Opportunity Belief
Mark Candela
Opportunity Belief
I personally do believe that an opportunity exists in todays environment and culture. Being an avid sports fan of many different sports team all around the world, I witness fan culture in different countries and how they are similar and different, yet uniquely tied together by the fandom of a single team. People all around the world have differing opinions on how teams, players, coaches, and organizations should be run and operated, yet all have the same goal; winning. I believe the unmet need and opportunity I am describing is an outlet for fans of a team to voice their opinion and be heard by the professional teams and organizations. Yes I understand many people take to twitter or other social media outlets to voice their concerns but the organizations and corporations pay little to no attention to these opinions. I envision creating an outlet, be it on YouTube, Twitter, Instagram, etc. for the average fan like me who has no relationship with the organization other than being an avid fan, can get my opinion across to the team and its players in hopes of potentially influencing them and their decisions, because in reality their decisions play a role in my life.
I have spoken to numerous people about this concept and they all agree with me. Unless you are famous or have a major following, one's opinion often times gets brushed under the rug never to be heard. I believe there is a need for this among fans who want to have a sense of importance when it comes to supporting their favorite sports teams. This idea could bring a sense on community with the team and the locals, as well as increase investment on behalf of the fans. I believe there is a 75% this opportunity exists, as many people and clubs in Europe (London specifically) have already began a process similar to this and have gained a national following, such as Arsenal Fan TV for example.
I believe someone very much like myself could be the prototypical customer. It would gives individuals such as my self and my peers an outlet to be heard. I also believe it would succeed as professional organizations would not be able to simply ignore us because individuals my age would make up a large demographic of the fanbase for years to come and we would also have influence on the next generation of fans.
Interview 1 (Juan):
I asked Juan if he was a fan of a sports team and he responded "yes" that he followed the Miami Heat extensively as well as the Florida Gators basketball team. I asked him if he has ever had any opinions of thoughts on the team after or before a game, to which he answered that yes he did and often times he felt that he could do a better job of setting the team up for success than the coach or management could. I appreciated this because it was very similar to how I felt about some of my favorite teams and their staff. I proposed him my idea of an outlet outside the stadium/arena of the team that would allow fans a voice and he felt it was an wonderful plan. He believed it could grow rapidly as he knows numerous friends of his who have voiced their concerns just as Juan did but did not feel as though they were being heard. I asked if anyone was currently addressing this opportunity to which he answered "I don't know, I guess Twitter, but it wasn't designed for that." I believed Juan and I were in the same boat and that he was a prototypical customer for the product I was offering.
Interview 2 (Gabriel):
I asked Gabriel the same initial questions, if he was a fan of any sports teams to which he answered "Yes, the New York Yankees and New England Patriots". I then asked if he ever felt that he had an opinion on how the team could be run or organized to which he responded "yes of course". I then asked him if he would be interested in my proposal of allowing fan a voice, both reactive and presumptive to games or matches that allowed his opinion to be heard from the organization. He was unsure. He claimed that he believed it could potentially distract the teams if they had to focus on pleasing the average fan rather than focusing solely on being the best version of themselves. This was a response I had not previously considered. In response to that, I asked him if in his opinion this opportunity could present itself in his environment to which he said "yes, my father always complains that the Yankee's consistently do what they desire rather than what the fan wants, but he can't really complain as they have had continued success." I then asked if he would be satisfied with my solution to this opportunity to which he was again unsure and wanted to see how it would play out.
Interview 3 (Claudia):
My final interview began the same as the others did, I asked Claudia if she was a fan of any sports teams to which she answered "teams specifically? No not really but sports in general? Yes I love basketball and soccer." This intrigued me as she was the first interviewee who had not been a fan of a specific team. I asked her if she has ever had any opinions on a league or team and how she felt she would be able to voice these thoughts. She claimed that typically she just watched for the enjoyment of the game and watching the best of the best compete with one another rather than biasly supporting one specific team or player. As a result she did not have many complaints or thoughts on the subject. This again was new to me as both previous interviewees had felt differently. As we continued the interview, I asked her about my proposal and if she felt there was a need for it in the current environment of sports, to which she responded with a resolute "Absolutely." She said that her coworkers on campus always had heated debates about whether a team should do this or that, or start this player vs. that player, or trade for this guy instead of that guy. She felt that this outlet would give them a chance to be heard on a national stage and see who nationwide, and potentially worldwide, agreed with their views. She said it could be a great opportunity. Needless to say I was satisfied with that answer.
From conducting these interviews, I noticed that many others felt the same way as I do. That they want to be heard and see who else shares their similar thoughts. Many times fans do not agree with the tactics of teams and want somewhere to rant or blow off steam. This could be a valuable source for that. It could also spark debates as Claudia suggested in her interview with her coworkers unable to come to a medium of how the team should partake the offseason or a specific game. No I do not believe that entrepreneurs should adapt their opportunities to the feedback of some customers because these customers often times do not speak for everyone. Obviously if you hear good advice from a customer it is best to allow oneself to be influenced by it for the better, but tailoring your idea to the thoughts of others wholeheartedly could be dangerous. I do believe there is an opportunity for this product and an environment where it could thrive. The interviews only reinforced my belief.
Opportunity Belief
I personally do believe that an opportunity exists in todays environment and culture. Being an avid sports fan of many different sports team all around the world, I witness fan culture in different countries and how they are similar and different, yet uniquely tied together by the fandom of a single team. People all around the world have differing opinions on how teams, players, coaches, and organizations should be run and operated, yet all have the same goal; winning. I believe the unmet need and opportunity I am describing is an outlet for fans of a team to voice their opinion and be heard by the professional teams and organizations. Yes I understand many people take to twitter or other social media outlets to voice their concerns but the organizations and corporations pay little to no attention to these opinions. I envision creating an outlet, be it on YouTube, Twitter, Instagram, etc. for the average fan like me who has no relationship with the organization other than being an avid fan, can get my opinion across to the team and its players in hopes of potentially influencing them and their decisions, because in reality their decisions play a role in my life.
I have spoken to numerous people about this concept and they all agree with me. Unless you are famous or have a major following, one's opinion often times gets brushed under the rug never to be heard. I believe there is a need for this among fans who want to have a sense of importance when it comes to supporting their favorite sports teams. This idea could bring a sense on community with the team and the locals, as well as increase investment on behalf of the fans. I believe there is a 75% this opportunity exists, as many people and clubs in Europe (London specifically) have already began a process similar to this and have gained a national following, such as Arsenal Fan TV for example.
I believe someone very much like myself could be the prototypical customer. It would gives individuals such as my self and my peers an outlet to be heard. I also believe it would succeed as professional organizations would not be able to simply ignore us because individuals my age would make up a large demographic of the fanbase for years to come and we would also have influence on the next generation of fans.
Interview 1 (Juan):
I asked Juan if he was a fan of a sports team and he responded "yes" that he followed the Miami Heat extensively as well as the Florida Gators basketball team. I asked him if he has ever had any opinions of thoughts on the team after or before a game, to which he answered that yes he did and often times he felt that he could do a better job of setting the team up for success than the coach or management could. I appreciated this because it was very similar to how I felt about some of my favorite teams and their staff. I proposed him my idea of an outlet outside the stadium/arena of the team that would allow fans a voice and he felt it was an wonderful plan. He believed it could grow rapidly as he knows numerous friends of his who have voiced their concerns just as Juan did but did not feel as though they were being heard. I asked if anyone was currently addressing this opportunity to which he answered "I don't know, I guess Twitter, but it wasn't designed for that." I believed Juan and I were in the same boat and that he was a prototypical customer for the product I was offering.
Interview 2 (Gabriel):
I asked Gabriel the same initial questions, if he was a fan of any sports teams to which he answered "Yes, the New York Yankees and New England Patriots". I then asked if he ever felt that he had an opinion on how the team could be run or organized to which he responded "yes of course". I then asked him if he would be interested in my proposal of allowing fan a voice, both reactive and presumptive to games or matches that allowed his opinion to be heard from the organization. He was unsure. He claimed that he believed it could potentially distract the teams if they had to focus on pleasing the average fan rather than focusing solely on being the best version of themselves. This was a response I had not previously considered. In response to that, I asked him if in his opinion this opportunity could present itself in his environment to which he said "yes, my father always complains that the Yankee's consistently do what they desire rather than what the fan wants, but he can't really complain as they have had continued success." I then asked if he would be satisfied with my solution to this opportunity to which he was again unsure and wanted to see how it would play out.
Interview 3 (Claudia):
My final interview began the same as the others did, I asked Claudia if she was a fan of any sports teams to which she answered "teams specifically? No not really but sports in general? Yes I love basketball and soccer." This intrigued me as she was the first interviewee who had not been a fan of a specific team. I asked her if she has ever had any opinions on a league or team and how she felt she would be able to voice these thoughts. She claimed that typically she just watched for the enjoyment of the game and watching the best of the best compete with one another rather than biasly supporting one specific team or player. As a result she did not have many complaints or thoughts on the subject. This again was new to me as both previous interviewees had felt differently. As we continued the interview, I asked her about my proposal and if she felt there was a need for it in the current environment of sports, to which she responded with a resolute "Absolutely." She said that her coworkers on campus always had heated debates about whether a team should do this or that, or start this player vs. that player, or trade for this guy instead of that guy. She felt that this outlet would give them a chance to be heard on a national stage and see who nationwide, and potentially worldwide, agreed with their views. She said it could be a great opportunity. Needless to say I was satisfied with that answer.
From conducting these interviews, I noticed that many others felt the same way as I do. That they want to be heard and see who else shares their similar thoughts. Many times fans do not agree with the tactics of teams and want somewhere to rant or blow off steam. This could be a valuable source for that. It could also spark debates as Claudia suggested in her interview with her coworkers unable to come to a medium of how the team should partake the offseason or a specific game. No I do not believe that entrepreneurs should adapt their opportunities to the feedback of some customers because these customers often times do not speak for everyone. Obviously if you hear good advice from a customer it is best to allow oneself to be influenced by it for the better, but tailoring your idea to the thoughts of others wholeheartedly could be dangerous. I do believe there is an opportunity for this product and an environment where it could thrive. The interviews only reinforced my belief.
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