Before Fireworks, Fix Friction

Before fireworks, fix friction.

Sports organizations love asking what they can ADD to the fan experience.

New entertainment. New technology. New activations. New premium spaces.

But some of the most important fan experience investments happening in college football right now aren't additions at all.

They're eliminating pain points.

A recent College Town study found 25 of 47 programs examined are making meaningful changes aimed at reducing friction.

Parking. Security. Ticket scanning. Concession lines. Restrooms. Navigation. Connectivity.

None of those will make the highlight reel.

But every unnecessary inconvenience makes the alternative a little more attractive.

And the alternative isn't necessarily another stadium.

It's the couch.

No traffic. No lines. Cheap food. Multiple screens. Your own bathroom.

That's why one of the first questions I ask when assessing a live experience isn't:

What should we add?

It's:

What should we remove?

This is one of several trends I found fascinating in the research on how 47 college football programs are changing the fan experience.

I broke down the full study and what I think it tells us about the future of the live sports experience here:

The Game Isn't Enough Anymore