In a first for an NFL team, the New York Giants will integrate Twitter into its live TV broadcasts and in-stadium videos. Through a partnership with Mass Relevance, the Giants will filter and display fan tweets during the remainder of the preseason games as well as the pre and post-game shows. During the games, tweets will appear as lower-thirds after big plays.
Fans will also be able to vote for their favorite players using Twitter hashtags. The player with those most votes will have his merchandise available for a discount in the team stores the following week. (Love the discount angle.) The Giants will also offer up a player a week for a Twitter chat.
“With over 6.4M fans in the tri-state area and one of the largest national fan bases in the NFL, our social media strategy is designed entirely around giving them the best way to share their passion — and the Giants experience — with each other,” said Giants Chief Marketing Officer Mike Stevens in a statement.
I think it’s a safe bet that several other teams will soon follow suit.