Liverpool CEO and former EA exec, Peter Moore, recently voiced his concern about the future of soccer. Speaking with Arabian Business Magazine, Moore claimed that โMillennialโ would rather play video games than watch soccer matches. He went on to say that it was the sportโs responsibility to find new ways of attracting the next generation of fans using technology.
Moore boasts a pretty unique standpoint regarding sports and video games, having held leadership positions at Microsoft, EA, and Sega, heโs demonstrated a solid understanding of the industry. While his time as Liverpool CEO has given him, more than anything, cause for concern over the future of soccer. In an interview, Moore named Fortnite as one of the examples that have forced a drop in soccer game viewing, he said that when he takes a โlook at viewing and attendance figures of millennial males, Iโm concerned as a chief executive of a football club that relies on the next generation of fans coming through.โ
He continued on to say that at the heart of the issue is the time commitment that soccer matches demand. With a 90-minute match, along with a 15-minute half-time break, Moore reckons that the average Millennial male doesnโt have the time to watch an entire match, he said that thereโs, โso much pressure on time now and only 24 hours in a dayโฆ there are only so many hours to play โFortnite.โโ
Though Moore thinks the solution is clear to see, with the sport having to buy into the technological advances that have become commonplace, saying that clubs โneed to package content in bites of 60 to 90 seconds to keep their engagement.โ
Itโs an interesting take on the struggle for attention between games and sports. And while Mooreโs suggestions are already being seen in some respect, with social media being home to a host of official club pages that post short-clips of goals, itโs unlikely weโll see anything major change in the world of soccer. So probably best not to expect some kind of terrifying killer storm surrounding Anfield or the Emirates Stadium anytime soon.
(Via Variety)
