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      Client
      SailGP

      Industry
      Sports & Entertainment

      Primary Goal
      Fan Engagement & Growth

      Technology
      Oracle


      MAKE MOMENTS MATTER

      Turning race-day excitement into year-round fan engagement

      SailGP is one of the world's fastest-growing sports and entertainment properties, built on cutting-edge technology, real-time data and world-class athletic performance.

      But while the on-water action is powered by wind, SailGP recognised an opportunity to create a deeper connection between fans and the sport. With ambitions to become one of the world's top 25 sports and entertainment properties by 2030, SailGP needed a more connected and engaging digital experience that could translate racing excitement into lasting fan relationships.

      This is the story of how KPMG helped SailGP design and deliver a fan-first digital ecosystem, transforming how fans discover, engage with and experience the sport both during and beyond race weekends.

      Nick Whitfeld

      Partner, Data and Analytics

      KPMG in the UK




      115%+

      views per active user

      98%+

      engaged sessions

      71%+

      average engagement time





      MAKE GROWTH HAPPEN

      A connected digital experience built for the future

      Ambitions for growth needed stronger foundations


      To achieve their growth targets - including increasing the fan database from 291K to 5M, growing web audiences from 3.9M to 11.1M, and lifting social media audiences from 2.7M to 6.2M - SailGP needed to repeat engagement among existing fans while growing its known-fan base and attracting a broader, younger audience.

      The SailGP+ platform was the main sign-up mechanism, but the existing experience relied on email and password input, involved multiple login screens and could do more to highlight the benefits of membership. At the same time, valuable insights were not easy to access. SailGP saw an opportunity to create a more seamless digital experience - one that would engage fans beyond race weekends, deepen connections with the sport, and help turn growing interest into long-term fandom.

      SailGP catamarans racing at high speed on open water.

      Strategy, data, and digital working together


      The first step was to define what the future fan experience could look like for SailGP. Drawing inspiration from other leading sports organizations and digital platforms, three teams operating across KPMG Australia, KPMG UK and KPMG India tested these ideas against the SailGP fan segments, user journeys, technology and data maturity. The result was a roadmap for a digital ecosystem that could bring together live race insight, fan data, community engagement and content to create a more connected and engaging experience for fans.

      Oracle Cloud Infrastructure is used to capture live race data from the boats — wind, pressure, speed and position. That data is turned into real-time insights teams can use to optimize performance, and into a live story fans can follow, second- by- second.

      Delivery began with quick wins — website improvements, early personalization, and a clearer SailGP+ membership proposition. KPMG professionals helped establish the technology and data foundations needed to support a more connected fan experience, including CRM, customer data, testing, social login, website modernization and data integration.

      By bringing together ticketing, merchandise, and fan data within a unified platform, KPMG enabled SailGP to gain a more complete view of fan engagement. A live analytics dashboard provided teams with real-time visibility into how fans interact across digital channels, helping inform ongoing improvements throughout the season.

      Crowd of spectators cheering at a sailing event.

      Stronger engagement and foundations to scale


      The work is already giving SailGP a 360-degree view of their fan base and a stronger digital foundation to support future growth. Fans are more engaged across the racing calendar than the previous year, with engagement rate, time on site and bounce rate improved. Views per active user have more than doubled, engaged sessions are up 98 percent, and average engagement time is up 71 percent.

      Engagement is being sustained beyond race weekends, showing that the digital experience is working harder between events, not just when the action is happening. For SailGP, that means a stronger platform for turning reach into repeat engagement — and for giving millions more fans a closer connection to every moment of the race.

      SailGP racing catamarans competing on the water.

      How we're making the difference

      KPMG is helping SailGP turn its growth ambitions into action, making every sporting moment matter on and off the water.

      By helping shape the fan experience and building the supporting data and technology foundations, SailGP is strengthening its ability to engage fans year-round and scale for the future as the sport grows. The next horizon is AI. Alongside Oracle, KPMG firms are helping SailGP become AI-first, embedding agents throughout the technical ecosystem and transforming how media, content and digital services are delivered as the sport grows.

      Please reach out to us to learn how KPMG can help your organization turn growth ambitions into action through data, technology and AI.

      KPMG moved us from ambition to action. They helped build what fans see — and what sits behind that: a better website experience, SailGP+, cleaner data, and the strategy for growth.

      Andrew Thompson

      Managing Director



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