As with every year around this time, the July 2017 sports trends tend to be centered around either general forms of fitness or baseball. America's pastime is the only pro sport with active games during the summer months, and so fans have the opportunity to bask in the quiet intensity and months-long grind played on diamonds across the continent.
The MLB recognizes its de facto summer sports monopoly, and the organization is making a push to engage as many fans as possible on as many media as are available. One such effort is in virtual reality: over the course of the 2017 season, the MLB will be releasing 20 specially produced VR videos from key games and events. Players can enjoy the benefits of baseball's summer reign as well, as New Balance's NB Power Hitter Challenge makes use of Zepp's swing- and player-tracking technology to turn batting practice into a gamified competition.
Top 40 Sports Trends in July
40
Streamlined Gliding Paddleboards
The Finpo Waterglider Uses a Built-in Propulsion System to Move
39
Millennial Sportswear Collaborations
The 'KITH x adidas Soccer' Collection is Performance-Inspired
38
Dollar Store Derby Activations
The Poundland Brand Activation Was Hosted at the Epsom Derby
37
Converted Firetruck Homes
This Home on Wheels Was Made from a 1953 GMC firetruck
36
Forearm Hydration Gear
The 'Wetsleeve' Wearable Hydration Bag Keeps Water Nearby
35
Aquatic Resistance Training Equipment
The 'Hydra' Resistance Trainer Increases Capabilities
34
Vivid Co-Branded Basketball Courts
Nike and Pigalle Designed a Stunning Geometric Basketball Court
33
Vibrating Smart Leggings
These Leggings by Wearable X Vibrate to Correct Yoga Poses
32
Inflammation-Eliminating Sleeves
The Mava Sports Knee Compression Sleeve Relieves Stiffness
31
iOS-Connected Mini Gyms
The 'Circ-It' Enables a Circuit Workout with a Compact Set of Equipment
30
Illuminating Cycling Helmets
Lumos' Smart Tech Helmet Ensures Visibility on the Road
29
Responsive Bike Helmets
The Classon Helmet Will Inform the Wearer If They're in a Car's Blind Spot
28
Ankle-Supporting Basketball Shoes
The Under Armour Curry 4 Features a Sock-Like Collar
27
Magnetic Smartphone-Tethering Armbands
The 'FitConnect' Smartphone Fitness Armband is Secure
26
Fitness-Focused Cruises
Blue World Offers Health-Minded Individuals Relaxing and Rewarding Trips
25
Carb-Heavy Sports Drinks
The Maurten Drink Mix 320 Packs Ample Carbs in Each Serving
24
Anti-Roll Life Rafts
Creature Craft Life Rafts Add an Extra Element of Protection and Stability
23
Swing-Analyzing Golf Smartwatches
The Garmin Approach S60 Smartwatch is Stylish and Advanced
22
Sport Board Activity Trackers
The 'Trace' Action Sports Tracker Mounts Directly onto Boards
21
Robotic Running Exosuits
This Assistive Running Suit Promises to Boost One's Stride
20
Folded Museum Facades
The New US Olympic Museum Has Just Broken Ground
19
Adjustable Feminine Dumbbells
These Female-Focused Dumbbells Add Weights with a Simple Click
18
Gamified Batting Practices
New Balance's NB Power Hitter Challenge Gamifies The Zepp Training App
17
Mass Card Stunt Apps
IBM Has Launched an App That Lets Crowds Project Their Signs With a Tap
16
Festival-Ready Workouts
StubHub and Beachbody Created a Workout to Get People Music Festival-Ready
15
Rose-Embroidered Skate Shoes
The Matchcourt Slip X Na-kel Smith Can Be Worn On and Off Your Board
14
VR Baseball Videos
Samsung and the MLB Will Release 20 VR Videos During the 2017 Season
13
Muscle-Controlling Devices
'Wired Muscle' Lets Someone Else Control Your Muscles
12
Collaborative Exercise Apps
The Racefully Running App Lets You Digitally Exercise with Friends
11
Anti-Homophobia Soccer Jerseys
The US Soccer Teams' New Jerseys Celebrate Pride Month 2017
10
Celebrity-Sponsored Soccer Stadia
The Miami Beckham United Stadium is Funded by the British Star
9
Storytelling Branded Bandages
The Nike 'Badge of Honor' Bandages Encourage Kids to 'Get Back Up'
8
Animated Water Advertisements
This Ad for G Active by Gatorade Shows Off Water That Moves
7
Smart Cricket Bats
Intel is Introducing VR, Drones and Bat Sensors to Cricket
6
Extreme Parkour Courses
The Skyladder is the World's Largest Parkour Course
5
Eco Riptide Detectors
The Clever GIRL Buoy Alerts Surfers to the Presence of Deadly Rip Currents
4
Team-Oriented Obstacle Courses
The 'Tough Mann' Event Helps Build Teamwork and Mental Toughness
3
Social Memorabilia Campaigns
The NRL's 'Instabilia' Rewarded Fans with Instant Sports Memorabilia
2
Supercomputer Sports Video Curators
IBM Watson Identifies 'Cognitive Highlights'
1
Sporty Pride Month Campaigns
AEG's #BetterAsOne Campaign Celebrates Inclusivity in Sports
Related Ideas
Football Management Tournaments
FIFAe Introduces the Football Manager FIFAe World Cup
Digital Brand-Made Arenas
Nike Partners with EA Sports to Create a New Stadium in FC 25
High-Profile Brand Launch Events
NO CAP! Soda Pop is Launching with Marshmello on August 4th
AI-Based Football Predictions
Field Vision Debuts Field Vision Sports, a New Curated App
In-Game Digital Sneakers
Nike and Fortnite Launched Four Digital Sneakers
Collaborative Sports Club Fashion
Y-3 and Real Madrid Join Forces Again on a New Capsule
Baseball-Inspired High-End Loafers
Blackstock & Weber Debuts a Range of Baseball-Inspired Designs
In-Store Senior Fan Zones
Asda's In-Store Nanzones Fight Loneliness in Elderly Sports Lovers
AI-Boosted Tennis Platforms
IBM and the USTA Enhance the 2024 US Open with Artificial Intelligence
Soccer Jersey-Inspired Fashion
Balenciaga's Soccer Series Draws Inspiration From the Sport
Fruit-Forward Energy Beverages
V8 +ENERGY Unveils Limited-Edition Summer Flavors
Hug-Inspired Olympics Campaigns
Coca-Cola's Summer Olympics Campaign was Inspired by True Events
Beach Nostalgia Capsules
Duvin Design & Pabst Blue Ribbon Present 'Relax with Pabst' Capsule
Athlete-Backed Shoe Campaigns
Nike Released Awaken Your Madness with International Soccer Players
Sporty Pickle-Themed Apparel
Vlasic Pickles and Think Roylyn Unveil a Pickle-Focused Collection
Sustainable Olympic Footwear Capsules
Vivaia's New Shoe Capsule is Inspired by the 2024 Olympics
Logo-Centric Soccer Campaigns
Apple Introduces the MLS Seasons Pass Campaign Visuals
Soda-Infused Ketchups
Pepsi Colachup is Coming to Select Baseball Stadiums on July 4th
Streaming Series Games
Netflix Stories Invites Viewers to Participate in Their Own Adventures
Virtual Holiday Shopping Experiences
Amazon Introduces a New Holiday Shop with 3D Technology
Branded Dream Vacation Sweepstakes
Playa Bowls Looks to Sweeten the Summer Experience
Baseball-Inspired Streetwear Apparel
PacSun x The Wild Collective Debut a MLB Collection for Women
Revolutionary Flying Disc
The Spin Pro Can be Thrown Like a Ball for Lasting Fun
Immersive Sports Fan Platforms
Sony's FavoriteSpace™ Caters to the Sports Fan Communities
Immersive Sports Engagement Solutions
Sportradar Expands Its Partnership with the NBA
Animated Football Games
Toy Story Funday Football Animates the Action Between NFL Teams
Glitchy Beer Cans
Coors Light Created a Special-Edition Beer Can Based on a Viral Moment
Affordable Tennis-Inspired Apparel
UNIQLO Leads Tennis-Core Trend Revival With Affordable Style
Craveable Soda Packaging
Sprite is Reviving Its Obey Your Thirst Campaign for a New Generation
Dynamic Sporty Sleek Fashion
District Vision Branches Out with a New Cycling Capsule
Smart Baseball Bats
Marucci & Diamond Kinetics Launch First-of-its-Kind Smart Bat
Olympic Metaverse Partnerhips
Roblox Announced a Partnership with Team USA and the Paralympics
Data-Driven QSR Campaigns
Burger King's BK Unwrapped Reveals Customers' 2024 Ordering Preferences
Playful Cafe Merch Collections
This Dunkin' Merch Celebrates the Summer Season
Performance Pickleball Apparel
Stack Athletics' Summer Collection Keeps Players Cool on the Court
Active Lifestyle-Supporting Campaigns
Kellogg's® Vector® Launches the Become Your Player Campaign
Olympic-Ready Elevated Footwear
Nike Optimizes its Air Cushioning Tech in New Range of Shoes
Americana Baseball Fashions
The Polo Ralph Lauren x New York Yankees Collection is Fall-Ready
Fantasy Football Mobile Games
Ubisoft's NFL Primetime Fantasy is Sure to Be Highly Anticipated
Wellness-Promoting Employee Initiatives
DICK'S Sporting Goods Debuts the Summer of Sport Challenge
Interactive Video Game-Themed Tours
The Play Nintendo Tour Runs from June 13 to September 2, 2024
Score-Tracking Esports Applications
The Esports World Cup Now Has a Mobile App for Attendees
Sailing Race-Inspired Fashion Capsules
The Louis Vuitton 37th America’s Cup Barcelona Line is Chic
Immersive Halloween-Themed VR Experiences
Zero Latency VR Offers Suspenseful 'Halloween Thrills'
Interactive Soccer Campaign
Michelob ULTRA Has Announced Its Largest Summer Initiative to Date
Epic Rapper-Backed Soda Campaigns
PEPSI Launched its 'Make Your Gameday Epic' Campaign
Sports-Themed Cafe Energy Drinks
The Dutch Bros Coffee Gold Medal Rebel Celebrates the Olympics
Interactive Sports Game Predictions
Guul's EURO 2024 Predictor Offers Connection and camaraderie
Spherical Athletic Large Ballparks
BIG Designs a Ballpark on the Vegas Strip for the Athletics
QSR Summer Pop-Ups
McDonald's Mexico Launched a Summer-Themed Activation in Mexico
VR Physiotherapy Tools
A Team of UniSA Researchers Created Superhero Therapy for Pain Management
Soccer-Themed Fragrance Pop-Ups
Hugo Boss Presents an Immersive Activation in Brazil and Argentina
Baseball-Inspired Energy Drinks Partnerships
GHOST Joins Forces with the Philadelphia Phillies
Branded Toronto Pickleball Courts
Vizzy and RendezViews to Open the Vizzy Pickleball Court
Trendy Metaverse Sportswear
adidas Enters the Virtual World Through a Roblox Collaboration
Footballer-Backed Global Campaigns
Pepsi Unveils the 'Where There's a Ball There's a Way' Campaign
Connected Beer Jerseys
Miller Lite's Running of the Beer Ads Turns Fans into Walking Billboards
Car-Branded Basketball Giveaways
Canada Basketball & Turo Debut Unforgettable Fan Experiences
Music-Inspired Retail Campaigns
Macy’s is Launching Its Summer’s Greatest Hits Campaign
Connective Metaverse Ballparks
The MLB Virtual Ballpark is a Destination for the Global Community
Gamified Tennis Metaverses
Race to Wimbledon is a Fast-Paced Game on Fortnite
Social Sports Applications
EA is Launching the EA Sports Social App on Web and Mobile
Flavorful Pickleball Celebrations
Smirnoff SMASH Vodka Soda's Event Highlighted Unique Mashups
Sweat Fleece Sporty Campaigns
Nike's Don’t Sweat the Tech-nique Campaign Readies for Fall 2023
Video Game Travel Merchandise
The Nintendo Super Mario Travel Items are Arriving for Summer
Sensor-Enabled Performance Running Tracks
Feldspar Limited Aims to Revolutionize Live Sports
Patriotic Olympic Cocktail Menus
Bar Louie Just Launched Its 'Living the Ameri-Can Dream' Campaign
Youth Sports-Focused Initiatives
Gamechanger Launches the Stay & Play Champions Program
Immersive Virtual Television Experiences
Television for Apple Vision Shapes the Future of TV
Sportswear-Branded Game Bundles
adidas Enters the Fortnite Universe with a Versatile Bundle
Summer Bucket List Challenges
Teremana® Tequila Launched the Summer of Mana Bucket List Challenge
Vintage Sportswear Capsules
adidas and MLS Take Inspiration from Retro Soccer Aesthetics
AR Sports Drink Bottles
BODYARMOR's Limited-Edition Collectible Bottles Engage Sports Fans
Olympic-Inspired Sportswear Collections
Chubbies Has Introduced a Team USA Capsule Series
Athlete-Backed Menstruation Campaigns
#SportYourPeriod Addresses Menstruation Stigma in Sports
Sporting Moment-Inspired Fall Fashion
Admiral Sporting Goods Presents its New Capsule for FW23
Dynamic Mobile Fashion Games
Tommy Hilfiger Unveils a New Mobile Fashion Game Called FashionVerse
Summer-Themed Gaming Accessories
The Xbox Summer Accessories Collection for 2023 is Dazzling
Football-Themed Pizza Promotions
Little Caesars & NFL Debut HOT-N-READY Giveaways & Getaways
Optimized Pro Pickleballs
The Ultimate Pickleball Solves Issues with Weight, Speed & Durability
Sporty Pharmaceutical Campaigns
Advil X The NFL Join Forces to Highlight Effective Pain Relief
Competitive Live Games
April-8 Live Game Let's Players Challenge Friends Across The Globe
Sports-Themed Pet Products
The PetSmart Team USA Products Cheer on Athletes
Expanded Game-Streaming Services
Sony Added a Number of Games to its 'PS Plus' Service in June
Free Tennis Tournament Events
The US Open Fan Week will Take Place at the Arthur Ashe Stadium
VR Track Racing Games
Micro Machines: Mini Challenge Mayhem Pushes Virtual Cars to the Limits
Sports-Centric Digital Collectibles Platform
Sweet Took Part in the Launch of NHL Breakaway
In-Arena Content Spaces
TikTok and MLSE Introduced the Creator Zone and a Live Content Series
Gen Z Basketball Campaigns
Rivalry Unites with Basketball Forever for a Gen Z-Focused NBA Campaign
20s-Inspired American Sportswear Collections
Thom Browne Debuts a High Summer Capsule Collection
Volleyball-Specific Athletic Wear Partnerships
Adidas Partners with League One Volleyball (LOVB)
Sports Fan Advent Calendars
The Countdown to Chill Calendar Aligns with College Basketball Season
Olympics-Themed Tech Accessories
These Samsung 2024 Summer Olympics Accessories are Creative
Ice Cream-Themed Esports Events
Team Vitality Launches The Frozen All Stars with Ice Cream Brands
Athlete-Centric Bingo Campaigns
The 'Share Your Bingo Moment' Campaign Spotlights Olympic Legends
Football-Inspired Menswear Collections
The BOSS x NFL 2024 Capsule is Chic and Ultra-Sporty
Activity-Monitoring Sports Apps
Strava Heatmaps Offer Athletes Insights into Populated Areas
Youth Movement Competitions
The PLEZi Absurdly Good Games Encourages Summer Activity
Basketball League-Inspired Metaverses
The NBPA Metaverse Offers an Immersive Digital Experience
AI Summary Tools
Summer AI Provides Quick Blog Summaries and Connects Readers to Products
Burgundy Esports Capsules
Astralis and Apparel Partner Hummel Unite with Streetwear Brand Sauna
Expansive Pickleball Stadiums
The World's First Pickleball Stadium Will Open in South Florida
Interactive Fantasy Sport Platforms
BullRush Trading Competitions Launches New Platform
Sporty Smartphone Partnerhips
Vivo Unveiled Its V30 Series Smartphones at UEFA EURO 2024™
Esports Merchandise Capsules
PlayVS Partners with Emerge Apparel on a New Apparel Collection
Soccer-Themed Undergarment Capsules
Savage X Fenty Releases a New Collection Inspired by Soccer
Phygital Televised Races
Michelob ULTRA's Lap of Legends Pits Formula 1 Drivers Against Avatars
Music-Centric Branding Initiatives
BACARDÍ Rum Partnered with the MTV Video Music Awards
Athlete-Inspired Interactive Experiences
Gatorade Canada's G Arena Was Held from August 22 to 24
Athletic Wellness Activations
Dove and Well+Good Host Confidence Court at the US Open
Athlete-Backed Mental Health Campaigns
The Love, Your Mind Campaign Aims to Support Mental Health
AI Football Games
Futureverse's 'AI League' Lets FIFA Superfans Manage Their Own Pro Teams
Convenience Chain Golf Collections
7-Eleven Unveils its new Convenience Tour Golf Collection
Exciting Pickleball-Themed Sweepstakes
Eggland's Best Has Launched Serves Up Summer
Christmas-Inspired Summer Campaigns
Toys for Tots Supports Children with Christmas in July
Betting-Ready Sports Apps
Apple's Latest Sports App Streamlines Scores and Stat Viewing
Free-of-Charge Live Sports Channels
The Roku Sports Channel Arrives August 12
User-Generated Toronto Baseball Ads
GO Transit Celebrates Toronto Blue Jays with Fan-Created Ads
Cooling Hand-Made Scarves
Coors Light Creates Soccer Scarf to Keep Heated Fans Chill
Basketball Gaming Additions
Nintendo Adds Basketball to Nintendo Switch Sports
Branded Long-Term Sports Partnerships
New York Red Bulls & Sports Illustrated Tickets Join Forces
Virtual STEM Fieldtrips
Panasonic, Katie Ledecky & Discovery Education Spotlight STEM Innovations
Baseball-Branded Sports Drink Expansions
BODYARMOR Sports Drink Expands to Canada
Mental Health Branding Initiatives
L.L.Bean Digitally Detoxed for Mental Health Awareness Month
Student-Focused Esports Leagues
Minnesota Varsity League Unveils a New League for Middle Schoolers
Cricket-Brand B2B Deals
Royal Expanded its Partnership with Cognizant Major League Cricket
Textural Travel Chocolate Products
The Ritter Sport Summer Selection Tower Has Five Bars
Branded College Football Series
Dr Pepper Unveils the Seventh Season Oof the Fansville Series
AR-Powered Football Cards
Sorare Launches the AR-Equipped 3D Digital Football Player Cards
Heritage Month Sports Campaigns
ESPN's 'Somos' Campaign Celebrates Hispanic Sports Icons
Live Streamed Sports Games
Roku is Streaming Major League Baseball Sunday Leadoff Games
Collaborative Volleyball-Specific Workouts
LOVB and Tonal Partner for Volleyball Workouts
Comprehensive Sports Apps
OutyPlay Builds Community for Sports Enthusiasts
Pricey Baseball Memorabilia Jerseys
Babe Ruth's Called Shot Jersey Auctioned at $24 Million
Streaming Service Golf Tournaments
The Netflix Cup Teams Up Formula 1 Drivers & PGA Tour Golfers
Streaming Brand Trivia Games
Roku Weekly Trivia Puts User's Pop Culture Knowledge to the Test
Social-Platform Live Sport Features
Threads is Rolling Out Live Sports Scores with the NBA
Seamless Sports Betting Apps
theScore Bet Debuts New Commercial Spots as part of Fall Campaign
Amateur Youth Sports Channels
NBC Sports Next Launches the SportsEngine Play Platform
Inclusive Amateur Cricket Leagues
Last Man Stands Canada Has Seen Rapid Success