Digital Media Cafe Blog Week 11 – David Granger
February 26, 2014
Hello and welcome to this week’s edition of the iSportconnect Digital Café where we take a look at what’s happening sporting-wise online. In this blog we’ll look at motorsport in the US, apps for visiting football fans and potatoes shaped like hashtags.
In Focus: NASCAR
The national motorsport of America Nascar is, at times a confusing beast. Like Formula One, its European-based counterpart, Nascar is passionately supported by die-hard fans, it’s a little inexplicable to non-fanatics… and it keeps changing the rules and regulations. In September last year the social media world went a little bit crazy when, two days before the play-offs, officials added another spot for one more car: 13 instead of 12. And the sport’s owners aren’t afraid of moving the goalposts. What they’re also keen on, and which helps out the fans and the newcomers no end, is getting digital right. Motorsport can be confusing at the very best and calmest of times, so it’s worth checking out the Nascar mobile app to see how they deliver some really fine, detailed content. Downloaded by millions, the app has the usual news, reports and stats, but also a great Live Race Centre and breaking news is pushed to your smartphone.
Which Way To Coronation Street?
Visiting football fans are traditionally given a bit of a tough time by the home side when playing away. But Manchester City has turned this on its head with its new app for away supporters. It was launched in the run-up to last week’s Champions League game against Barcelona in English, Spanish and Catalan; but the languages will change according to who they’re playing. The CityHome app will offer visitors information about the match, travel to the ground and stuff to do while they’re in the city.
Athletes Getting It Right: Julian Edelman
If you’re looking at how the new wave of next generation athletes are going digital and embracing new technology, then cast your eyes at New England Patriot footballer Julian Edelman. He’s not just someone who uses social media to boost his fanbase – currently hitting more than 150,000 Twitter followers and 175,000 Facebook fans – he has also embraced new technology. Really embraced it. He’s done a Reddit Ask Me Anything, he’s got himself a Google Glass to create unique videos and he’s got himself a digital agency. The agency not only builds his his brand and his relationship with his fans, but also helps introduce him to that new technology to stand out from the crowd. A real trailblazer. We’ll have links to all his channels and some of his more innovative tech experiments on the blog.
Breakfast of Champions?
And finally something which has nothing to do with sport. Birdseye, the frozen food specialists have brought out a range of frozen potatoes shaped for all you lovers of hastags, @ tags and emoticons. You really now can tweet what you eat. Or should that be eat what you tweet. There is no link to these on the blog, but you might find them in the freezer aisle.
