At Nielsen sports, we’re monitoring the online trends across social media as COVID-19 continues to impact the sport and entertainment landscape with events being postponed and cancelled across the globe. Athletes, teams and leagues are finding new and creative ways to engage with fans and throughout this period, we’ll be putting together a social media best practice snapshot-list for you. Keep up to speed with the best initiatives close to real-time.
Brand Led Initiatives
- Adidas launches the #hometeam, an online community of athletes and creators sharing skills and training, to help us keep our minds and bodies activated and challenged
- Visa is rolling out the “Do Your Part Like An Olympian” video series, featuring all 90 Team Visa Olympic athletes to promote messages of safety and sanitation during the COVID-19 pandemic
- Paddy Power is launching a mini-series sitcom to entertain people throughout lockdown
Virtual sports is quickly becoming the new normal
- Video game usage sees major increase in US, UK, France & Germany
- Amazon confirms development of cloud-based gaming platform
- NBA looks to stay ‘connected and engaged’ with fans via players-only esports tournament
- Chipotle Mexican Grill has launched the 2020 Chipotle Challenger Series featuring online qualifying and finale competitions throughout 2020
- FC Barcelona’s striker Braithwaite shows us his new at-home workout routine mixing physical exercise with Call of Duty
Donations and Community Support led by teams, athletes & bodies:
- AS Roma has begun to deliver Roma Care Packages to elderly season ticket holders
- Neymar privately makes donation to aid fight against coronavirus
- EBU have negotiated various archive rights for FTA channels across Europe
- Chelsea have made their Millennium Hotel at Stamford Bridge available to NHS staff
Creative ways Rights Holders are engaging their fan bases:
- Team GB is engaging fans, while practising social distancing, with indoor HIIT workouts from Team GB gymnast Matt Whitlock
- ATP is partnering with IMG Arena to host a branded virtual tennis tournament to help betting companies fill the void and connect with fans
- Man City is having fans colour in pictures of their favorite players
- AS Roma is encouraging fans to recreate their favorite goals, while staying at home