In the wise words of Robert Kiyosaki, “the best way to predict the future is to study the past…”. And that’s what we did to identify these trends. Not only that, but based on our first-hand experience and research, we are able to bring you these trends with great confidence. So without further ado, let’s dive right in.

Values-driven fandoms: Sports for many supporters and fans are not just about the game. They are a way of living and being. They are about identity and being. So we are seeing the rise of value-based fandoms. Scour through social media and you will see Facebook, and LinkedIn groups around women in sports, people of color in sports, and other identity-based fandoms. This is a sports trend that will continue into 2023. You need to give more thought than ever before to how your decisions will be perceived by your supporters. Granted, you will not be able to satisfy everyone 100% of the time, but you still need to be meticulous in your thinking. Not only that, but you need to embrace your role as an agent of change in society. So instead of going into defense, go on the offense. Tackle the issues that affect your supporters.

What do Stormzy (the British Grime rapper) and Natalie Portman (the Hollywood Oscar-winning actress) have in common? Well, they are both lending their star power in the sports industry to bring about equality. Stormzy launched Merky FC in partnership with Adidas to “change the game, providing young people of Black heritage with career opportunities from across the football industry” in the UK. Natalie Portman on the other hand helped found the women’s expansion soccer team Angel FC in Los Angeles. This is another sports trend you will see in 2023: Stars lending their power to the sports industry.

Working data-driven and digitalization will only increase in sports in 2023. These are two topics we have discussed extensively on this podcast so it’s no surprise that these two are sports trends you will be seeing a lot in 2023. We discuss these topics in depth throughout the podcast so feel free to go back and listen to them—especially episodes 1 through 3. The main benefits of working data-driven and digitalization are that you can grow your supporter base, continuously, get superior sales and make real revenue.

Business-model innovation is another big sports trend you will see in 2023. Examples include Digital media innovating revenue streams, Community as a business model, and Product Innovation model. I like to call this trend, business model innovation, the “thinking outside the box approach to sports” because you have to identify the unique opportunities available for your organization. And how do you do that? By working data-driven.

Content will still be King in 2023. This podcast is a perfect example of this very trend. Listening to this allows you to get a more intimate and exclusive look into who we are as a company and all the knowledge and insights you could learn from us. Content will do the same for your supporters. So when you produce content, make sure that it brings your supporter closer to your organization and helps you build a stronger relationship with them.