Young people, particularly in their teens and 20s, are not consuming sports the way my generation did. They are doing lots of things; they are multitasking. They are getting downloads; they are getting alerts on their computers or on their cellphones, and they are consuming sports in a more real-time but less full-time basis.

In this quote, Gary Bettman discusses the shift in how young people, particularly those in their teens and 20s, engage with sports compared to previous generations. He points out that the younger generation is not consuming sports in the traditional, full-time manner, where they would dedicate a block of time to watch games or follow teams closely. Instead, they engage with sports in a more fragmented way, often multitasking and consuming content in real-time through various digital platforms.

Bettman highlights that the younger audience is multitasking and constantly receiving updates and alerts from multiple sources, such as their computers or cellphones. This behavior reflects the way technology has transformed how people access and interact with information. Unlike previous generations, who might have followed games from start to finish, young people now consume sports in smaller, more immediate chunks, fitting into their busy, digital-first lives.

The quote also emphasizes the role of technology in altering how sports are consumed. With downloads and alerts, young fans can stay up to date with scores, highlights, and news without necessarily sitting down to watch a full game. This shift in behavior shows how the integration of mobile devices and constant connectivity has changed the way people engage with entertainment and sports media, favoring convenience and speed over immersion.

Ultimately, Bettman’s statement reflects a broader cultural change driven by technology and digital media. The way young people interact with sports has evolved to align with their more dynamic, fast-paced, and multitasked lifestyles. The quote signals a challenge for sports industries to adapt to these new consumption patterns in order to stay relevant and engage younger audiences.