The dramatic finale of the World Series has been hard to ignore, whether it left you mourning, celebrating, or confused as to how a single game could possibly take so long (and how a league with 1 Canadian team can have a World Series?).
If baseballâs not your thing, have no fear! Humans before us have generously invented a million variations on âball go hereâ and âpeople go zoomâ to entertain you. Of course, the scoreboard is just the beginningâI, for one, am in it for the *drama*. Juicy storylines, shocking trades, the epic highs and lows of high school football, I want it all.
But what goes into all those controversial decisions that keep die-hard fans coming back for more? Behind all the glitz, glam, and sweat, sports executives are constantly working to outmaneuver their competitors in selecting and developing superstar players. How do you differentiate hotshot prospects from true performance potential?
Since TDL is currently working with one of the most iconic sports franchises, weâre taking a peek behind the curtains of the worldâs favorite pastimes.
Until next time, Celine and the couch coaches @ TDL
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Todayâs topics đ
Deep Dive: đ Trade Secrets
Field Notes: đ The Cost of Competition
Viewpoints: đ„ Calling the Shots
DEEP DIVE
Deep Dive: đ Trade Secrets
+ Stories sell. For some, winning isnât everythingâcompelling narratives and superstar athletes drive audience engagement and profit. However, sacrificing quality for perverse incentives can lead to controversy and disappointed fan bases.
+ The moneyball era. With the massive growth of sports analytics in recent years, training and hard work is no longer enough to winâyou need data. But as teams and individual athletes become more optimized than ever, are we losing the thrill of the game?
+ (AI)thletics. Unsurprisingly, AI is changing decision-making in sports, already influencing the NWSLâs Seattle Reignâs and other teamsâ in-game strategy. While the true extent of AI usage in sports management is not fully known, AI will undeniably continue to shape game strategy, marketing, and officiating for years to come.
+ The people want more. This fall, the WNBAâs ongoing negotiations for a new collective bargaining agreement drew significant engagement from fans. Audiences are increasingly invested and involved in the behind-the-scenes management of their favorite athletes and leagues, including in issues such as fair compensation, salary caps, and more.
Field Notes: đ The Cost of Competition
Weâd all love to think of athletics as the great equalizer, where merit rules and skills do all the talking.
In reality, money makes the soccer ball go around. Professional sports are driven by cold, hard, cash, all the way from player development to the final buzzer. Across the industry, the winningest teams are typically those with the most money to spend.
In this TDL article, Siddharth Ramalingam examines how sports leagues must move beyond âthe best plays the bestâ to drive audience engagement and maximize profits.
Viewpoints
Viewpoints: đ„ Calling the Shots
+ Invest in the underrepresented. Evidenced by the global boom in womenâs sports, investing in underrepresented talent can have massive returns. Inclusive athletics arenât a charity, but an opportunity to foster excellence in all its forms.
+ Debias the selection process. Identifying the ârightâ players takes complex evaluations of performance, potential, and the ever-elusive âfitâ, often getting caught up in our own biases. As new technology emerges to help coaches in the selection process, disentangling our underlying assumptions is key.
+ Think about accessibility. In the age of streaming and astronomical ticket prices, many dedicated fans are being priced out of sports viewership. Making decisions in sports involves more than just whoâs on the courtâwho gets to watch?
+ Embrace individuality. Many fans are no longer loyal to the team or country, but to a specific person. As athletes build personal brands and diversify their careers, we need to rethink the relationship between franchises and players. Supporting individuality, rather than suppressing it, can power a whole sport forward.
In-Group Bias
The teams you support say a lot about you, or so Iâve been told. How can our athletic allegiances attract and alienate others so easily?
In-group bias explains how group membership shapes the way we perceive others and interact with them. From playful banter to passionate rivalry, snap judgements on sports fandoms can have real consequences. Learn more on our website.
Whatâs new at TDL
TDL is hiring! Weâre hiring for a number of positions, both remote and based in our Montreal office. Some open roles include:
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