The latest episode of Gameday Podcast features a conversation between Kike Levy and Mariano Otero, Senior Vice President at Fever, one of the world’s leading live entertainment technology companies.
Over the past decade, Fever has grown into a global platform operating across more than 50 countries, helping millions of people discover concerts, exhibitions, sporting events and immersive experiences. The company is perhaps best known for creating and scaling global formats such as Candlelight concerts, while also becoming an increasingly important player in the sports industry through ticketing, fan engagement and event discovery.
Their discussion explored how consumer behaviour is changing, why live experiences are becoming more valuable in the digital age, and what sports organisations can learn from the wider entertainment sector.
Here are some of the key themes from the conversation.
One of the central themes of the discussion was the growing importance of the experience economy.
Otero argued that consumers are increasingly prioritising memorable experiences over physical goods. While products often lose their novelty quickly, experiences continue to create value through memories, social connections and shared moments.
This shift is helping drive growth across live entertainment, events and sport, particularly among younger audiences.
The internet has made entertainment more accessible than ever.
The challenge today is no longer finding a way to buy tickets. It is finding out what is worth attending in the first place.
Fever was built around solving this discovery problem. Through its technology platform and content ecosystem, the company helps users uncover events they may never have actively searched for themselves.
For sports organisations, this raises important questions about how fans discover teams, competitions and live events in an increasingly crowded media environment.
A particularly interesting section of the conversation focused on sport’s position within what many describe as the attention economy.
As social media platforms, streaming services and AI-generated content compete for consumer attention, live sport continues to occupy a unique position.
The reason, according to Otero, is uncertainty.
Unlike films, television series or even concerts, sport offers an outcome that nobody knows in advance. That unpredictability creates emotional investment and compels audiences to engage in real time.
The discussion also explored the impact of artificial intelligence on sports content.
Both Levy and Otero agreed that AI will dramatically improve personalisation, content discovery and fan experiences. Supporters will increasingly be able to access tailored highlights, customised content feeds and more sophisticated data-driven experiences.
However, the core value of sport remains human competition.
Technology can enhance the experience. It cannot recreate the emotional uncertainty that makes sport compelling in the first place.
Another major theme was the evolution of sports venues.
Increasingly, clubs and rights holders are seeking to transform stadiums and sports complexes into year-round entertainment destinations rather than facilities used only on matchdays.
From immersive experiences and exhibitions to concerts and community events, the objective is to create multiple reasons for fans to engage with a venue throughout the year.
This trend is becoming an increasingly important part of modern sports business models.
The conversation concluded with a broader discussion about fan engagement and the changing economics of sport.
As traditional media models evolve, clubs and rights holders are increasingly focused on developing direct relationships with supporters.
The organisations that succeed will be those that understand their audiences, communicate effectively across multiple platforms and create meaningful connections that extend far beyond the ninety minutes of a match.
Mariano Otero’s conversation with Kike Levy offers valuable insights into the future of live entertainment, fan engagement and sports business.
Watch the full episode of Gameday Podcast to hear the complete discussion and explore how companies such as Fever are helping shape the next generation of live experiences.
Gameday by NJF Holdings is a sports investment and strategic platform founded by Nicole Junkermann. Focused on building long-term value across leagues, media and sports technology, its approach centres on structural growth, digital transformation and scalable fan ecosystems.