SBJ Power Up: ASM Global handling risk with new platform

In this week’s SBJ Tech newsletter, we look at the impact of AI around the College Football Hall of Fame fan experience and the new tool created by Pramana Labs (one of SBJ’s 10 Most Innovative Sports Tech Companies) that added a new element to Baseball America’s MLB Draft coverage. — Ethan Joyce

In today’s edition of Power Up:

• ASM Global adds incident management partner
• National Rugby League teams with Fastbreak AI to optimize schedule
• TSN extends deal with National Lacrosse League

ASM Global has selected Raven Controls as its preferred incident management system partner for the company’s North American venue client portfolio. The move is significant for Scotland-based Raven as it attempts to expand internationally.

Raven’s software platform help venue operations teams to digitally log, track, and manage incidents as they unfold, facilitating better decision-making and enhancing the overall guest experience. ASM Global is already deploying Raven’s platform at Target Center and Paycom Center, among a handful of other venues in its portfolio of hundreds of global stadiums, arenas, amphitheaters, and convention centers.

Australia’s National Rugby League and Fastbreak AI have agreed to a multiyear partnership that will see the NRL utilize Fastbreak’s scheduling software platform to manage its global fixture demands, optimize operational efficiency and improve competitive balance across the league.

Fastbreak CEO & co-founder John Stewart told SBJ that the NRL had previously been a consulting customer of Optimal Planning Solutions, whom Fastbreak acquired in September.

Stewart explained that because of the previous relationship, Fastbreak was given the chance to run a trial with the NRL, attempting to transition them into their AI software -- which he said has been something they have been attempting to do with all of Optimal Planning Solutions’ consulting customer base.

Stewart recalled, “We redid their schedule with our new AI engines, showed radical improvement ... and turned them into a software plan.”

Because of Fastbreak’s wide-ranging clientele with other sports leagues such as the NBA, NFL, NHL, NWSL and MLS, Stewart said that they were easily able to implement their technology into the NRL’s situation.

“Our technology was perfectly applicable for what they were doing,” Stewart added. “It was not hard to transition them into the platform. It was a perfect fit.”

NRL CEO Andrew Abdo said in a statement, “The NRL schedule is extremely complex, and the Fastbreak platform will provide greater capability to balance the competing demands of major event planning, stadium conflicts, and team travel logistics. As we continue to expand domestically across Australia, and internationally in the US and throughout the South Pacific, our Fastbreak partnership will allow us to optimize the season schedule for the benefit of fans, players, and broadcasters.”

The National Lacrosse League and TSN have extended their media rights deal through the 2025-26 season. Financial terms were not shared with SBJ. The relationship, which started in 2021, sees TSN maintain exclusive linear rights for NLL-related productions like “NLL Friday Night on TSN.” TSN+ subscribers can also access more streaming coverage via TSN platforms. NLL debuted its free DTC product last year to reach international fans, and works domestically with ESPN.

• MLS ASG will be league’s return after ’26 World Cup
• OKC shares first renderings of Thunder’s new arena
• Leiweke set for July 21 arraignment to face DOJ’s single charge of bid rigging
• NASCAR evaluating Chicagoland Speedway return
• Silver wants the Blazers in Portland, but Seattle could be lurking
• USA Bobsled and Skeleton signs Honda as sponsor

• TechCrunch: ChatGPT - Everything you need to know about the AI-powered chatbot
• The Guardian: Zuckerberg says Meta will build data center the size of Manhattan in latest AI push
• Fortune: Delta moves toward eliminating set prices in favor of AI that determines how much you personally will pay for a ticket