Game Changer: The Rise of Alt Sports

Dear Athleisurist,

Today’s edition is all about the next era of sports, told through the stories of the Savannah Bananas, Big3, the Kings and Queens League and more... strap in. 

Love,

The Boys 

Writers: Leanne & Candace 

Trad Sports Fans Old AF

Let's start with a reality check: traditional sports are facing a demographic crisis that's impossible to ignore. According to Nielsen data, the average age of TV viewers for major sports is steadily climbing:

• MLB: 57 years old

• NFL: 50 years old

• NBA: 42 years old

Some top-flight soccer leagues are suffering a decline in season pass holders - the main cause not to renew? Death. Sports viewership among Millennials has dropped by 9% since 2016. Gen-Z is less likely to be a sports fan or watch sports. Only 1 out of 4 says they watch live sports once a week (compared with 1 out of 2 Millennials.)

But fear not, sports enthusiasts. While traditional formats may be struggling, sports is far from extinct. It's evolving, emerging to meet the market in ways we've never seen before. This is the Alt Era - a reimagining of what defines and constitutes sport. Where performance, storytelling, and audience interaction are just as crucial as the athletic competition. This isn't just “sports entertainment”; it's a new ballgame.

The Alt Era: Where Sports Meets Showbiz

This new version of sports looks less like a sacred institution and more like Netflix's next big hit. Let's break down what makes these new formats tick:

• Shorter, Fast-Paced Gameplay: Gone are the days of lengthy matches. These new formats prioritize action-packed, high-scoring encounters that keep viewers on the edge of their seats.

• Experimental Rules and Formats: Think smaller playing fields, fewer players, unique scoring systems, and dynamic rule changes mid-match. It's trad sports, but with a twist (or three).

• Celebrity Involvement: From team owners to managers and ambassadors, star power is a key ingredient in attracting a wider audience.

• Fan Interaction: Voting, interactive elements, and behind-the-scenes content cater to a generation that's used to influencing the content they consume.

• Digital-First Approach: These leagues are built for the streaming age, with live content on platforms like YouTube, Twitch, and TikTok.

• Focus on Entertainment: While competition is still at the heart of these sports, the primary goal is to provide an entertaining experience that appeals to a younger, more casual audience.

Savannah Bananas: Not Your Dad’s Baseball Game

The Savannah Bananas have taken baseball, added a circus, sprinkled in some TikTok dance challenges, and created a viral sensation. Here's how they're knocking it out of the park:

Key Stats:

• 100% sell-out rate for all home games since 2016

• Waitlist of over 500,000 fans

• Social media following: 8.9 million on TikTok, 1.2 million on Instagram

Entertainment Innovations:

• Banana Baby: Baby races, and a baby dressed as a banana is lifted Lion King-style before each game

• Banana Nanas: A senior citizen dance team that performs between innings

• Players on Stilts: Yes, you read that right. Baseball on stilts.

• Bananaland at Sea: A Savannah Bananas-themed cruise - yep. 

Big3: Basketball Drama

Ice Cube's 3-on-3 basketball league is bringing showbiz flair to the hardwood: 

• Average attendance: 14,000 per event

• TV viewership: Peaked at 1.2 million viewers

• Revenue: $9.8 million in 2022 (50% year-over-year growth)

Entertainment Factors:

• 4-point shot: Because 3 pointers are so last season

• "Bring the Fire" rule: One-on-one challenges that turn free throws into duels (sponsored by Taco Bell)

• Super Bowl-like Halftime shows.

Football’s ‘Circus’: Kings and Queens League 

Founded by former FC Barcelona star Gerard Piqué to disrupt. It combines elements of esports, reality TV, and traditional football. And while some don’t like it: Javier Tebas, President of La Liga stated, “It’s a circus.” Stats don’t lie… Millions love it:

• The league's official channels on Twitch, YouTube, and TikTok have amassed a significant following, with 3.2 million followers on Twitch, 970,000 subscribers on YouTube, and 6.7 million followers on TikTok

• The entire season generated over 30 million hours watched across streaming platforms

• Average viewership: 600,000-700,000 per matchday

• Peak live viewership: 1.7 million for a single match

• The debut event at Barcelona FC Stadium had an in-person attendance of 92,522 people

Entertainment Factors:

• 7-a-side format with 40-minute matches (two 20-minute halves)

• The league invites player applications from the public, allowing amateur players a shot at the big time.

• Wild card rules: Teams draw pre-match bonuses like penalties or goal multipliers

• Highest quality production with 13 cameras, offering live coverage, replays, and VAR technology, enhancing the viewing experience.

• Streamed for free, exclusively on Twitch, YouTube, and TikTok

• Celebrity team presidents, including Sergio Agüero and Iker Casillas

• "Secret weapons": Guest appearances by legendary players like Ronaldinho

Athletes Unlimited: A League of Their Own

Women's sport is showing no signs of slowing down and they aren't missing out on this trend this either. Athlete Unlimited consists of four sports (softball, volleyball, basketball, lacrosse) spanning across a network of hundreds of athletes and focused on bringing professional sports to life through player-led and player-driven angles.

These leagues aren't built around set teams but rather, players change teams every week and Team Captains control the draft.

Key Features:

• Players earn points individually, changing teams weekly!

• Season lasts 4-5 weeks, creating constant high stakes

• Fantasy-style drafting by top performers

Impact:

• ESPN has signed a multi-year deal to air all four AU sports, with over 70% of games on linear TV

• AU Pro Lacrosse saw a 25% year-over-year increase in viewership on ESPN2 and ESPNU, while AU Pro Softball increased 38% on ESPNU

The Takeaway: Game Changed

This is sports’ coming-of-age story, where the lines between athleticism, reality, drama, competition, and entertainment vanish to capture the next generation of sports fans. And it's not just the newcomers making waves - traditional sports are feeling the pressure to evolve:

Faster, More Dynamic Games:

• MLB's pitch clock reduced average game time by 24 minutes, addressing long-standing complaints about slow play.

• NBA is exploring a target score for overtime periods, potentially adding excitement to game conclusions.

Enhanced Fan Engagement

• NFL has increased on-field player celebrations, allowing for more personality and entertainment.

• MLB is testing real-time call explanations for the crowd, improving transparency and fan understanding.

• NBA's mic'd up moments have become a fan favorite, offering unique insights into player interactions.

Storytelling and Technology

• NFL Films has expanded its behind-the-scenes content production, giving fans deeper access to the sport

• NBA launched an extensive creator program, including partnerships with influencers like Kai Cenat, to connect with new audiences and enhance digital content engagement.

It’s worth emphasizing this isn't about catering to "shorter attention spans." The same generation that binges 10-hour Netflix series isn't struggling for focus. They simply demand content that meets their expectations for engagement and value.

The key difference isn't speed or duration - it's relevance. They'll gladly commit hours to content that resonates, that makes them feel something, that breaks down the walls between performer and audience. It's not about shortening the experience, but about deepening it. This is sports reborn for a generation that expects more than just competition.

The new formula is surprisingly simple: Break down walls between athletes and fans. Transform passive consumption into active participation. Bet big on accessibility over exclusivity.

While traditional sports cling to exclusive broadcast rights, newcomers like the Kings League are building entertainment empires on Twitch, creating shared experiences with millions of fans worldwide.

The Savannah Bananas create viral moments, not just baseball games. The Kings League produces weekly episodes of athletic drama where fans help write the script. Athletes have become entertainers, content creators, and community builders rolled into one.

But what comes next? The definition of "sport" will continue to evolve, encompassing a broader range of activities that prioritize engagement alongside athletic skill. The 'best' athletes will evolve far beyond athleticism. And the sports industry should prepare for a more fragmented landscape, with various formats catering to different audience preferences and engagement styles.

However you look at it, it's game on.

Want More?

1. Overtime Elite - Alternative basketball league for young players, that's as much a reality TV show as it is a sports league. Graduates its first class of players to the NBA draft while expanding to ten teams for the 2024-25 season, further solidifying its role in player development and offering innovative education and training programs.

2. World Chase Tag - Professional tag. Yep you read that right. Athletes compete in high-energy chase games on specially designed courses - partners with a major sportswear brand to introduce new high-tech competition uniforms, enhancing athlete performance and spectator experience, while expanding its global reach through digital platforms.

3. Snow League - Shaun White’s reimagining of snowboarding and freeskiing events for elite athletes - set to debut in 2025 with a $1.5 million prize purse, featuring five halfpipe events across global winter resort destinations, and formats like head-to-head competitions and a points-based ranking system to crown season champions.

4. Ultimate Tennis Showdown - An innovative tennis format that emphasizes entertainment and fan interaction through unique match structures - introduces AI-powered "Coach Mode" for the 2025 season, allowing players to receive real-time coaching insights during matches, and continues to feature shorter, more intense gameplay with unconventional scoring systems.

5. The HUNDRED - A unique short-format cricket competition in England featuring 100-ball matches designed for maximum excitement - attracts record viewership for its 2024 season finale and announces plans for international expansion, continuing to showcase innovative rules like the 25-ball powerplay and strategic timeouts.

6. SailGP - The F1 of the sea - a high performance sailing series that features cutting-edge technology and top sailors from around the world. Emphasizing sustainability, while expanding to new iconic waterfront locations globally.

7. E1 Series - a realm where relentless innovation, marine preservation, and exhilarating races converge, unveiling a new chapter in water sports.

8. Airspeeder - Flying cars, yes you read that right. Airspeeder is the catalyst of innovation for a new mobility age: A mission is to build the ultimate performance flying car to define a new mobility revolution. Goodbye, rush hour traffic?

9. Harlem Globetrotters - The OG of the space, an exhibition basketball team known for their entertaining performances and impressive tricks - announces their 2025 World Tour, featuring new trick shots, comedy routines, and interactive fan experiences, continuing their tradition of blending athleticism with entertainment.

10. Baller League - Germany’s Kings League, featuring star-studded team owners including Mats Hummels, Kevin-Prince Boateng, and Christoph Kramer, and rules such as a 6-on-6 format played on a smaller pitch, a draft system for player selection, and unique game mechanics like the 'Gamechanger' rule that introduces dynamic changes in the last minutes of each half to enhance excitement and unpredictability.