The Right Format

 

I'm here analyzing Sprint Battle's market strategy and implementation process. I said this months ago at the beginning of my study of the Track and Field (T&F) industry but, never really gave it any real thought until now. The T&F competition format is the lifeline for sprinters, it is what athletes know and all they know...

A sports format is that one key thing that will make or break a sports program for success and sustainability in the eyes of athletes, investors and mainstream media across all global boarders.

T&F was established as a part of the ancient Olympic Games in Greece in 776 B.C. The sport program was created alongside religious events and celebrations for the Greek gods, where men would show off their athletic abilities in events like sprint races, long jump, discus, shot put and javelin. These events were highly praised and celebrated by the home cities of the winners, and they still remain a part of what we know as T&F today. 

However, the T&F format back then and today in the modern era of the Olympics that was established in 1860s was not created for organic growth or market sustainability for a functioning ecosystem. The format was presented just to showcase multiple events preformed by elite athletes for entertainment and passing time.

A sports format is a lot more than that, its crucial to its program as it can significantly impact the viewer experience, engagement, and overall success. Here are some reasons why sports format is important:

1. Structure and Organization: A well-structured format helps to organize the content and present it in a logical and easy-to-follow manner.

2. Pacing and Timing: A good format ensures that the program is well-paced, with a good balance of action, analysis, and commentary.

3. Visual Appeal: An attractive format can enhance the visual appeal of the program, making it more engaging and enjoyable for viewers.

4. Storytelling: A format that incorporates storytelling techniques can help to create a narrative that draws viewers in and keeps them invested in the program.

5. Differentiation: A unique format can help to differentiate the program from others in the same genre, making it more memorable and attractive to viewers.

6. Adaptability: A flexible format can be adapted to different platforms, such as TV, online, or social media, allowing the program to reach a wider audience.

7. Consistency: A consistent format helps to establish a familiar and comfortable viewing experience for regular viewers.

8. Brand Identity: A well-designed format can reflect the brand identity of the program and help to build recognition and loyalty.

9. Engagement: An interactive format can encourage viewer engagement, such as through social media or live polling.

10. Evolution: A format that evolves with the program can help to keep the content fresh and exciting, even after multiple episodes or seasons.

By carefully considering these factors, can T&F under the format it is in go mainstream, be sustainable in the consumer domain and how important is format to a successful sport's program?

The cold fact is this, establishing a defined format for track and field can be challenging due to several reasons:

1. Diverse events: Track and field encompasses a wide range of events, including sprints, distance runs, hurdles, jumps, throws, and combined events. Each event has its unique characteristics, requirements, and nuances.

2. Variety of competition levels: Track and field competitions range from local high school meets to international championships, each with different levels of athletes, resources, and audiences.

3. Evolution of the sport: Track and field is a constantly evolving sport, with new events, technologies, and innovations emerging regularly.

4. Balancing tradition and innovation: The sport has a rich history and tradition, but it also needs to innovate and adapt to changing times, athlete needs, and fan expectations.

5. Global governance: Track and field is governed by various organizations, such as World Athletics (formerly IAAF), national federations, and local associations, which can lead to differences in formats and rules.

6. Logistical complexities: Organizing track and field events involves managing multiple events, athletes, officials, and venues, which can be logistically challenging.

7. Fan engagement: The format should cater to different fan preferences, from those who enjoy traditional events to those interested in new, innovative formats.

8. Athlete preferences: The format should also consider the preferences and needs of athletes, including their training, competition, and recovery requirements.

9. Broadcasting and media: The format should be conducive to broadcasting and media coverage, which can impact the sport's visibility and popularity.

10. Adaptability: The format should be flexible enough to accommodate unexpected events, such as weather conditions or athlete injuries.

Considering these factors, establishing a defined format for track and field requires careful planning, collaboration, and a deep understanding of the sport's complexities and stakeholders' needs. For these factors alone T&F will remain heavy laden and virtually impossible to digest by the general public and go mainstream.

Sprint Battle has taken into account all these significant factors and presented sprinting the opportunity to operate outside the format of T&F. This now gives athletes a new sprint channel to showcase their talent. Sprint battle is an unique, well defined and adaptable sports format that has the greatest possibility of consumer consumption and athlete advancement.

Read about our format here 

 

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