Week of 4.19.20:
We interrupt the Twitterverse’s analysis of Roger Goodell’s basement decor to bring you this week’s content roundup. Here’s a look at some of our favorite ways that teams, brands, players and organizations are getting creative with at-home fan engagement.
Barstool Sports
Dan Katz, aka. "Big Cat," host of Barstool Sports' Pardon My Take podcast, is spending his time at home playing NCAA Football 14 on XBox 360. Big Cat is taking his video gaming a step further by live streaming simulated games throughout the career of fictional Coach Gus Duggerton. In lieu of live sports, Twitter followers and sports organizations are enthralled with Coach Duggs and his career. Several sports teams including UConn are also invested in the Duggs saga, tweeting concessions as Duggs defeats them in fictitious contests, or words of gratitude as Duggs departs their organizations to move on to his next opportunity.
Tough end to the season, but we have a lot to be proud of. Thanks to all of our fans in #UConnNation for following along on our historic run.
— UConn Football (@UConnFootball) April 18, 2020
Congrats to @BarstoolBigCat and Coach Duggs on a hard-fought victory in the @Fiesta_Bowl. We'll get ya next time.#BleedBlue pic.twitter.com/hDb7vdGWwx
ESPN
The Last Dance, a 10-part documentary series about the Chicago Bulls of the 1990s, premiered this week. The much anticipated documentary is just about the closest thing we have to Sunday-football-esque anticipation during the live sports hiatus, and Sports Center is treating it as such. The compelling documentary allowed Scott Van Pelt to fill a full episode with content focused solely on The Last Dance. It’s proof of the enduring power of sports; decades later, fans are still intrigued by this unfolding story.
We all needed this. #TheLastDance pic.twitter.com/GqoUOjvoqV
— ESPN (@espn) April 20, 2020
Patrick Mahomes NFL Draft Message
The highly anticipated NFL Draft kicked off this week, and reigning Super Bowl champion and MVP Patrick Mahomes of the Kansas City Chiefs shared a message to all of the 2020 draft prospects. Although the 2020 NFL Draft is looking a bit different and there will be some things that this new class won’t get to experience, Mahomes confirms that they should be proud to have gotten to the next level: the ultimate stage. Player videos like this are a reminder to celebrate their accomplishments and enjoy their big moments.
Different Isn’t Bad. Different Wins. Welcome To The League. You’re On The ⏰ #RatedRookie #DraftDay
Posted by Patrick Mahomes on Thursday, April 23, 2020
Rice University Athletics
FanThreeSixty client Rice University took to Twitter to ask its fans to choose their 3 favorite athletics logos in the history of its program. Any fan who commented on the tweet with their favorite logos was entered to win a Rice pennant. Rice saw quick success, with comments flooding in and filling their timeline. This is a solid example of the type of just-for-fun engagement that is allowing organizations to get a little bit creative.
You can only keep three. Choose wisely.#GoOwls👐 x #RFND pic.twitter.com/Y7Non9oLqV
— Rice Athletics (@RiceAthletics) April 17, 2020
Front Office Sports By The Numbers
Front Office Sports took the analytical route after the first round of the NFL Draft, by delivering the projected value of each draft pick in order. Across its social platforms, FOS outlined the projected contract value and signing bonus on each of the first-round draft picks--interesting info that we usually wouldn’t have much time to analyze. Fans may know the on-field stats, but FOS delivered the off-field perspective.
1️⃣ Joe Burrow (@Joe_Burrow10)
— Front Office Sports (@frntofficesport) April 24, 2020
(⚡️: @Bose) pic.twitter.com/isKgbLm67N
