Barca Blaugranes app shatters all-time SB Nation commenting record in debut month

It has been exactly one month since Barca Blaugranes rolled out its brand-new standalone app, and the Barcelona fan community is celebrating a milestone no one quite expected so soon: an all-time record for comments in a single month across the entirety of SB Nation.

"A month ago we announced the release of our new app," the site wrote in its monthly update. "Quite a few of you have downloaded it over the past month and have been using it."

A community-first redesign

The app was built with a clear mission in mind. "The goal with this app was to make it easier to join the community, and specifically comment, read the comments, and make your own posts, as well as keeping all the community posts – articles on the front page, Feed posts from you – front and center."

According to the site, the bet has paid off handsomely. "The results so far are encouraging. In fact, it's helped us set a new all-time record for comments this month across all of SB Nation's communities, and I want to thank you for that."

Game chat at the heart of the boom

Among the headline additions is a live game chat function designed for the chaos of matchdays. "One of the most exciting new features is the game chat. It makes it easier to follow along with the barrage of comments that come during Barcelona games and gets to the heart of why so many of you spend time in our community."

Faster-loading comments and reply notifications have also helped deepen engagement. "Faster loading comments and notifications when someone replies to your comments and Feed posts are creating a more fun experience that you're not going to find anywhere else."

Readers' own posts take center stage

The app also elevates user-generated content by folding community Feed posts into the same stream as the site's traditional articles. "We also wanted to elevate the community's contributions by putting your Feed posts inside one stream alongside all the other articles from the site. To that end, more people have seen your posts and more people have commented on them."

The momentum has been sustained through the early part of the campaign. "In fact, we've set single-day commenting records three different times since the season started." For readers who prefer a more traditional experience, the app still offers a front-page-only view: "if you prefer just reading our traditional front page articles, there's an option at the top to do that."

An open invitation

Wrapping up the first-month recap, the site struck a welcoming tone for both app users and browsers alike. "So, one month in, thanks for making us part of your routine. If you haven't checked it out, you can get it for iOs or Android. And if you're not an app user, that's OK! We're glad to have you following along in whatever way makes you most comfortable."

One month in, the numbers suggest the gamble on a dedicated app has already reshaped how the Blaugranes faithful talk Barcelona.