Sports fans 2.0: how fans are using social media to get closer to the game

Abstract

As of 2012, Twitter has over 100 million active users worldwide, and sports fans and athletes have proven to be some of the most prolific and adept users of Twitter and other social media platforms. In Sports Fans 2.0, David M. Sutera explores the increasingly participatory nature of contemporary sports fandom and spectatorship. He examines the ways in which digital media has created and facilitated new channels for sports fan engagement, and how technology has enhanced the fan's perception of participating in America's sports culture. In addition, Sutera shows how high-profile athletes are using social media to increase their fan base and promote their own celebrity status, creating the sense that they are more accessible to their fans. Covering a wide range of sports and social media outlets, Sports Fans 2.0 is an accessible examination of how technology has changed-and will continue to change-the world of sports.