According to the recently conducted Harris Poll, the most popular sports in America are the NFL, MLB, college football, auto racing, NBA, NHL, and college basketball–in that order.
Of the aforementioned sports, the NHL probably has the most difficult struggle in generating national popularity. Several explanations exist for this phenomenon. First and foremost, hockey is a cold weather sport, which means that many southern states show little–if any interest in participating or viewing. In addition to geographic barriers, the structure of the most exciting part of the year–the postseason–presents an unfavorable situation for the NHL. The Stanley Cup takes a back seat to the NBA Finals as the two events occur simultaneously each year.
The San Jose Sharks have come up with a way to combat the comparative lack of interest in the sport by enhancing the quality of the product’s presentation. The Sharks have been taking their marketing efforts beyond the in-game setting in attempts to extend their target market to individuals not able to purchase tickets on a consistent basis. Most hockey fans crave the intense, hard-hitting blows against the walls, with the occasional fights aside from the action. Aware of this, the team has made it a point of emphasis to bring that same environment to the television screen by implementing a new 4D broadcast system.
4D technology takes 3D to another level by adding physical effects that occur in synchronization with the broadcast. This new development for the Sharks, crafted by the Guitammer Company, allows viewers to attend the game vicariously through their television sets. Sensors attached to the boards across the arena capture tactile-haptic effects–essentially, the collisions that occur as players smash each other into the boards. With this innovation, viewers get live, real-time access that creates the feeling that they are right next to the action in the arena.
Looking forward, the San Jose Sharks’ newly employed 4D technology brightens the future of hockey in America. Now, fans can grab their Joe Thorton jerseys from the closet, pick up a few beers from the store, and experience a very accurate simulation of the in-game atmosphere. It’s just one more example of technology completely disrupting the ticket sales industry.