Should Spurs Try to Leverage the Entertainment Industry to Boost Engagement?

Is it enough for a football club to simply play the sport these days and continue to attract fans long into the future? In the fast-paced entertainment-fuelled modern world, the answer to that question is - probably not.

Tottenham Hotspur aren't sitting on their hands in this regard. There have been recent efforts to expand beyond the Premier League and reach supporters in different markets. However, more should be done, and there are plenty of other ways that Spurs can leverage entertainment to their advantage.

Breaking Into the Booming Casino Industry

The online casino industry is one of the biggest continuously growing sectors in the UK, and it's surprising that no football clubs have thought to take advantage of it yet. The gambling at Paddy Power's online casino spans countless games, with a few non-branded football titles in the slots category. For example, players can spin the reels on games like Football Hero and Football Cash Collect.

An official Spurs game wouldn't look out of place among these titles, and it could serve as an excellent way for the club to garner more attention. After all, it's a model that's worked well for other offerings in the entertainment industry, such as television series and films. The Walking Dead, for instance, branched out into slot games to boost its appeal and raise awareness for the various spinoffs that have been released over the last few years.

More Collaboration With Streaming Platforms

One of the best ways to attract attention in today's mainstream market is to get onto streaming services, and Spurs already did this with All or Nothing: Tottenham Hotspur in 2020. The nine-part series was released on Amazon Prime Video, and was met with critical acclaim. Indeed, it was referred to as the Premier League's answer to The Last Dance by Variety.

Unfortunately, though, Spurs didn't capitalise on the success of the series by releasing anything else soon afterwards. Welcome to Wrexham is a prime example of a series that has grown over three seasons and continues to attract more viewers. Spurs should opt to make something similar, giving old and new fans a way to connect with the club that has rarely been seen before.

Entering the Esports Sector

One other area that Spurs could look to crack is the evolving esports sector. According to a report from GlobeNewswire, the industry could be worth a whopping $7.5 billion by 2030. Football is heavily represented in the esports market, with EA Sports FC likely to be at the heart of the sector for many years to come.

Spurs could leverage the esports sector in various ways, such as creating branded game modes or in-game content within popular titles. There's also the chance to form collaborations with esports teams and players, leading to cross-promotional marketing efforts.

There are countless ways that Spurs could be enhancing their global appeal, and it seems crazy not to take advantage of them. As the Premier League grows increasingly competitive, clubs need to do more away from the pitch to stand out.

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