Summary

Sports organizations, from local clubs to professional franchises, operate in a highly competitive environment where engaging and retaining fans is paramount. In an era of constant digital distractions and evolving consumer behaviors, sports clubs face unique challenges in their quest to build stronger connections with their audiences:

1. Reaching New Audiences
Expanding fan bases often means connecting with younger generations and fans who engage through digital platforms. These audiences prioritize convenience as well as digital or hybrid experiences that align with their lifestyles.

2. Retaining Fans
Maintaining fan enthusiasm is a complex challenge. With countless entertainment options available, even the most dedicated supporters can lose interest over time.

3. Increasing Fan Activity
Driving fans to actively engage beyond attendance or viewership is a significant problem in a crowded media landscape. Clubs need to find ways to encourage fans to invest more time and energy to boost club loyalty.

Overcoming these challenges requires the right technology stack so teams can implement a fan-centered approach in an efficient manner.

Background

Sports clubs can significantly benefit from the implementing a comprehensive loyalty platform designed to transform fan engagement into a scalable, data-driven asset. This can lead to deeper connections with their fan base, offering unique incentives and rewards to drive both emotional and financial loyalty.

Pointsville’s successful implementations with MLB franchises demonstrate the ability of loyalty platforms to:

• Attract younger by gamifying experiences and offering digital collectibles.
• Retain long-time fans through personalized incentives tied to attendance, merchandise purchases, and social interactions.
• Increase fan activity by seamlessly integrating ticketing, retail, and rewards into a single platform, creating a more engaging ecosystem for fans.

Sports organizations can now access capabilities that were previously out of reach, enabling them to create more dynamic, data-driven fan experiences and unlock new revenue opportunities.

Main Drivers for Change

1. Market Demands: Meeting Fan Expectations
Fans increasingly expect personalized, interactive experiences that go beyond traditional loyalty programs. Audiences now seek immersive, experiential touchpoints that make their connection with teams more tangible and memorable. Gamified rewards, digital collectibles, and activities like Augmented Reality (AR) hunts have become essential for engagement.

2. Technological Advancements: Enhancing Fan Interaction
Technology is transforming how sports organizations connect with fans, enabling immersive, personalized interactions. AR and real-time analytics help clubs offer experiences beyond traditional engagement, turning moments into dynamic events. Digital wallets and interactive features make it easier for fans to feel involved, rewarded, and valued, building deeper loyalty and stronger connections.

3. Revenue Opportunities: Expanding Monetization
Consumer demand for simplified, seamless transactions through digital wallets opens new avenues for monetization. For example, loyalty programs leveraging digital wallet features facilitate in-app purchases, instant redemptions, and branded sponsorship activations. AR gamification drives engagement, encouraging fans to spend more on retail, ticketing, and exclusive team experiences.

4. Engagement Metrics: Driving Strategy with Data
Loyalty platforms equipped with digital wallet functionalities provide detailed insights into fan behavior, allowing sports organizations to track spending patterns, redemption rates, and overall engagement. Consumer interest in seamless reward systems necessitates advanced data collection, enabling teams to adapt loyalty strategies, personalize offerings, and demonstrate results.

Loyalty in Action: Pittsburgh Pirates

Pointsville was proud to first deploy our loyalty platform with our flagship partner, the historic Pittsburgh Pirates franchise, in 2022. Founded in 1882, the team has proudly represented the City of Pittsburgh as 5-time world champions.

2023: Inside the Numbers 

Testimonial

“Our partnership with Pointsville unlocks new benefits for our loyal Season Ticket Holders and is an incredible way to connect Pirates fans, sponsors and community partners throughout western Pennsylvania. We are technologies to promote modern ballpark experiences in and around PNC Park as we continue exploring initiatives to upgrade our overall fan experience.”

TRAVIS WILLIAMS
– PRESIDENT, PITTSBURGH PIRATES

Loyalty Platform Implementation

Pointsville is the #1 loyalty partner in MLB and the only provider with in-app redemption capability to MLB and Tickets.com. Our fully integrated loyalty solution operates within the MLB Ballpark App, tailored for each franchise.

Core Features:

• Earning Points: Fans earn points by attending games, participating in activations like AR hunts, and engaging with videos, content, or sponsor promotions.
• Spending Points: Fans redeem points for merchandise, unique experiences (e.g., batting practice), and tickets to special events.
• Fan Wallet Integration: A centralized wallet for points and rewards, accessible via the app.
• Sponsorship Tools: Enabled sponsors to interact with fans directly through promotions and AR campaigns.
• Admin Functions: Super Admin Interface for team managers to oversee fan activity, fulfillments, and sponsor engagements.

Value for Teams, Fans and Sponsors

Platform tools designed for large sports brands and customers

About Pointsville

Pointsville is an end-to-end alternative asset factory

• We are your one-stop shop for loyalty, stablecoins and alternative asset digitization & management.
• Our software platforms bridge the gap between emerging digital financial technologies and traditional asset classes. Our technology supports our partners with tools to:
  • Convert real-world assets into tokenized alternative assets
  • Utilize the leading capital markets, regulatory, loyalty and blockchain technologies
  • Empower your network with programmable loyalty, ownership, issuance and asset management tools
  • Enable regulatory compliance and reporting for loyalty and alternative assets

To learn more about our loyalty solutions click here.