I think there is a great opportunity for many sports to be much more self assured at the elite level.
So much value (in all senses) originates from, and is reliant upon, the continued good health of each sport's 'heart and soul' e.g., Test cricket, major championship golf, international netball, Grand Slam tennis, etc.
They offer both anchor and aspiration. They're pre-requisites that enable innovation and 'brand stretch'; they create permission for variations in quality, quantity, format, duration, fan engagement, etc.
Elite sport, like life, is at its best where there are contrasts. The dopamine never delivers fulfilment.
No amount of social media highlights of sunny birdies and eagles at a tour event would ever come close to watching the leaders battle through those Round 3 conditions at Royal Troon; no amount of social media highlights of sixes in T20 cricket could match watching Ben Stokes at Headingley at 4 o'clock in the morning in Australia in 2019!
This is one of the best and most concise articles I have read on the challenge facing sport. Entertainment versus Sport rather than Sport as Entertainment. Very interesting indeed. Thanks for the post.
This piece really resonated, thank you Richard.
I think there is a great opportunity for many sports to be much more self assured at the elite level.
So much value (in all senses) originates from, and is reliant upon, the continued good health of each sport's 'heart and soul' e.g., Test cricket, major championship golf, international netball, Grand Slam tennis, etc.
They offer both anchor and aspiration. They're pre-requisites that enable innovation and 'brand stretch'; they create permission for variations in quality, quantity, format, duration, fan engagement, etc.
Elite sport, like life, is at its best where there are contrasts. The dopamine never delivers fulfilment.
No amount of social media highlights of sunny birdies and eagles at a tour event would ever come close to watching the leaders battle through those Round 3 conditions at Royal Troon; no amount of social media highlights of sixes in T20 cricket could match watching Ben Stokes at Headingley at 4 o'clock in the morning in Australia in 2019!
Cheers Danny
This is one of the best and most concise articles I have read on the challenge facing sport. Entertainment versus Sport rather than Sport as Entertainment. Very interesting indeed. Thanks for the post.
An alarming but immediately recognisable view. Thanks for the link to the article.