How do you rework a staple of ESPN.com? Simple, give the fans what they want. Continuous improvement, deliver data to fans faster and create a flexible platform. These core elements were the focus of the redesigned front page and interior scoreboards.
Page One Scoreboard Features:
Auto Updating: Previously only when the page would refresh would the scoreboard data reload. With the new version the score and clock stream in as the data is available.
One click access to most relevant game links: In the three major game states, pre, in, and post the most relevant game links are available with a simple hover action.
Personalized: If you have a favorite team selected via personalization corner that team’s game will move to the front of the list of game modules and highlight yellow.
Show the most number of games possible: It was critical to provide a view that allowed the most number of games visible at any time.
Special Event Treatment: As you saw this weekend we have greater flexibility to provide a way to message our fans on sport holidays.
Back-end feed aggregator: Remember those auto updating scores? A new feed aggregation mechanism allows us to combine multiple sport feeds into one allowing up-to-date score data within any sport tab you select.
Interior Scoreboard Features:
Update faster: With a change in architecture all new redesigned scoreboards received, on average, a 20% improvement in the time to deliver data to the fan from when we receive it.
Scoreboard Calendar: A new calendar showing clearly what day you are on, how many games occur on that day, and simple navigation to move to past or future weeks.
Key dates: One of the most requested features was a clear view of special events within the season, now reflected in the key dates area and denoted by a highlighted red style within the week calendar.
More Scoreboards: Another staple form scoreboards past that was brought back based on fan feedback, the ability to switch to other scoreboards easily.
Consolidated tools: The scoreboard tools allows us to feature all the other utilities throughout the site related to the current scoreboard in view.
Team Logos: On non-college scoreboards team logos were added to allow the fan to quickly spot the team they are looking for. Logos coming to college sports soon.
Personalized: If you have a favorite team selected via personalization corner that team’s game will move to the top of the list of game modules and highlight yellow.
Continuous improvement: The flexible design and change in front end architecture allows for more flexibility as fans needs change and additional features are developed.