Digital Gift Cards For Sports Fans: Reward Your Sporty Audience

Gift cards for sports fans are a slam dunk when you want to reward the team spirit in your audience. Whether you’re running a loyalty incentive program or a promotional campaign, giving fans the chance to choose their own gear or game-day experiences keeps them cheering (and coming back) for more.

Sports fandom isn’t just about watching the game—it’s about feeling connected to the action and the community around it. When you offer your recipients digital gift cards that let them score jerseys, tickets, or even a post-game pizza, you’re showing you get what really gets them fired up.

In this article, we’ll explore how and why to choose gift cards for sports fans for your rewards and incentive programs. 

Gift cards to watch the game

Help fans find the fun by giving them the flexibility to choose how they want to enjoy the game-day experience. You can do this by offering gift cards that cover both event access—so they can pick the match or seat that excites them—or gift cards for subscription services that let them watch the game from home.  

For example, a gift card from StubHub will give them access to one of the world's largest ticket marketplaces. Your recipients will be able to buy and sell tickets, whenever they want.

You can also offer gift cards for streaming services so fans can catch every moment no matter where they are.

With options covering live broadcasts and on‑demand replays, your recipients can tune in from their phone, tablet, or smart TV.

Whether they’re following their favorite league on a major sports network or exploring international matchups, services like Apple, Hulu, Paramount+, and Sling TV give them access to exclusive channels and live events at their convenience. Even niche platforms, such as Rakuten’s sports‑focused streams, let fans dive into global competitions and specialty coverage without missing a beat. 📺⚾

Gift cards for sports gear

Help your recipients suit‑up by giving them the freedom to choose the exact gear and apparel that fuels their game‑day passion. [Placeholder for Champs Sports section]

For example, you might consider a gift card for Champs Sports, one of the largest mall-based specialty athletic footwear and apparel retailers in North America. They’ll be able to redeem the card online or in‑store at hundreds of locations to pick out the latest sneakers, performance apparel, and accessories.

For the outdoor enthusiasts in your audience, a Bass Pro Shops gift card can unlock a massive selection of fishing, camping, and sporting equipment. Similarly, options like Academy Sports + Outdoors will cover everything from cleats and basketballs to kayaks and camping tents, so your fans can pick the right tools for their favorite activities.

And it’s always fun to refresh your wardrobe and gear when you’re active, so many in your audience will appreciate having the chance to pick out the latest performance apparel and footwear. Options like gift cards from Nike, Adidas, and Under Armour can give fans access to innovative designs, cutting‑edge materials, and the styles they love.⚽🏈

Golf gift cards

Gold enthusiasts in your audience? Then they'll love a Go Play Golf gift card, unlocking play at over 5,000 courses nationwide. They can shop for the latest clubs and apparel, convert it into a TopGolf experience, book a lesson with a pro, or even plan their dream golf vacation—all with one card. 🏌️⛳

Yoga gift cards 

Meanwhile, yogis are all about finding zen—and you can help them do this with a gift card from Spa & Wellness Gift Card by Spa Week. It's redeemable at over 8,000 facilities across the US and Canada, for both yoga classes and mindfulness sessions.🧘🏽‍♀️🪷

Bonus: your recipients can also use it to unwind with massages, facials, or meditation workshops ... and have you ever known anyone to turn down a massage? 🤔😛

Gift cards for game-day snacks

Finally, no sports watch party is complete without pizza, wings, and all the classic snacks. Gift cards for popular pizza chains let fans pick their go‑to pie—whether it’s a classic pepperoni or a gourmet creation.

Options like Domino’s, Papa John’s, and California Pizza Kitchen cover every craving, while delivery platforms such as DoorDash, Uber Eats, and Grubhub make it easy to get snacks from local favorites straight to the couch.🍕🍔

Give sports-themed rewards ... and a lot more

When developing an incentive program of any kind, you'll want to give some thought to which types of gift cards to offer. 

In some cases, it makes sense to offer your recipients a curated list of choices. If you're trying to attract golfers specifically, then you'd go with that Go Play Golf option. If you want to run a 'pizza on us' promotion, then, obviously, you'd stick with pizza restaurants. 

But oftentimes, the best bet is to give your recipients complete choice from an entire, global gift card rewards catalog. 

Consider this. The biggest sports fan in your audience might already have season tickets, subscriptions to All The Streaming Services, and maybe they're not allowed to bring home any more sports merch (!). Despite their fandom, this recipient might be more excited by a Starbucks gift card, for example, or trip to The Home Depot. 

That's why we often recommend giving your recipients full choice. We also recommend keeping close tabs on your program (at least as first), so you can keep an eye on what's hitting and what's not (pro-tip: you'll need transparent gift card reporting to be able to do this).

Meanwhile, if you've got any questions about setting up a digital gift card program for sports fan, be sure to book some time with one of our specialists.

You're also welcome to explore the gift card platform and the catalog yourself, by setting up a free Giftbit account.