Dugout Expands To App Platform

Dugout, a global digital platform supported by top-tier football clubs and players, has launched the company’s first ever app – giving football fans access and exclusive content on their mobile and tablet devices.

The app’s release follows the launch of Dugout.com at the end of November 2016, which already has over 8 million users on the platform, as well as 13 million page views.

85% of Dugout’s audience currently accesses the platform via their mobile devices.

37 clubs have created their own pages including A.C. Milan, Arsenal FC, Chelsea FC, FC Barcelona, FC Bayern Munich, Juventus, Liverpool FC, Manchester City FC, Paris Saint-Germain and Real Madrid CF, as well as over 100 well-known footballers.

Each club and player has a dedicated Dugout profile to upload content and interact with fans, and in addition Dugout works with these partners to create original content.

The trend of following multiple clubs – on average 4.6 clubs per person – was revealed in polling of 25 major football countries. The research also found that fans now “support” individual players, meaning that these stars help grow the global fan base of every team they play for during their career.

Dugout president, Elliot Richardson, commented: “Dugout was built for football fans across the world – delivering the ultimate place to explore and access the biggest clubs and players on the planet. The app launch is a huge moment for us because we now know most of our users are accessing the platform using their mobile, meaning that we can now give them a bigger, better and more personalised experience – with unparalleled amounts of exclusive and original content, produced by the world’s biggest clubs and players working with Dugout and seen nowhere else, totally free.”

In addition to clubs and players, Dugout is partnering with football influencers and legends of the game to create their own profile pages and produce content exclusive to Dugout users.

The app includes the ability for fans to choose clubs and players to follow, vertical video shot by players on their own phones and image galleries.

The Dugout app is initially available in eight languages: English, German, Italian, French, Spanish, Catalan, Portuguese and Bahasa (Indonesian), with more to be added in the coming months.