An interesting article I saw on www.mashable.com this morning (if you don’t already use the site for the latest info then I suggest you do so) about the NBA’s new mobile check-in app.

As you know, geo-location apps have been the talk of much of 2010 with Foursquare, Yelp and Facebook Places.  Now NBA Digital have released their own app that allows fans to check-in at game venues and also when watching games on TV/online.

Since I saw the Get Glue service earlier this year, where you check-in to your favourite TV programmes, films and music, I have thought that sport would be a natural fit.  It opens up the audience hugely if you can allow fans to check in from the comfort of their own sofa.

I think it is something that football could do well to look into. Imagine the potential with the English Premier League if fans could check-in to their games from anywhere in the world?! Rather than catching a few thousand people at the ground you are then into the millions (potentially).

The app is called NBA Turnstile and they are working with the teams to develop badges.  The teams can also develop their own badges and offers to make the most of the system.

It will be interesting to see how well it works and if they are able to monetise it in the long term.