The sports industry is a huge global business, worth more than $400 billion dollars. Considering the level of devotion shown by many sports fans, it’s no surprise to see such high valuations.
Fans are the key to the success of the sports industry, and sporting events play a major role in creating and developing interest in sports.
There is a huge global demand for sporting events, especially those featuring the best athletes and sports personalities from around the world.
Mega events such as the Olympics, the FIFA World Cup and the Super Bowl are excellent examples of this.
Aside from sports organizations, the industry also supports many connected sectors such as sports betting and merchandise. Pennsylvania sports betting is accessible through mobile apps, giving sports fans easier access to online betting.
The growth of the sports betting industry has shown the potential for other industries to benefit from connections to sports. The restaurant industry is one such example.
Why Sports and the Restaurant Industry are Linked
At first glance, sports and restaurants may not appear to be closely linked, but in fact there are many connections between the two.
Catering is a major part of the sporting events industry, with stadiums, arenas and ballparks needing to feed thousands of hungry fans during the game.
For many fans, their halftime snack is an incredibly important part of the experience, and many sports and regions have their own culture surrounding stadium food and drink.
In the US, hotdogs are a staple of ballparks having first been introduced in 1893. They make the ideal halftime snack, providing filling and delicious food that’s easy to eat and carry back to your seat.
In the UK, pies (usually filled with meat) are synonymous with soccer games, and just like the hotdog, they provide a simple way for stadiums to provide quality food to the fans.
Of course, the sports fan experience isn’t limited to stadiums. Not every fan lives locally to their team but local businesses such as sports bars provide the opportunity for them to enjoy live sports with other fans.
Sports bars typically serve both food and drinks, offering a more casual and relaxed setting than traditional restaurants. The experience centers around live sports, but food is used to increase patronage even when the game is over.
How Restaurant Owners are Utilizing Sporting Events
During major sporting events, there’s a big increase in economic activity in that region. Mega events are the best example of this, with the FIFA soccer World Cup seeing huge numbers of fans turn out to support their teams both in stadiums, bars and restaurants.
Restaurant owners are increasingly looking to capture the attention of sports fans and make the most of this potential economic benefit.
Fans want to be able to enjoy their favorite sports, but food is a necessity during long games. Restaurant owners can increase sales during major sporting events by offering live feeds of the games and creating promotions.
Cheap deals on easy to produce food can help to bring in fans, who will then spend more on food and drink over the course of the game.
For example, a restaurant can run a promotion on onion rings during the Olympics, making a link between the Olympic rings and the food.
However, while there are advantages to connecting with sports fans, it needs to be authentic. Fans can spot inauthenticity from a mile away and will avoid supporting businesses which are simply piggybacking on the success of the sports industry.
There needs to be a true connection between the restaurant, what it offers and the sporting events.
