Within the United States, the professional sports industry has been one of the most heavily-impacted businesses of not only the economy, but day-to-day lifestyle restrictions for the American people.
In order to assess the impact that COVID-19 has had on the U.S. sports industry, MVP valuated social performance by league and team Facebook, Twitter and Instagram accounts across the five major professional leagues - MLB, MLS, NBA, NHL and NFL. Content was analyzed from each league’s current or most recent season and each previous season, to allow for year-over-year comparisons.
Historical Season Timelines
The NBA and NHL both enter their playoff stretches, while the MLS and MLB seasons are getting started.
The NFL season concludes much earlier in February, but typically has a spike in engagement during the draft.
Season Suspensions
Due To COVID-19
The NHL and MLS responded quickly, suspending play within a day, while the MLB delayed Opening Day and suspended remaining Spring Training activities. The 2019-20 NFL season was not directly impacted.
Season Returns
The NBA and NHL each devised unique formats, creating protected “bubble” environments in an effort to maximize player safety.
The MLB was the first league to move forward with home-market games and faced a rocky return to play, with several teams reporting outbreaks of the virus.
Impact on
Brand Value
Subsequently, the impact of each league’s suspension was also captured in their social performance for brand partners; performance varied considerably across leagues and brand categories.
Distribution Of Content
Despite an overall decrease in post volume, that proportion remained consistent over the suspension window, as leagues and teams found creative solutions to provide brand visibility for their sponsors.
In the weeks since play resumed, brands have been represented in 36% of all social content.
Brand Visible Content
In 2019, the volume of brand visible content peaked in late-March, meaning the 2020 suspension window disrupted a particularly crucial period of brand visibility.
Typically, the NBA and NHL seasons end in mid-June. Due to the disrupted schedules, brands are receiving significantly more exposure in July and August, when the MLB and MLS would typically be the only active leagues.
Brand Visible Content
Without the benefit of live sports to sponsor, brand visible content plummeted during the suspension window, dropping 31% year-over-year.
Brand Visible Content
During the suspension period, brand value suffered proportionately with the volume of content posted, dropping 30% relative to the prior year.
Despite this, brand value is still up 7% as a whole year-over-year, primarily as a result of the massive value generated by the NBA, both before and after the suspension period.
Value by Brand Category
All Other Categories
In terms of overall sectors, Health Services brands received nearly just as many posts (-3%) as they did in 2019, yet value dropped by 60%.
The Automotive (-11%), Consumer Goods (-14%) and Finance (-14%) sectors suffered the least of the brand category groupings observed.
Technology, Insurance and Discount Retail brands benefitted the most from the absence of play.
All Brand Categories
Several sectors suffered, including Luxury brands (-52%), which had accrued the most value of any brand category during the same time frame in 2019.
Of the brand categories observed, the one clear beneficiary of the live sports suspension was the Video Game sector.
Video Games
As leagues devised content to retain fans’ interest, they consistently turned to video games as a source of competitive entertainment. This resulted in a massive increase in value for brands such as 2K Games and EA Sports.
All Brand Categories
Several sectors suffered, including Luxury brands (-52%), which had accrued the most value of any brand category during the same time frame in 2019.
Of the brand categories observed, the one clear beneficiary of the live sports suspension was the Video Game sector.
Video Games
As leagues devised content to retain fans’ interest, they consistently turned to video games as a source of competitive entertainment. This resulted in a massive increase in value for brands such as 2K Games and EA Sports.
All Other Categories
In terms of overall sectors, Health Services brands received nearly just as many posts (-3%) as they did in 2019, yet value dropped by 60%.
The Automotive (-11%), Consumer Goods (-14%) and Finance (-14%) sectors suffered the least of the brand category groupings observed.
Technology, Insurance and Discount Retail brands benefitted the most from the absence of play.
Although league play has resumed, the absence of fans carries further economic and sponsorship implications. For proper benchmarking of partnerships, it is imperative for brands, properties and leagues to stay on the forefront of trends in the industry and the global economy. MVP provides omnichannel valuations and dynamic reporting, such as this one, to simplify complex data and confidently make strategic decisions.
Executive Summary
Each league exhibited growth in every KPI: brand value, post volume, impressions, engagement and the number of sponsors represented. Engagement on brand visible content was up 90% compared to the same time period in 2019.
As leagues and teams scrambled to adapt, social content plummeted in the first week of suspended play. Post volume bottomed out again as sports entities demonstrated solidarity with the social justice movement associated with the George Floyd protests.
The league responded proactively to the situation, finding enough content to share that post volume actually increased by 5% year-over-year. The equal decrease (-11%) in impressions and engagements indicates that the content the NBA shared was just as interesting to the fans that continued to engage with their content.
During the suspension, brand value suffered proportionately with the volume of content posted, dropping 30% relative to the prior year. Despite this, brand value is still up 7% as a whole year-over-year, primarily as a result of the massive value generated by the NBA, both before and after the suspension period.
of the disruption to live sports
Brands within the video game space drew 12x as much value ($11.2M) during the suspension compared to the same period of time within the prior year. As leagues devised content to retain fans’ interest, they consistently turned to video games as a source of competitive entertainment.
Impact on
Social Content
Post Volume Pre-Suspension
Roughly two weeks prior to the suspensions, an ESPN article detailed the atmosphere of leagues anticipating disruptions to their season schedules. This is reflected in a drastic decline in post quantity, as social media teams were unsure of what content to post.
Post Volume Mid-Suspension
As leagues and teams scrambled to adapt, social content plummeted in the first week of the suspension.
Post volume bottomed out again in June as sports entities demonstrated solidarity with the social justice movement associated with the George Floyd protests.
Post Volume Post-Suspension
Meanwhile, the MLB and MLS have each seen 21% decreases in content quantity during the same time frame year-over-year.
Both leagues are attempting to regain traction without the benefit of high-stakes events (i.e. playoff matches) to provide discussion points.
Performance By League
NBA
Fans' general decrease in interest due to the absence of live sports was reflected in 11% decreases in impressions and engagements.
The equal decrease in impressions and engagements, indicates that the content the NBA shared was as interesting as usual to the fans they retained .
NHL
The league struggled to generate content, posting half as often compared to the same time period from the previous year.
Between the lack of gameplay and lack of content, fan engagement plummeted, dropping 62% year-over-year.
All 4 Leagues
Despite posting 34% less and losing 36% of their impressions, MLS engagement decreased by only 32%, implying that the fans they did retain were particularly dedicated despite the lack of gameplay.
The MLB suffered the most, likely as a result of their season never officially launching; engagement was 65% lower than the prior year.
NBA
Fans' general decrease in interest due to the absence of live sports was reflected in 11% decreases in impressions and engagements.
The equal decrease in impressions and engagements, indicates that the content the NBA shared was as interesting as usual to the fans they retained.
NHL
The league struggled to generate content, posting half as often compared to the same time period from the previous year.
Between the lack of gameplay and lack of content, fan engagement plummeted, dropping 62% year-over-year.
All 4 Leagues
Despite posting 34% less and losing 36% of their impressions, MLS engagement decreased by only 32%, implying that the fans they did retain were particularly dedicated despite the lack of gameplay.
The MLB suffered the most, likely as a result of their season never officially launching; engagement was 65% lower than the prior year.
What Was The Sports
World Talking About?
As leagues established protocols to resume their seasons, Return to Play became the predominant conversation topic for the month of July.
What Else Was The Sports
World Talking About?
Video games also became a prevalent topic, as leagues turned to virtual platforms to provide competitive entertainment for fans.
As league play resumed, Live Events returned to prominence as a major point of discussion.