The Journey to 100+ Users: How a Bold Pivot and Rebrand Propelled SportsArena Forward

If you’ve read my previous post, you’ll know about SportsArena—and how it didn't start off as a darts app. In fact, we spent eight long months building and marketing a football-based product that flat-out failed. Zero sign-ups. Nothing. Not a single person cared.

That’s when I knew we had to pivot—and fast.

The Pivot: From Football to Darts

After 8 months of grinding away on a football-based product with zero traction, it was clear something had to change. We were at a crossroads. Instead of giving up, we pivoted—hard.

The shift to darts wasn't random. It was done because it would allow us to get up and running quicker with 1v1 matches, as opposed to 5-a-side for football. It could also be played online, which meant scaling it would be a lot easier.

Launching SportsArena: Early Growth and Video Calling

On January 20, 2024, we launched SportsArena, our revamped platform focused on online darts matches. The initial response was modest but promising—we reached 13 users by the end of March. Recognizing the importance of live interaction, we released our Video Calling feature on March 29. This tool was designed to facilitate live 1v1 darts matches between players from their own homes, marking a significant step toward creating an engaging online darts community.

However, despite these efforts, traction remained low. By the end of March, we were seeing around 13 users actively engaging with the platform. It became clear that merely introducing video calling and single matches wasn't enough to drive substantial user growth.

Feature Expansion: Introducing Video Replays and Official Matches

In May 2024, we noticed a significant user spike, growing from 13 to 20 users by mid-May. Building on this momentum, we released the Post-Match Video Replays on June 2. This feature allowed players to relive and share their matches, enhancing engagement by enabling the sharing of entire matches, not just static scores.

Implementing Video Replays

To address this, we introduced video replays—a feature that allows players to share entire matches, not just static scores. Here's how we implemented it:

1. Real-time Score Overlays – As the match replayed, the scores, legs, and sets would update in sync, making it feel like a real broadcast.
2. Player Intros – We added an intro scene for players, detailing their names, logos, and the stakes of the match.
3. Match Highlights – We built an outro that summarized who won, the scores, and the amount won.
4. Seamless Integration – Ensured that video replays were easily shareable across social media platforms, enhancing visibility and user engagement.

This comprehensive enhancement transformed video replays from a basic feature into a dynamic and engaging tool that players could proudly share and relive their matches.

Shortly after, on June 7, we held our First Official Match, setting the stage for competitive play within the community. By mid-June, our user base had steadily grown to 32 users, demonstrating the positive impact of these new features.

Community Building: First Online Tournament and Accelerated Growth

With the foundation laid, we moved into a phase of active community building. On July 15, 2024, we hosted our First Online Tournament, providing players with a structured and competitive environment to showcase their skills. This event was a catalyst for growth, as the excitement and engagement it generated led to an accelerated increase in users.

From July 14 (when we reached 36 users) to August 31, our user base surged to 61 users, marking a 69.44% growth during this period. The tournament not only attracted new users but also fostered a sense of community and competition among existing members.

Rebranding for Impact: Launching a New Identity

With the enhanced video replays and the growing community, we still needed to make a stronger impression in the darts community. On July 14, 2024, the day before we launched our first tournaments, we unveiled our rebrand. This strategic move was aimed at solidifying our new identity and attracting a broader audience. The rebrand included:

• New Logo: A design more relevant to darts, reflecting the precision and competitive spirit of the sport.

• Engaging Graphics: Enhanced visuals across our social media platforms to boost user interaction and visibility, including:

  • Encouraging Players To Deposit And Play: Promotional graphics encouraging players to deposit and play.
  • Player Arena Loading Graphics: Visuals displayed when players are loaded into the arena or when their matches are being scheduled.
  • Country Flag Highlights: When new players from different countries debut, we share their country flags—a feature that has been hugely popular among our community.
  • Victory Celebrations: Graphics celebrating players who win tournaments or earn money.
  • Weekly Top 8 Highlights: Showcasing the top 8 players of the week and their earnings/wins to encourage friendly competition and recognition.

This rebrand not only refreshed our visual identity but also provided new avenues for engaging our growing user base.

Monetization and Rapid Growth: Surpassing 100 Users

September marked a pivotal month for SportsArena. On September 1, we introduced our First Paid Tournament and User Deposits, laying the groundwork for monetization. This move was met with enthusiasm, as it provided players with tangible incentives to participate and compete.

The introduction of paid features led to explosive growth, with our user base skyrocketing from 61 users on August 31 to 105 users by September 29—a 72.13% increase in just one month. This surge not only helped us surpass the 100-user milestone but also validated our strategy of combining community engagement with monetization.

Overall Growth Statistics

• Total Growth: From 1 to 105 users (10,400% increase)
• Highest Weekly Growth: 44.26% (week ending September 7)
• Average Weekly Growth Rate: 11.35%
• Most Recent Weekly Growth: 14.29% (week ending September 28)

Key Milestones:

• 50 Users: Reached in early August
• 100 Users: Surpassed in late September

Community Feedback: What Our Users Are Saying

Beyond the numbers, the feedback from our users has been incredibly encouraging and insightful. Here are some of the comments we've received:

"Mate enjoy it, it'll be a stressful journey but well worth it in the end. Thanks for putting the comp on, it'll keep getting better and stronger as you go. It gets my name out there a little more, so I'll keep doing them as much as I can to support and hopefully I can get the visibility to help with securing some support/sponsorship for Q School and Challenge Tour next year."

These heartfelt messages inspire us to continue improving and expanding SportsArena. Our users are not only participating but are actively engaged in helping us shape the future of the platform.

The Numbers: What We’ve Achieved So Far

So far during the beta and since we launched payments, 105 users signed up. We hosted 11 tournaments with 37 matches. Our most active player, Dave Francis, played 12 matches. Of the 53 players who competed, 25 were unique participants. In total, players have spent 423 minutes playing on SportsArena so far with each match lasting on average 15 minutes and 20 seconds.

On the financial side, we've handled £31 in deposits and £12 in ticket entries. It’s not life-changing money, but it shows we’re validating our ideas and building a foundation.

What’s Next for SportsArena?

Looking ahead, we’re laser-focused on expanding the platform, fine-tuning the user experience, and launching even more competitive tournaments. My goal is clear: to make SportsArena the home for amateur darts where players don’t just compete—they relive every key moment, share highlight reels that matter, and push the sport forward in a way nobody else is doing.

Upcoming Initiatives:

• Enhanced User Interface: Streamlining the user experience based on feedback.
• Seamless Payment Integrations: Expanding payment options for greater accessibility.
• Bigger Tournaments: Hosting larger events with more significant prizes to attract top talent.
• International Expansion: Encouraging participation from more countries and regions.

We’re just scratching the surface, and there’s so much more in the pipeline. From seamless integrations to bigger events, we’re ready to redefine how people experience and play darts online. Thanks for being part of the journey—this is only the beginning.

Ready to Bring My Skills to Your Team

Building SportsArena from the ground up has been an incredible journey—one that’s pushed me across all aspects of design, development, and product strategy. I’ve honed my full stack development skills, delivering everything from live video replays to real-time scoring systems. On the design side, I’ve crafted experiences that engage users and keep them coming back.

Now, I’m ready to bring those same skills and insights to a new challenge. Whether it’s building cutting-edge platforms, enhancing user experiences, or scaling ambitious ideas, I’m eager to contribute to a forward-thinking team that values creativity, innovation, and results. Let’s create something amazing together.

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Feel free to reach out if you have any questions or want to collaborate!