Game Changer: Sports and Social Media

If I told you there was a Social Media Week NY panel on sports and social media, would you believe I was there?  I know you are shocked – shocked! – to discover that this topic interested me. Almost as shocking as learning there was gambling at Rick’s place.

Social media is literally a game changer in sports. It’s leveled the playing field (pun most definitely intended), as fans can communicate directly with athletes. Social media has changed and is changing the way we receive, process, deliver and consume all information. Stories break on Twitter before they’re picked up by the so-called “mainstream” media. Blogs make everybody – including fans – reporters to a certain degree. Access to news and information changes every minute. The line between “mainstream” media and blogs blurs each day. And the impact of the blogosphere cannot be underestimated. Just look at Deadspin, which has become as much a part of the sports vernacular as ESPN.

Given the monumental impact of social media both on and off the field, the New York Times presented “Unleashing Social Media on the Sports World”, featuring the following panelists from a variety of perspectives in and around sports:

• Moderator: Gary Vaynerchuk (@GaryVee), Partner and Co-Founder of VaynerMedia, author of the best-selling book Crush It, and an unabashed New York Jets fanatic.
• Michael DiLorenzo (@NHLdilo), Director of Social Media and Business Communications for the National Hockey League
• Matthew Cerrone (@matthewcerrone), Founder of metsblog.com
• Tyler Kepner (@tylerkepner), National baseball writer for the New York Times
• Jim Bankoff (@bankoff), Chairman and CEO of SB Nation

As noted above, the panel represented a variety of perspectives (a league, a blogger, a mainstream media sports writer, a businessman who runs a blogging network, and a fan). Personally, I would have liked to see at least one woman on the panel (attention powers that be: there are plenty of female sports writers and bloggers); there were many women (myself included) in the audience.

After brief opening remarks by each panelist, Gary V. immediately opened up the floor for a lively and engaging Q&A session (in which I was a willing and vocal participant – another shocker). What follows is my Tale of the Tweets from the panel. For a complete wrap-up and more detailed analysis, check out the outstanding post by Matt Wurst of 360i at the SWMNY blog.

The bottom line: thanks to the emergence of social media, the boundaries in the sports world shift every minute. The old model has been turned on its head. This represents a challenge for some, an opportunity for many, and an exciting time for all.

Tale of the Tweets: Unleashing Social Media on the Sports World

Social Media & Sports at @nytimes w/@garyvee @tylerkepner @nhldilo @matthewcerrone @bankoff. #smwnytsports

Whoa. @garyvee is a die-hard NY Jets fan? Had no idea. #sarcasm #smwnytsports

Per @bankoff: with social media, there has never been a better time to be a sports fan. #smwnytsports

Social media changes fan’s expectations. Fans expect a player to say something to them now. @garyvee #smwnytsports

Interesting discussion of how athletes use Twitter. Personally, I don’t follow a single player. They’re boring. #smwnytsports

RT @dwag29 No longer does ESPN decide who fans will see. Allows non “face of franchise” players to connect w/ fans. #smwnytsports

We’re in an era of transparency. If you’re not authentic, transparency will run over you. @bankoff #smwnytsports

Biggest challenge for brands (sports or not) is how to engage the negative. You have to own it. @garyvee #smwnytsports

Battle to be 1st vs. accuracy. Make sure it’s right. @garyvee says if you’re wrong 3x in a row your brand is dead. #smwnytsports

Sorry guy who just said Peter King is “the best”, I’m not listening to your question. #smwnytsports

Paging @jerodmsf: @garyvee just mentioned “that guy who wrote about Ibanez.” #smwnytsports

This is social media. It’s about engagement and relationships. Sports fans = engagement. #smwnytsports

Missed the @amyknelson story on @ogochocinco I mentioned? Here it is http://bit.ly/awJg0L (h/t @moneyries)#smwnytsports

Social media is sunlight and water for the NHL fans’ passion. Passion grows. @nhldilo #smwnytsports

SBNation has 5 credentialed “bloggers” at #SB44. Times have changed. @bankoff #smwnytsports

Criticism of @mlb. Need to allow viral distribution of video to grow the sport and attract younger fans. #smwnytsports

What’s next? @bankoff: some place to allow real conversations btwn sports fans instead of cacaphony/shouting. #smwnytsports

I also picked up some good tweets from others who attended the panel:

From Jason C. Fry:

Thing I keep returning to at #smwnytsports — How do things change when most athletes are social media natives?

NHL’s DiLorenzo has great warning for leagues re control at #smwnytsports — “No one roots for the shield.”

From my smwnycbff Dana Wagner:

NHL stance on social media is to create “rich experiences” not just promote websites. e.g. NHL Tweetups @NHLdilo #smwnytsports

People value effort. Athletes don’t need to reply to every single reply/mention as long as it’s clear they’re making effort. #smwnytsports

Opportunity for brands to integrate with sports fans’ conversation on Twitter during games. #smwnytsports