Utica Comets Mobile Application Building a Team Atmosphere: A Mobile Application for a Growing Utica Comets Community __________________________ A Master’s Project Presented to School of Arts and Science State University of New York Polytechnic Institute Utica, NY __________________________ In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Master of Science Degree By Jessica MacIntosh May 2016 1 Utica Comets Mobile Application SUNY POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNICATION AND HUMANITIES CERTIFICATE OF APPROVAL Approved and recommended for acceptance as a thesis in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Information Design and Technology ________________________________________________________________________ Date ________________________________________________________________________ Russell Kahn - Thesis Advisor ________________________________________________________________________ Date ________________________________________________________________________ Steve Schneider - Second Reader 2 Utica Comets Mobile Application ABSTRACT This research project is a prototype of a mobile application that would be dedicated to the Utica Comet hockey community and its team through the use of special fan features to give the area a sense of belonging. The development of this application uses the human-centered design theory as well a hierarchy of needs, which were incorporated into the design of the app. The mobile app was created using a web design program within the Adobe Creative Suite. This research paper looks into the need to clarify the concepts of community, belonging and social identification within the sport of hockey. As the target users, their needs and wants are determined. It then details the concepts of creating an app, which are assessed and applied to the prototype. iii Utica Comets Mobile Application TABLE OF CONTENTS ABSTRACT ...................................................................................................................... iii FIGURES ........................................................................................................................... 6 INTRODUCTION............................................................................................................. 7 Problem Statement .......................................................................................................... 7 LITERATURE REVIEW ................................................................................................ 9 Branding a Community ................................................................................................... 9 Team Identification and Fans ........................................................................................ 10 The Curiosity of a Sports Fan ....................................................................................... 11 Growing Popularity of Hockey ..................................................................................... 11 Sports Fans, Professional Teams and Mobile Content .................................................. 12 Social Media and Hockey ............................................................................................. 13 Information Design ....................................................................................................... 14 Human-Centered Design ............................................................................................... 15 Hierarchy of Needs........................................................................................................ 16 Increasing Usage in Mobile Phones .............................................................................. 16 Design Challenges of a Mobile Application ................................................................. 17 Flaws in the Operating System...................................................................................... 18 METHODOLOGY ......................................................................................................... 19 Mobile Application Accessibility.................................................................................. 19 Mobile Application Guidelines ..................................................................................... 19 Existing Hockey Team Apps......................................................................................... 20 Creating the Prototype ................................................................................................... 22 Utica Comets Opening Screen and Main Menu ............................................................ 23 Utica Comets Basic Features ........................................................................................ 24 Utica Comets Hockey Community Section .................................................................. 26 Social media section ...................................................................................................... 27 Share fan photos section ................................................................................................ 28 Instant chat with fans..................................................................................................... 28 A section dedicated for kids .......................................................................................... 29 4 Utica Comets Mobile Application Game-day interactive contests ...................................................................................... 29 Season ticket holder section .......................................................................................... 30 Push Notifications within Comets App ......................................................................... 32 SUMMARY AND NEXT STEPS .................................................................................. 33 CONCLUSION ............................................................................................................... 34 BIBLIOGRAPHY ........................................................................................................... 37 APPENDICES ................................................................................................................. 40 APPENDIX A: Mobile Application Numbers .............................................................. 41 APPENDIX B: National Hockey League Team Apps .................................................. 42 APPENDIX C: American Hockey League Team Apps ................................................ 45 5 Utica Comets Mobile Application FIGURES Figure 1: Comets App Opening ........................................................................................ 23 Figure 2: Comets App Main Menu ................................................................................... 23 Figure 3: Comets App Basics ........................................................................................... 24 Figure 4: Comets App Community ................................................................................... 26 Figure 5: Comets Rewards ................................................................................................ 30 Figure 6: Comets Rewards Prizes ..................................................................................... 30 Figure 8: Comets Rewards Promo .................................................................................... 31 Figure 7: Comets Rewards Schedule ................................................................................ 31 Figure 9: Push Notifications ............................................................................................. 32 6 Utica Comets Mobile Application INTRODUCTION Problem Statement Although there are multiple outlets for hockey fans to learn about their favorite team’s scores and news, mobile applications are one of the easiest ways for them to have access to the necessary information. However, the existing team mobile applications lack features that could bring fans together into one universal community. Most of the mobile applications are mainly user friendly and easy to navigate with the most basic feature including game scores, standings, schedules and team roster. For some hockey teams, there isn’t any mobile application available to the hockey community, as is the case with the American Hockey League’s Utica Comets organization, affiliate to the NHL’s Vancouver Canucks. The lack of a mobile application and missing fan features are what sparked the following main research question: “How is creating a mobile application for hockey fans giving a sense of community?” Although the main research question focuses on how a mobile application will be community-based, there are secondary questions that will help answer that. These questions focus on what and how the mobile application will build and expand the hockey community. The six secondary research questions are as follows: “Much like a hockey team, will the mobile application bring fans together as a ‘team’ and give them a sense of belonging?” “How will communication grow with the creation of an application?” “How will this mobile application be beneficial to both the Utica Comets organization and its fans?” “What tools or features should be included in a hockey application that might support the concept of community?” “How can social media tools play a role in developing a community amongst sports fans?” 7 Utica Comets Mobile Application “What is the ideal graphical user interface (GUI) for a hockey app to support