Beer
Improving the game day fan experience for sports fans is a hot topic in the
sports business at present with venues and clubs constantly rolling out
innovative new ‘fan-first’ initiatives to entice more bums on seats and to
alleviate common pain points like expensive food and long lines that have
over time turned more and more fans away from attending live sports. With
the home experience of live sports on giant wide screen surround sound TV’s
being so impressive, affordable and accessible these days, venues and teams
with decreasing membership numbers have had to think outside the box to
show fans that they’re listening to their concerns and that watching live sport
in these customer centric venues is a money can’t buy experience that they’re
missing out on.
Recent venue enhancements for fans have for instance seen the MCG invest
in way-finding technology that aims to reduce queue waiting times at
concession stands, the installation of LED sports lighting at Adelaide Oval
which synchronises with the sound system to add to the atmosphere as well
as ANZ Stadium and four NRL teams also introducing ‘fan first’ initiatives such
as free transport, cheaper tickets and food and drink combo deals all
designed to drive attendances and transform the event experience.
In what seems like an arms race to improve fan experiences from venues and
teams from across the sporting globe there has also been one particular area
that has seen significant growth and is winning over fans and that is through
collaborations with craft breweries.
Close to two years ago I wrote in Froth Magazine issue #5 about the rise of
the US sports business tapping into the American craft beer industry to reach
new audiences and bring fans back to venues on game day. While that report
highlighted American club and brewery collaborations on exclusive stadium
game day beers, ticketing deals like ‘beer passports’ and other incentives
featuring independent and local US craft beer, it’s since been impressive to
see the closer relationship that has been forged between Australian sports
and Australian craft breweries.
Since mid 2017 in Australia we’ve incredibly seen no less than seven sporting
teams, venues and craft breweries forge sponsorship or venue pourage rights
partnerships with clubs across the A-League, Super Rugby and AFL
combined with the mammoth craft beer industry win for Gage Roads in
securing the liquor tender rights at Perth’s brand new Optus Stadium where
most of their locally made products are available for fans on match day.
Colonial Brewing Co kicked off this run in April last year by becoming the
official beer and cider partner of the AFL’s Essendon Football Club and was
swiftly followed in July by Stomping Ground Brewing who linked up with the A-
League’s Melbourne City team to offer half price beers in a family friendly pop
up bar area outside their stadium. Six String Brewing Co then rounded out
2017 by partnering with football’s Central Coast Mariners to create a limited
edition Dutch pale lager called ‘Coastie Lager’ in what was marketed as a
clever ticketing imitative where fans could purchase a six game membership
and a six pack for $120. Moreover the Mariners even gave away a
complimentary can to every fan aged over 18 before one of their games in
December. Free stadium beer? Who does that!
Mariner’s Corporate Partnerships Manager Cameron Stone noted “We
teamed up with the local brewery so that our Members could not only enjoy a
beer brewed by two of their favourite players, but also give the gift of football
for Christmas.”
Bring on 2018 and it’s been craft beer deal after craft beer deal with Yenda
inking with the Wallabies and Super Rugby as the official beer partner while
Newstead Brewing Co entered into an innovative agreement as the ‘official
craft beer partner’ of the Queensland Reds Super Rugby Union team which
will see Newstead’s brews served up to fans on game day at the Red’s
Ballymore ground.
Two Bird’s then teamed up with the Western Bulldogs AFL Women’s side to
produce an Australian Lager called ‘Trailblazer’ that is being exclusively sold
at the teams Whitten Oval ground on match days. Two Birds co-owner Jayne
Lewis said about the partnership that "The Trail Blazer collaboration came
about out of a desire from both the Western Bulldogs and ourselves to further
connect with the local community. Creating something special for Whitten
Oval during the second AFLW season required a really local, community
driven approach, and this is the result. We get to drink a western suburbs
beer at a western suburbs sports ground, cheering on a western suburbs
team!
It’s important to note too that this is all after Wellington Phoenix led the way by
joining forces with Garage Project for a collaboration featuring game day
beers at Wellington’s Westpac Stadium in 2016.
The benefits within all of this means that fans are provided with an improved
customer experience with better quality and variety of beer choices, clubs and
venues are able to tap into new audiences while supporting the local
community and brewers are given a prime new opportunity to grow their brand
awareness to a wider market.
With more and more venues rolling out craft beer options such as Optus
Stadium with Gage Roads, Suncorp Stadium serving Little Creatures and The
Adelaide Oval selling James Squire and more teams setting up ‘official craft
beer of the team’ partnerships the future is bright for sports fans being able to
support their local team and local community.