Atmosphere is key for sports fans says PPL PRS survey
In a new survey, music licensing company PPL PRS found that almost three in five (57%) people are regular sports fans, with one in five (21%) Britons saying they will only tune into the big sports games, like the World Cup.
When asked which sports fans regularly followed, almost two-thirds (63%) of all respondents shared that football is the favourite, with rugby (18%), tennis (16%) and formula one (15%) following.
On the bad news side, 61% of respondents revealed home is the most favoured venue for watching sports games, with 80% ranking comfort as the overriding reason for staying at home.
So what will bring sports fans into the club?
The survey quizzed 500 sports bar fans, stadium fans and pub-goers as their sample, and found the following:
- Sports bar fans love the atmosphere (75%) and ranked the ability to order food and drinks second (45%)
- Stadium fans look for atmosphere (81%) ranked second by wanting to be present at the game (42%)
- Pubgoers also love the atmosphere (66%), but also like that they can order food and drinks whilst they watch (52%)
The role of music in creating the right atmosphere
Music therapist for PPL PRS, Marianne Rizkallahsays: “If a business knows a big event is coming up, choose music that heightens excitement – look for a BPM that’s slightly faster than average heart rate, moderate to loud volume, with rises and falls in the music to build anticipation (like when you’re waiting for the drop in an EDM track). As well as this, familiar music that promotes a sense of community will help cohere a crowd around a moment - one obvious example is Sweet Caroline before a big football match, adopted as the fan’s song that everyone can sing along to and feel a part of an experience.
“When emotions are riding high, I think it’s important to acknowledge how patrons are feeling, meeting them where they are before attempting to influence mood to something different. If you have a venue full of supporters of a team who have just lost a match, something like “Why Does it Always Rain on Me” by Travis acknowledges disappointment but perhaps in a more light hearted way, enabling a communal recognising of a feeling. After that, choosing music known to slow our heart rate - with BPM slightly lower than standard heart rate, quieter volume and less ebbs and flows in the music - can help bring the mood towards something more relaxed.”
Wellness coach for PPL PRS, Dr Julia Jones, comments on how music can affect us physically.
“Studies have shown that when humans engage with music together their physiological responses often synchronise. They are reacting to the music they are hearing at a similar emotional level. It’s a powerful experience.
“Breathing rates, heart rates and levels of excitement and arousal can sync up both with the music and with other people who are immersed in the same experience.
“Due to its fast-acting effects on mood and physiological biometric responses music can easily be used to enhance sporting events no matter the venue it’s being watched in. Simply align the energy level of the music to the vibe of the sport being screened. The energy of a rugby match is very different to a snooker match screening, for example. World darts has done a sensational job of using music to give its live audiences an immense immersive experience. Music can act as a superb mood primer to build the atmosphere before the match starts and also be used well during match play breaks to help maintain the excited atmosphere. Choose a volume that delivers energy to the room.
“Playing music that delivers a feel good effect helps maintain a dopamine and serotonin level that has been boosted by watching a high energy sporting event and it helps avoid the comedown crash of a loss.
“Dopamine and adrenaline will be surging after watching your team win - especially if it was a close fought match with a nail biting finish. Choose music that maintains a positive vibe but without extreme energy vibes but aim to keep the volume a little lower than pre-match levels.”
