Baltimore Ravens x The Famous Group
For permanent virtual camera mixed reality system
The Famous Group brings its mixed reality tech to the biggest sports stages in-venue and on broadcast (such as Super Bowls and MLB Opening Day). But the company’s work with the Ravens transcended a single activation and turned into a season’s worth of creativity. As the NFL’s first permanent installation of Famous Group’s virtual camera mixed reality System, the team deployed mixed-reality creations for all home games, adding customized content around the opponents, team milestones and other generators of fan excitement.
FIFA x 601 Analytics
For FIFA Venue Intelligence Hub
What’s crucial for an event spanning multiple venues and even borders? A view of the data to know exactly what’s going on. That’s the purpose of the FIFA Venue Intelligence Hub, a joint creation from the governing body and 601 Analytics. First used with last year’s Club World Cup and deploying for this summer’s competition too, the tool centralizes info related to ticketing, crowd flow, food and beverage, and all other essential aspects of game day.
Milwaukee Bucks x University of Colorado Boulder
For adjustable heated bench system
This crossover featuring an NBA team and a university created a research and development pipeline to handle problems faced by athletes daily. The flagship product from this, the adjustable heated bench system, is a commercially licensed technology that has been installed by the Raptors, Cavaliers and Clippers, too (with $1 million-plus in sales, a nice side effect for a research project). Instead of forcing an athlete to check into the action with stiff muscles, the heating effect keeps them loose so athletes can adjust more easily and potentially even avoid injury.
NHL x Presidio x Apple
For NHL Watch Comms app
NHL referees may have the toughest officiating gig — moving on skates, head on swivel, with a risk of slamming into the boards at any time. To navigate the fast-paced environment more smoothly, the NHL worked with Presidio to create the NHL Watch Comms app on the Apple Watch. The product helps officials track the crucial time-influenced elements, such as the end of periods and power plays. And the refs like it, too: 95% in the NHL use the customized tool.
TGL presented by SoFi x TMRW Sports x CapTech x Full Swing x Next League x SmartPin Cam x SYNLawn x Toptracer x Beau Welling Design x Hanse Golf Course Design x Nicklaus Design x Piza Golf
For TGL’s full tech stack
TGL’s full tech stack pieced together innovation and vendors like a finely made Swiss watch. The competition space in the SoFi Center connects swing simulation, ball and shot tracking, virtual hole design and an adaptable putting area that mimics real-world play. The SmartPin Cam, as one of many examples of innovation, gave viewers of the upstart league a new way to watch approach shots, while some of the biggest-name course designers formulated the holes featured during matches.
UFC x IBM
For UFC Insights Engine
As a sport with short rounds, the UFC needed a quick partner for analysis and insight. It found that in IBM, which funneled its technology throughout the governing body’s digital ecosystem. With the software giant’s help, UFC streamlined its ability to search data associated with its yearly schedule of 40 events, develop real-time insights in fight coverage and content generation, and harness the information associated with 13.2 million historical data points. A TKO (with this T standing for technological), if we may.
