The Next Big Thing In Sports

To be successful in business, you always need to have an understanding of what's to come. I've been thinking lately about some of the next big things in sports and in the business of sports, and I wanted to share some of my predictions and thoughts with you.

- First off, esports will continue to rise. I spoke with Knicks Gaming head coach Kyle Rudy on my Project X show over the summer and was blown away by the esports industry, which is well on its way to becoming a billion dollar business. Click here to watch that interview.

- The legalization of gambling in sports will be substantial; to say the least. Going to games and having the ability to bet throughout them will enhance the live sports experience. Imagine seeing the spread on the scoreboard next to the pitch speed radar and advertisements! You'll often see the odds of your player getting a hit or of your team scoring in a given inning on your smartphone.

- Analytics are undoubtedly one of the next big things in sports, if they aren't already. It's not about whether your team wins one night, it's about how many games they're projected to win over time. Adding chips inside jerseys allows fans and coaching staffs to monitor their athlete's health and see when they have the most optimal energy for the biggest moments of the game.

- Is cable exiting the sports landscape? People are cutting cable left and right these days. I think we'll see more pay-per-view options for different sports because people will only want to pay for what they want to watch. We'll likely see more opportunities to purchase parts of a game. I think the leagues could benefit from offering the last 5 minutes of a close game for a couple bucks. I would do that.

- I think there will be many more unfiltered broadcasts with players and coaches cursing and not sugarcoating things. Fans seem to be really gravitating to the 
"Uninterrupted" podcast and show format, so I expect that to carry over to our broadcasts in due time.

- All of the excess activities - such as concerts and fireworks - provide much more value to a family to go to a game. The more incentives each team offers at their stadiums, the more likely they'll be able to get the 50-100,000 people on a more consistent basis. You'll start seeing even more carnivals, trade shows, and festivals based around game schedules.

- Women's sports are on the rise, whether you realize it or not! The emergence of women's softball and volleyball; plus what we've already established in women's basketball and soccer, is very encouraging to me. Men are enjoying women's sports! We're seeing more women competing, which is great since they're so much more involved in where money is spent within the house. Getting them involved and interested in sports is a big thing and will continue to be.

What do you think is the next big thing in sports? Please leave your thoughts in the comments below!

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