Short-Format Sports Events and Their Growing Popularity

The Support of Global Sports Organizations

Expansion In New Nations

The development of short-form leagues has given rise to the development of countries with developing sporting ecosystems that would have greater potential to host short-form events, build their own fan base, and attract sponsors much more quickly.

In turn, the greater accessibility of short-form sports will continue the development of such sports across continents and cultures.

Live Event Experience

The introduction of short-form sports has changed the way that fans experience sporting events and attend live sport. Many fans now experience full matches without having to commit an entire day to watch them live, resulting in larger crowds attending, particularly families and working professionals.

The atmosphere in a stadium during live, fast-paced sporting events is generally more lively than during slower-paced events. Fans are typically more emotionally connected to these events during a game due to the continuous action and excitement of scoring points and the shorter breaks that allow for that connection to exist.

Additional In-Stadium Entertainment Options

Short-form sports have also expanded the concept of event organizers to now view short-form matches from an entertainment perspective and have designed them to be complete entertainment packages.

In addition to participating in their games, fans have multiple forms of engagement with the event, such as music, lighting, and interactive screens, between plays.

Commercialization And Venue Experience

With increased commercial support from global partners, such as Coca-Cola and Pepsi, venues now include areas to showcase food, merchandise, and Digital Engagement Zones.

This has resulted in a greater ability to create and enhance commercial opportunities and satisfaction for fans.

As a result, fans attending live sporting events in short-form will experience greater engagement levels and, therefore, increased commercial values in short format sports.

Athlete Preparation in Short-Format Sports

Short format events require explosive towards the beginning of the event with little time before the start and no time for recovery during gameplay.

Training is geared towards maximising an athlete’s impact within the limited time frame that is available when competing in the short format of an event.

The types of conditioning that athletes undergo for short format events are different than conditioning for long-distance events, as training for short format events focuses on speed, power, and rapid decision-making, whereas conditioning for long-distance events places emphasis on endurance alone, and greatly changes how an athlete prepares for and recovers from competition.

The changes that have occurred due to the emergence of short-format sports have led to changes in elite athletic performance standards.

Economic Impact and Commercial Sustainability

Economically, short-format sporting events have a tremendous economic impact due to the number of events, coupled with the rapidity of the events and future event dates.

Cities benefit from increased tourism activity and employment opportunities locally from hotels and other hospitality types of businesses.

Because short-format sporting events tend to be fast-paced and require a considerable amount of travel for many of the spectators that attend them, event promoters have developed creative methods to maximise their revenues while minimising downtime during events and utilisation of the venue(s).

Broadcast networks such as Star Sports benefit from the reliable ratings the broadcast of short-format sporting events deliver and the efficiency of commercial advertisements.

Sponsorship, Media, and Local Business Benefits

Companies who sponsor short-format sporting events are able to receive multiple exposures to the advertisements of their products during the short duration of the event.

Local leagues and global leagues attracting sponsorship from outside the country while providing support to local businesses.

Local businesses benefit from merchandising sales, food and beverage services, and transportation.

For this reason, local businesses are the primary benefactors from hosting short-format sporting events.

The balance between the revenue generated by hosting and investing in an event versus participation by athletes and teams has created an economically viable alternative and opportunity for the growth and sustainability of short-format sport.

The Long-Term Sustainability of Short Format Sport

Organizations such as the International Olympic Committee govern the sport of short-formats and encourage both the development of innovate ideas and the protection of the core values of sport.

Through this type of governance and oversight, short-formats will continue to experience long-term sustainable growth.

Audience Behavior and Viewing Preferences

As society has progressed to a rapid pace of living, it has created a barrier for many fans to consistently follow long-event formats.

Short format events are designed to minimize the viewer’s amount of effort and attention required by concentrating the action within the shorter timeframe.

Short formats provide a lower commitment for fans to become engaged and watch events on a regular basis.

With fans able to watch multiple events during a season, their emotional attachment and viewing habits will increase over time.

Athlete Preparation: Long vs Short Formats

Athletes compete in long-format events with endurance and patience, while athletes in short formats prepare for explosive type performances.

Roger Federer is an example of how athletes’ preparation requirements change due to the different demands of multi-tasking versus long running or standing.

The above comparison illustrates how, short-format athletics are complementary to long-format athletic structure.

Scheduling Flexibility and Global Reach

Due to its short match duration, short format athletics provides greater scheduling flexibility to organizers and broadcasters.

Short format athletics can allow multiple contests to be staged in a single day, thus providing sports with more opportunities for consistency of visibility.

Emerging Markets

Short formats allow emerging regions to enter the sports industries without the challenges associated with developing a larger logistical infrastructure.

Narrative Creation and Athlete Visibility

Leagues build their narratives from frequent events and rivalry type match-ups.

The Power of Recognizable Athletes

Virat Kohli‘s popularity establishes a very strong following based on the exposure he receives from the various short format media outlets.

The increase in regularity of visibility translates to a heightened connection between fan and athlete and ultimately builds long term loyalty amongst fans.

Technology, Innovation, and Future Growth

Companies such as Amazon are helping to support companies who want to create and test new ideas in the short form sports space on a broader scale.

The successes of these new innovations will depend upon their respect for traditional sporting values while catering to the demands of today’s audience.

Digital Culture and Modern Fan Expectations

Expectations around short-form content have been created by digital platforms such as YouTube.

Today, fans prioritize both intensity and immediacy, above everything else, compared to established traditions.

As a result, short-form events exist and flourish in alignment with modern cultural rhythms and consumption of modern entertainment.

Integrating Short-Formats into Traditional Sports Systems

Sports governing bodies, including the International Cricket Council, use short formats to extend their reach while also providing protection and support for their established heritage formats.

Providing multiple formats permits adaptability in sports long-term, which allows for continued global expansion and cultural relevance across generations.

Conclusion

It is probable that in the future, short-form sports will continue to exist alongside traditional formats.