W ith fewer team venues being used for election purposes than in 2020, some franchises have turned to unique initiatives to drive awareness and increase voter turnout for the 2024 election.
Teams are going to social media, partnering with local schools and universities and using technology at stadiums to drum up their fan base to hit the polls on or before Nov. 5.
In the NFL, though teams such as the Jaguars and Lions won’t be hosting voters, they’ve instead used tailgates outside their stadiums for education as well as checking voter registration status.
Education also has been the name of the game in Kansas City. The Chiefs, Royals, Current and Sporting KC all partnered with United Way Kansas City on Sept. 27 for a citywide voter registration and learning day.
But there are other, more modern options that some teams have chosen. The Twins, Florida Panthers, Mavericks, Pistons, Wizards, Colts, Seahawks, Jaguars and many more have all chosen to record and post PSAs featuring their star players on social media and in some cases, throughout games, which encourage fans to register to vote.
The Titans are also involved in one of the more unique in-game voter registration activations, as the team has partnered with its local election commission to post a voter registration QR code on video boards throughout the stadium at every home game.
The Commanders will have NFL Votes branding throughout the stadium during home games.
Even stickers have been used to encourage fans to vote. At the Sacramento Kings’ ballot drop-off box at Downtown Commons, the Kings are issuing a special Kings-themed “I Voted” sticker.
Going out to visit schools and universities remains one of the most popular activities NFL and NBA teams have engaged in. The Commanders, Spurs, Hornets, Eagles, Titans and others have either sent players, cheerleaders or mascots to inform students or have partnered directly with universities and schools on voter education.
