Since the lockdown began in the UK, some of the Premier League teams have received some negative press surrounding the treatment of staff during this time. This is as a direct result of the financial impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. As the football season remains in the balance, it is the use of virtual sporting events that has proved highly popular. In this article, we will be looking into what clubs such as Manchester United can do for the future of virtual sports.
The Lack Of Live Sporting Events
During this unprecedented time, many of us have had to change our lifestyles. This has meant for a majority of us, lockdown measures restricting travel from the home unless completely necessary. This has therefore meant shops and take away providers have closed. The closure of a majority of retail establishments has meant a huge loss of revenue over the course of the last few months.
In addition to the closure of shops and restaurants, there have also been cancellations and postponements of the live sporting events. With these events cancelled and seasons postponed, there are several clubs that have experienced a huge loss in revenue. As this continues and there is no sign of lockdown letting up, this has meant that sporting clubs and bookies have had to resort to new ways of producing revenue and keeping fans interested in live sporting events during this uncertain time.
The Introduction Of Virtual Sports
One of the ways that may sporting organisations have begun to pique interest in sport is through the use of virtual events. This has allowed for horse races as well as tennis and football matches to take place online and allows those that wish to, to place bets on the outcome. This style of technology is being used in several new and exciting ways during the coronavirus pandemic.
One of the most recent examples of this in the mainstream use of virtual sports was the virtual grand national. However, since the success of an event on this scale, we have seen several virtual football games being generated.
The Premier League Teams
As the popularity of virtual sports has continued to increase, the number of matches has increased. This has become far more popular since teams such as Manchester United and Manchester City have allowed their teams to feature within these virtual football matchups. With a match every three minutes with some of the world’s best players, this allows fans to take bets on these football matches as they would a live game.
This has become a new way to enjoy sport and has proved highly popular. With several bookies generating income as well as positive exposure for the clubs, this is looking promising for many sporting associations. Though this is not a direct replacement for live sporting events, this has helped to fill the void for many.
As the lockdown continues, we are set to see more and more sports fans turning to virtual sports for their sports fix. But with each game completely randomised, could the Premier League and other sporting events use this software to recreate the rest of their season. This can be a simple solution to play through the remainder of the season should it not be safe to do during this time. Though this will not be the same as playing the season in a stadium, this may be an effective solution to ensuring that fans get to see the remainder of the season played.
The Future Of Virtual Sporting Events
As more and more Premier League clubs turn to virtual sporting events for their fans, we are sure to see the popularity continue to grow. This is a promising time for bookies as well as these sports teams, as this is the perfect opportunity to generate revenue on sporting events even during the off-seasons. With many wondering whether there is the potential for an e-league of virtual events, only time will tell where the future of this sport will go.
With this in mind, the use of virtual sports at this time is proving highly effective at filling the void due to the lack of live sporting events. Not only does it help to generate revenue for all those involved, but it also helps to provide a little sense of normalcy.
