Facebook makes a play for sports fans with live feed

Source: Facebook newsroom

Sport fans and sporty SMEs can now share their highs and lows in real-time on a new section of Facebook.

Facebook Sports Stadium aims to give users the feeling of watching sports games with their friends, even when they’re not side-by-side in the stands or in front of the TV.

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All the content on Facebook related to a particular sporting event will soon be collected in one feed, appearing in real-time and chronologically.

Users will be able to see posts from friends, and friends’ comments on plays, as well as posts and commentary from experts, sporting teams and media outlets.

Play-by-plays, live scores and stats as well as key information about where to find the game on TV will also be incorporated into the Sports Stadium, meaning the platform could become an opportunity for sports businesses to begin interacting with customers.

Unlike Twitter, where conversations are tricky to keep track of, Facebook said in a statement today it is hoping to create a “second screen experience” that is fluid to interact with other game watchers.

Facebook Sports Stadium is initially being rolled out for American football games, with other sports such as basketball and soccer to be supported soon.

Facebook Sports Stadium is currently available on iPhone in the US and is expected to expand to other platforms in the coming weeks.