Music Enhances the Fan Experience
In Part 1, we looked at how music can pump up or placate athletes. Just as the previous article started off, this provides a cool and easy to read guide on music at sporting events.
We’d be hard pressed not to start this discussion on music in sport off without recognizing how important traditions are to fans. Many traditions in sport emanate from songs passed down for generations. Of course, Take Me Out to the Ballgame is the most notorious sport-themed song. It’s performed or played at every baseball event around the world.
Some sport teams have their own theme songs too! For instance, take the Boston Red Sox (whom by the way had their home opener yesterday). View image on Twitter
Who knew!? 9 games into the season for the Boston Red Sox and today’s their #HomeOpener #RedSoxOpeningDay. Has the novelty worn off a little? Schedule making can be very difficult.#lifelesson pic.twitter.com/ux7QIROSZd
— SPMA Canada (@spmacanada) April 9, 2019
Since we’re talking about the Red Sox, every home game, they play this song:
Similarly, other amateur professional sport teams claim a song as their traditional tune. When that tune is played varies considerably.
Toronto Blue Jays
Baltimore Orioles
Tampa Bay Rays
FIFA World Cup Theme Songs
Hartford Whalers
Soooooo many more examples exist. If you are interested in seeing more, you can view this link or this one.
Music in Sport: During Play
There are times during a basketball game when the Game Day Operations Manager feels that the crowd is zoning out or is getting bored. If this happens, they link an immediate message to the disk jockey (DJ) to play a tune. Because the style of play has slowed, a decision is made to improve the fan’s energy. Other times, right before clutch possessions (like this one), the DJ wants to get the fans loud and the players on the floor hype.
Let’s look at the Toronto Raptors for a minute. Whether watching a home game on television or in person, you’ll hear a snippet of this song:
Sometimes music is used to go with what’s happening on the court. In an effort to For example in Toronto, when a nice assist is made, Drake’s voice is heard on the speakers singing “I was running through the six with my…” and the crowd finishes with “woes.” This is just another example of how music is used to enhance the fan experience. The Raptors are also known for playing sounds, music or words for each player who makes a bucket.
Every team does things differently. Speaking of the Raptors, the Bucks like to poke fun at their nickname during player introductions. See below.
“It’s just looking at things, looking at some moments that have happened or some correlations, obviously with the Raptor being a dinosaur, we kind of poke some fun with that. “
Johnny Watson, Game Day Operations Manager, Milwaukee Bucks
A Sport Management Perspective
This week, minor league professional baseball will begin their season. One of those teams, the Stockton Ports, will let their fans choose the opposing team’s walk up for every home game. But there is a price to choose. Like a jukebox! $5 USD ensures the song will be assigned to a random player, while $10 allows fans to pick a song for a specific player in the lineup.
Imagine if your professor ran a jukebox in class :O and asked you to pay to play a song. Would you do it?
As a matter of fact, music in sport plays a huge role in fan excitement and is a big part most games.
So look at what the Stockton Ports will be doing. Indeed, this is a financial opportunity for a sport property made out of nothing. What a wonderful idea, no? We’d like to hear your thoughts below.
Interesting to read about the different music cues depending on what’s happening during a sporting game such as the Raptors game. Overall, I love the idea that music is being used strategically and isn’t being played all willy nilly.
Interesting to read how important and useful music is in sport. The world cup theme songs are very interesting to me as they usually spread a good message and have good artists.
Interesting to see that a minor league baseball team allows their fans to choose the opposing teams walk up music, this allows for fan engagement.
Very cool to read about the different music traditions in sport music today. I found this post to be very relateble as I realized this experience myself in my internship with a junior hockey team. When the players would come out for warmup we had to be playing Crazy Train at the start of warmup for all home games.
Being behind the scenes, do you know why they choose that song? What team is it?
Music plays a huge role in the everyday lives of humans. Everywhere we go whether it being in the car, at a bar or even at a sporting event. Music brings people together, and I feel as though it also allows for fan engagement at sporting events. No one wants to go to a game and sit in silence, they want to be moving around and enjoying themselves by listening to music.
Thanks for your comment Luc. Do some people just want to hear the sounds of the game?
That was a great read based on how important music is in Sport and how it engages the audience to bring their energy to the game. Whether if it’s singing along to a popular song, to pump the team up or during crucial points of a game. There is always a specific song that fits the scenario of a game. One of my favorite parts of a leaf game is the Sweet Caroline theme song and even the person playing the organ before a faceoff. It brings intensity to the game. Music is the greatest part of human creation.
A fantastic article on how music is used for the fan perception in a game. By using traditions that fans have been singing at games for years is a great opportunity for fans of all ages to feel a part of the game day tradition. It was also interesting seeing what teams use what songs and those songs probably mean a great deal to the fans of those teams.
It is interesting to note how music can pump up a player as well as pump up the crowd at the same. For example the walk up music for a player in baseball, or a traditional song by a specific team. A brief minute or two can go a long way in fan engagement no matter how many times you play the song.
I enjoyed learning about how music can affect a successful game day operations initiative. I understand how it can keep the players hyped up, but keeping the fans excited and engaged is just as important. If fans remember how electric the atmosphere was at the game and the excitement surrounding it, they will be more likely to return in the future regardless of the outcome of the game itself. A personal favorite of mine will always be sweet Caroline!!!!
A great article on how something as simple as music can change a fans experience at a game. I’m sure everyone listens to a little music before going out on a Friday night to get you a little fired up so obviously it makes sense to play music at a game to get the crowd fired up. When a game is slow, quiet or boring playing a song everyone knows is a good way to wake everyone up… kind of like playing some Stompin’ Tom Connors at a hockey game, you know everyones belting out the words to that song.… Read more »
I was quite interested to read on how music helps engage fans in sports games. Growing up as a child to now being an adult, you always have memories of singing “that song” at a certain sports game like ‘OK Blue Jays’ at the 7th inning stretch. I feel it is a key component in today’s sports world and should not ever be stopped because it not only makes the game better but better fan engagement.
I love the idea of the Stockton Ports allowing their fans to choose the walk up song for the other team. I remember when I was on a baseball team, and our coach allowed us to play walk up music this one tournament, it was great, people chose different songs for different players, pretty funny. So allowing fans to do this will make them more engaged to the game I believe and other teams should try it too.
It is interesting to read in which different ways music is used. I like to see how the audience reacts to it and how you are taken into it yourself when I watch a game.
It’s great how music is implemented in different sporting events. The music in an arena can switch the whole crowd dynamic and provide a great experience for everyone. Overall this article gives a good understanding of music enhancing the experience.
It is interesting to read how game day operations staff use music to influence their audience behavior. I feel people don’t often realize the impact music can have on their behavior, but this read does a good job of bringing that to light. Also, music can carry an emotional attachment if it resonates with a fan and their team.
It seems to me as if the music in sporting events has untapped potential. Watching games from European soccer, the in-game announcers do a great job of getting fans involved in singing traditional songs and playing songs that get the fans really into the game. This makes the atmosphere completely unique to the team and creates a real sense of identity. Being at a game myself, I felt like a “true fan” or high fan by knowing all the lyrics and singing alongside all my fellow fans. I think this is something north American sports teams should look into in… Read more »
This was a great article to especially understand the profound impact music has on sports. When we go to a game as fans, there are so many things that we do not notice and this articles shared a few interesting pieces on how different sports stadiums or arenas use music in an impactful manner to get the fans engaged. Music is also a great way of connecting sports and art together for example it can be seen through what Drake and his OVO company is doing with the Raptors.
Having music as a part of your game day operations is essential. without music the game itself can become boring and unexciting. It is the music and the visual content that teams create that get people to connect with the team and the organization that get them engaged and enthusiastic about the situation that is taking place. Imagine what it must feel like to see Jose Bautista walking up to the plate hearing an intimidating song like “New Level” by Asap Ferg. This would certainly have me second guessing and concerned that I now have to deal with this explosive… Read more »
Music psychologically makes people feel happier and can elevate any event to the next level. People identify with music, and pairing music with sport is essential to any event experience.
It’s pretty cool to read and experience how music is used throughout sport. I think music is really important in sport, for both the athletes and the fans. If I were an athlete playing I would want some pump up music throughout the game, or the trending top hits. But as a fan, I would not mind hearing all sorts of music, top hits, pump up, or even music that fits with promotions and giveaways etc. My favourite part of how music is played throughout sport is the goal songs. I will never forget the “Hey Baby” song during the… Read more »
Great article and very interesting to read about how important musics role plays in the delivery of a sporting event. I found this post was a great way to show how music can bring people together and when you combined it with sport it really does create something special. The minor league baseball team the stockton ports took music and created unique fun interactive experience for fans to throw off opposing teams players
very interesting as i was noticing this when the raptors play, its almost as if they are always playing music to keep the fans engaged which it really does. hence why game day ops are always able to capture people dancing and grooving in the audience. music is like a tool that enhances the sport experience and allows people to connect on a deeper level when enjoying the same song.
Interesting to see the different types of music and especially how the music differs based on the geographical location of the team and what’s popular in the area. An example of this would be drake being popular in Toronto because of 2 reasons- First being that hip hop is very prominent in the cities growing culture and the second being that drake is from Toronto and has a lot of influence on the city. Its important to have the right amount of music too- dont want to drown out the game and turn it into a concert with some entertainment… Read more »
Music has such an important role in game day operations. It has the ability to bring energy to the crowd in times of need. As a consumer, I find that the music brings the crowd together and creates a hyped atmosphere. This article hit the nail on the head describing its impacts to the crowd and players.
It really stood out to me in the article where it mentioned right in the beginning that one of the reasons music is so important in Gameday Operations is because of traditions and what fans expect. This stands out to me because when I was a kid at school, we would sometimes sing “OK Blue Jays” and everyone including me had so much fun singing that song and every time that song comes on during the 7th inning stretch, I feel a big burst of nostalgia bringing back so many fun awesome memories. The article also has a valid point… Read more »
As others have discussed, music plays a huge roll in the game. A simple song can get a player’s blood pumping and adrenaline going and can light a spark in them to make a game changing play. And on the flip side it can also disrupt a player or team. For example in the Leafs and Senators game a few weeks ago, the Senators had the lead late in the third when there was a scrum in front of the Sens net. The crew working the game decided to play the Leafs home goal song to troll the Leafs. Well… Read more »
Interesting to see and read about all the different music traditions that happen around the sport world that we may not get to see by living in Toronto. Music is such an important aspect of an event that gets the crowed involved in the game at the right time and its cool to see the different ways music is used by different teams.
Being a big music fan, I love the fact that music can stick with a team, and can also be used to make the crowd hyped up and even laugh. This was also nice to read, seeing all the songs that different teams and sports use around the world.
It is insane how music has impacted sport in the way that it has. From being a tradition to certain teams to being a means of getting a competitive advantage. The way it is also used to engage with fans and how they will respond to it has also made it a crucial component of a game day operations planning.
Very interesting to see how each team will place songs based on their market. Very glad to know its not just whatever is the new fad in todays world.
i think its interesting on how big of an impact music has in sport. as an athlete growing up i loved to hear certain songs played in the dressing room, in the arena and goal horns. Some songs get me pumped up.
Interesting to see how music has a big impact on what is happening at a game. Music plays a big role in everyones lives and being able to see how teams use it as fans engagement at games to keep everyone interested.
The minor league team allowing fans to choose a song is a great marketing strategy. Not only does it promote fan engagement but it also generates more revenue for the team. Fans will eagerly hand over 5-10 dollars to pick a song they want to hear, which gets them engaged. Additionally over time, these small payments can add up to a large income for the team, especially at a minor league level.
Music can get all involved in a sporting event so i agree that it is important. It allows all fans to be a part of a que that they may not even realize they are in such as a walk up song in baseball, a goal song in hockey or something as generic across all sports as “Sweet Caroline”.
As someone who’s internship allows for creative input on game day production as well as getting to witness the result first hand, I can appreciate how much time and effort is put into creating a playlist for the game. Trying to find music that hypes up the crowd and is also PG-13 is tough, especially because a lot of songs that are popular involve swear words or inappropriate lyrics. To go along with this, the players also want to have a say for warm-up music, especially because they are trying to get amped up for the game that is about… Read more »
Its interesting how traditions get passed on through sport in terms of music. The article mentions Sweet Caroline by Neil Diamond being played at all Red Sox games, a song that a lot of people may not know, specifically the younger generation. OK Blue Jays, is one that anyone who has been to a Jays game would also know, and people have mixed feelings toward the song.
It was interesting to see how the minor league teams allow their fans to chose opposing players songs. Makes you wonder if it will ever catch on in the majors of any sports. It offers another avenue of fan engagement, that may take off in the future. Music is a great way to get everyone excited.
It is interesting to see how music can affect a fans engagement so much. Its cool to see all the different music arenas use for their arena playlists, and getting all the fans engaged by singing along
As someone who loves music but also loves hockey, this article makes for a very interesting read. With basketball games, as the article states, music can be played if they feel the crowd may be zoning out. However, hockey games do no such thing. Would adding music during play to hockey games add to the experience of the fan at the game? It would surely attract a different demographic and it can keep more casual fans interested with the sport. This could be something hockey looks to adopt from the NBA in order to continue expanding their reach.
Interning with a junior hockey team, I have noticed the power and importance of incorporating music into the games. During the playoffs, the music can seriously hype up the crowd and get them engaged, which provides a positive atmosphere for the home team. I also think its really cool that the Stockton Ports allow their fans the opportunity to choose music for the opposition, that’s engaging for the fans for sure.
Music is very powerful as it can alter peoples moods, whether it brings them to tears or to their feet depending on the song and artist. It is very interesting on how sporting teams and events incorporate music into their games and to energize their fans and possibly speed up the pace of play as well as motivate the players. I liked the connection of playing certain songs for certain teams, although being a Washington Capitals fan, a division rival in the New York Rangers may have the best own theme song in New York, New York by Frank Sinatra.
Very interesting article about music in sport. Music can be seen in almost everyone’s everyday life and it is interesting to see how it is used in sport. Music not only enhance fan experience but it can help athletes perform at an even higher level than they already are.
Personally, I love music traditions in sport and how they are able to get the fans involved from sweet caroline with the Red Sox to whatever is trending at the moment. it never fails to get a crowd energized and into the game
For me as a soccer fan its very cool to see that music is being used as a tool to add on to the game day experience, usually i go to games just to watch the games. The piece that touches on hype music during times of slow game play makes a lot of sense. because i would enjoy the game more if the energy level was high in the crowds. All in all nice to see that modern technology is fully utilized to optimize these experiences
Music can play a huge role in swaying the momentum of a game. Whether it be playing a song that fans in attendance do not appreciate or playing the wrong song during a stoppage that takes the energy out of a players game. I feel that Game Day Operations Managers must know their audience, as well as their players just as well as other team staff because what they do in-game for the fans can have a significant influence on the outcome of it and how quickly fans will return to their venue.
Music is a great way to enhance the experience of everyone at the game. Different music in certain situations can help a team perform or get the crowd involved. I recently saw a Leaf game in Ottawa and the Sens game day team trolled all the leaf fans by playing “making my dreams come true” after the sens put a goal in the empty net.
I like the idea of choosing the opponents walk up song it allows the fans to get into the heads of the opponents. I feel that this could be done in other sports in different ways, for example after a goal is scored by a home team in hockey, each player has their own goal song. This would be fun for the fans because you would be able to see the personality of the players more.
I think this is a very interesting read. I certainly feel music plays a massive role in game day operations and can provide entertainment to fans at the game. However, i think its important that music isn’t overused in arena as it can sometimes take away from the game itself and be distracting to fans.
To me this was a really cool article to see what goes into the selection process and timing of what music is played. Like everyday life, music can shift our feelings in a matter of seconds and I feel game day operators sense and capitalize the power music can bring to an entertainment event including fan interactions.
Interesting concepts the teams have with involving money into the mix of the songs. Music can make or break one’s experience at a sporting event, so it’s good to see that employees are putting a good amount of thought into the music selections.