by the more prominent forms of social media. But the Spurs have made this a great place for fans to be entertained. The Spurs do a great job at cultivating great content that can be appreciated. Funny videos are just the start. The team uses their video channel to highlight its giving spirit and take the time to thank loyalists. It’s not everyday that fans get to sit at a Spurs press conference table and tell their stories of fandom to the world.
And if being social on the internet isn’t enough, the ultimate fan can get even more social.
Last Stop, the Spurs Experience RV
It’s time to get social in the Spurs’ 40-foot RV that is available for hire. Not only can you rent the Spurs Experience RV for parties and other events, but it comes packed with all the tech you will need to enjoy the next San Antonio basketball game. Check out the stats:
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40-foot long Fleetwood American Eagle
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Single side slide out with an interior room space of 300 sq. feet
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32″ High Definition LCD flat panel monitor motorized out of the dash
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Two flat panel LCD monitors on either side of interior
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Six speaker surround sound system with high-power amp driving the audio and feeding the picture to all TVs
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Lounge area in the back has two 27″ High Definition LCD flat panel monitors, seven-speaker surround sound system, 5-disc DVD player and High Definition Satellite and fully loaded X-Box 360 with wireless controllers
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37″ High Definition LCD flat panel monitor on the outside of the RV with PA speakers powered by a separate 200-watt amplifier
So for those fans looking to turn heads when they pull up to AT&T Center, this is a viable option.
In all, the San Antonio Spurs are a team of tradition, yet find themselves in the midst of a technologically evolving world. But the team excels at carrying on with its tradition and displaying it for the masses through digital outlets. Essentially, the Spurs have found a formula that works and will only continue to please fans the team evolves along with technology.