Wizards Owner Ted Leonsis: Millennials Are Changing Sports on TV
Washington Wizards owner Ted Leonsis sees millennials changing the way sports teams interact with fans, he said in an interview on “Mornings with Maria.”
Leonsis offered reaction to an announcement on Tuesday that Twitter (NYSE:TWTR) will stream a slate of Thursday Night Football games next season under a deal struck with the NFL. He believes sports remain the biggest draw for live audiences, but younger consumers are looking for more ways to watch.
“If you want a sobering experience walking around a college dorm, they don’t have TVs anymore,” Leonsis said. “They graduate from college, and they replicate their dorm experience in a rental apartment. They’re not signing up for cable.”
Leonsis’ company, Monumental Sports & Entertainment, also owns the NHL’s Washington Capitals and the Verizon Center in D.C.
He said Monumental Sports & Entertainment will use its other sports properties, including the WNBA’s Washington Mystics and a future Arena Football League team, to test alternative forms of media. Many sports franchises are working on finding a balance between providing a great in-home experience and attracting fans to the stadium.
“We’ll try to use those teams in other sports to create [over-the-top] networks and try to find a blend between streaming and in-arena to be more relevant to young people,” Leonsis said.