Technology Is Changing The Baseball Fan Experience In An Exciting Way

Image by Keith Johnston from Pixabay

The fan experience in baseball has been getting much better over the years, thanks to technology. Today, you can scan game tickets with your phone, navigate stadium facilities through an app, and get access to all MLB rumors with a few clicks.

But that’s just the surface. Technology has changed the sport we love in many ways and brought new avenues for fans to engage with the game. In this article, we’ll look at how technology has helped shape the baseball experience and made it better for the fans.

Mobile Apps Now Bring the Game to Your Fingertips

Mobile apps have had a huge impact on how fans interact with the game today. They’ve made it quite easy to access game stats, buy tickets, follow team updates, and even order food while in the stadium. 

The league itself even has an official app known as Ballpark. It allows users to buy tickets, check-in, and get team schedules. While at the stadium, it gives you important ballpark information and even helps you navigate the venue and find the shortest lines for food and restrooms.

MLB teams also have their own apps where they share important information, stats, news, and game videos, making it easy to access credible information.

New Experiences with VR and AR

Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR) are finding their way into sports, and baseball has benefited greatly from the two emerging technologies. VR makes it possible for users who aren’t attending a game to experience an immersive experience as if they were in the ballpark. You get 360-degree views and close-up action that makes you feel like you are actually in the game. There’s also the MLB Home Run Derby VR game that you can play with VR glasses to get a real MLB player feel.

On the other hand, AR is enhancing the experience for fans who go to the stadium. First, they can use it to navigate by opening their cameras. AR will overlay directions for guidance. It also provides a fun way of getting stats when watching a game, as you just need to point to a player. 

In-Stadium Technology Geared Towards Convenience

Going to a baseball game meant fumbling with paper tickets and even missing key plays while waiting in line for snacks. That has changed as ballparks now have technology that makes the experience much smoother.

Tickets are sold digitally today, and you can check in using a quick scan on the app. Once inside, you also don’t need cash to buy food, snacks, or merchandise, as there are lots of digital payment methods available now.

Finding your way has also become much smarter as stadium apps help you locate everything within the venue, and you can also use AR for guidance.

Fantasy Baseball and Digital Engagement

Fantasy baseball used to be a niche hobby, but it has become quite popular thanks to apps like ESPN Fantasy and Yahoo Fantasy Baseball. With these and other fantasy apps, it’s now easy to manage lineups, track real-time stats, and react to player news with just a few clicks. 

Fantasy baseball is now one of the main ways baseball fans stay connected to their favorite sport over the entire season. It’s also added a layer of personal investment into the league as fans can tune in to games they’d normally not watch, just because players they have in their teams are involved.

Social Media for News, Rumors, and Communities

Beyond game-related apps, there’s social media. It has now become a part of every sports fan’s toolkit as it helps get game highlights and injury updates. It also helps engage other fans through conversations and allows the building of communities. This makes fans feel like they are a part of something bigger and significantly improves the experience.