In Our Own Words

Tweet Dat: How Social Media adds to the fan experience

After watching native son Eli Manning lead his New York Football Giants to victory, New Orleanians quickly began looking ahead to Super Bowl XLVII, which of course will be held right here in New Orleans. In fact, next year marks the 10th time New Orleans will play host to the world’s most watched sporting event, tying us with Miami for the most in NFL history. Clearly, we know how to host a party, no one can argue that, but that doesn’t mean we can’t learn a thing or two from the most recent host city, Indianapolis.

In conjunction with local marketing agency Raidious, the Indy Super Bowl Hosting Committee established a Social Media Command Center in the heart of all the action. They monitored the Social Mediasphere and tried to answer any questions visitors may have had, including suggestions on where to park for the big game. It would appear New Orleans is well on their way to doing the same. In fact, @Nolasuperbowl has been tweeting regularly for over a year now and minutes after the game ended posted, “It’s our turn now” on the Indy Super Bowl twitter page.

Social Media has had a huge impact on many aspects of our daily lives, but I would argue none larger than on sports. Think about how you watch a football game. People don’t gather at bars to watch an episode of “How I Met Your Mother” or throw huge parties to celebrate the kickoff of another season of “The Mentalist.” The fact is sports is an inherently social activity. When companies want to promote “team-building” it usually involves forming a softball league. You can be anywhere in the world, but if you run into a complete stranger wearing a Saints hat you will be compelled to yell, “Who Dat!” and give them a fist bump, and this behavior is not only socially acceptable, but actually encouraged. Athletes now all have Twitter accounts, allowing them to engage with fans on a completely different level than ever before. It also tends to get them in trouble, like Texans running back Arian Foster did for posting MRI images of his “anti-awesome” hamstring injury on Twitter which directly violates the NFL injury disclosure policy. ESPN reporter John Clayton breaks more NFL news on Twitter before it ever makes it to TV. But more importantly, Social Media allows fans to interact with… other fans. Tweeting, “I can’t believe that throw Drew Brees just made! Who DAAAT!” is the SoMe equivalent of chest bumping the guy in the row behind you at the Dome.

It is a study of how human nature impacts the development of technology and communication channels to foster a sense of togetherness and community that is engrained in our DNA as social animals. Just remember that the next time you post a picture of yourself doing a keg stand while tailgating in a parking lot outside of the Superdome to your Facebook page.

Thursday, February 09, 2012

by Damien Lamanna

Tell us about it: