Patriots President Jonathan Kraft, speaking over the weekend at MIT’s Sloan Sports Analytics Conference, explained that after early evaluations on ways to "keep fans engaged in the social media age, his team decided to go on the offensive," according to Brendan McGuirk of the BOSTON HERALD. He said that this content strategy "is particularly important for NFL teams ... because unlike other leagues, 'The teams have nothing to do with their game broadcasts, except for the preseason.'" As a result, they "must find creative ways to shape their online presence, because it is the team’s primary source of fan interaction." Kraft said that though they "still value traditional outlets like radio and TV, 'the real focus is on digital and social -- desktop and the various social platforms.'" Kraft: "We employ over a dozen (full-time employees) who do nothing but create content 365 days a year." He added that deep, "stat-heavy analytical news performs best when shared via Twitter," whereas younger fans "are more drawn to the team’s photo-sharing Instagram account." Kraft: "We realize there are different audiences in each place, and (we are) trying to fine-tune niche content that speaks to the user of those. Facebook, which is our largest audience on social (networks), I would call more of a ‘lean-back,’ traditional TV experience. Feed them something (with) mass appeal, not too in-detail, entertaining and not too long" (BOSTON HERALD, 3/2).
PITCHERS & CATCHERS: The BOSTON HERALD's McGuirk noted MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred "was arguably the biggest name at Sloan." Manfred during the Commissioner's Perspective panel said, "Debate, discussion, conversation and analysis gets you to a better answer, at the end of the day, and I think it’s very important to run an organization in a way that fosters that kind of exchange." Manfred admitted that MLB "is looking to innovate its fantasy sports product, exploring ways where MLB fantasy sports would not be a 162-game, 183-day commitment" (BOSTON HERALD, 3/1). Meanwhile, the GLOBE & MAIL's James Mirtle wrote while analytics in sports "will always be linked to baseball," the Sloan Conference made clear "that the other sports are making rapid gains." The sophistication of the analysis "is advancing exponentially as leagues take advantage of new technology -- adding optical tracking cameras (already in place in the NBA), and radio-frequency identification tagging systems (set to launch next fall in the NHL)" (GLOBE & MAIL, 3/1).
LOOK WHO'S TALKING: YAHOO SPORTS' Nicholas Cotsonika noted Maple Leafs Assistant GM Kyle Dubas Saturday at the conference "explained how analytics had helped him avoid bad influences and illogical decisions" (SPORTS.YAHOO.com, 2/28). ESPN.com's Matt Walks wrote ESPN's Shane Battier "may have been the MVP of Day 1," when the former NBAer "spoke on three panels and punctuated his support of advanced analytics in basketball with droll anecdotes from his playing career" (ESPN.com, 2/27). ESPN.com's Mike Triplett noted Saints coach Sean Payton, in a Friday panel hosted by SBJ/SBD Exec Editor Abraham Madkour, "talked about the ways in which analytics have already changed his coaching methods." Payton "also spoke about how analytics could change the way the NFL scouting combine is run with more position-specific drills" (ESPN.com, 2/27). Patriots Dir of Player Personnel Nick Caserio "took part in a football panel" on Saturday (ESPN.com, 2/27). DraftKings CEO Jason Robins spoke with CNBC Senior Editor-at-Large Eric Chemi from the conference, with Chemi noting daily fantasy games have “been one of the big topics we’ve seen a lot about.” Robins said of critics claiming these fantasy games are a form of gambling, “It’s a skill-based game, very different both by law and function” (“Closing Bell,” CNBC, 2/27).
