THE GAME EXPERIENCE OF THE FUTURE: IS IT REALLY NECESSARY?

The Boston Globe ran a piece in the sports section today about the Game Experience of the Future, a series of graphics point out upgrades being made to the way fans take in action at sporting events, ranging from electronic ticketing to upgraded convenience. What I want to know is, won't that ruin the fun of being at the game?

Now don't get me wrong. Some of the initiatives being taken are good news for sports fans. Instead of waiting in long lines to get into the arena, some places now have the technology to simply scan a "smartphone or smartcard at a special terminal and head right into the stadium." Waiting in line for food could be a thing of the past as well, with the technology to browse menus and order concessions from hand-held devices, used right at your seat. Are they necessary? No. But are they an upgrade? Most certainly.

Some of the steps though, take the fun out of attending sporting events. The Globe mentions that you can "use your hand-held device to check out stats from your game and games around the league, and interact instantly with other fans using photos and chat forums." Um, what? Why would I want to interact digitally when there are thousands of other fans sitting around me? A lot of the fun of being at games comes from the interaction with the people in your section. Starting chants, cheering loudly, and high-fiving the drunk guy sitting behind you are all reasons to go see a game live. This kind of technology is damaging to the fan experience because it takes all that away. Crowds today are already far more subdued than in the past, this is just another step in the wrong direction.

I would hate to see upgrades to hand-held devices for the sake of easy access to stats and news at sporting events. Whats great about sports--especially hockey--is the buzz in the arena during a big game. If the crowd is constantly checking things on their phones, that excitement will diminish, and attending a sporting event may never be the same.