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The season is heating up and, as ever, we’re at the business end of it. Stressful games and intense moods – as Sports fans, these are the times we really go through it. What better place to prepare you for the weekend? The Sports Road! Enjoy
Here's what we got for ya today:
- Shoes of The Future
- Fitness Time!
- A VERY Cool Partnership
- Another Crazy AI
Most valuable public market sports teams
Let's get into it!
An Eye Into The Future
One thing we all love about Sport is its evolution. From tactics to game-wear, our favourite games never stop changing. In other words, there always seems to be ways to get better. Just look at how Manchester City’s uberly attacking (but effective) 3-2-5 formation burst through Bayern Munich this week…
We’ve touched on it before, but AI can act as a glimpse into what the future holds. It can help us see this evolution before it even happens 🤯🤯🤯
You may ask why we’re bringing this up. Well, this week Sports Direct – one of the UK’s biggest Sport retail brands – have used AI to predict what the future of Sports footwear looks like.
Yep, partnering with Applied Futurist, Tom Cheesewright, the company has specifically singled out the progression of footwear within the next 100 years. Using AI, here are “The Feet of The Future”...
We know what you’re thinking. Looks pretty normal, doesn’t it? Well, in attempting to get a better idea of what consumers will be looking for, the company found out some pretty interesting things. The results will shock you; and here’s why:
- As running becomes more common, humans will have longer toes
- Moreover, as humans spend less time barefoot, their soles will be softer
- Surprisingly, due to changes in environment and diet, humans will get smaller, and by extension have smaller shoe sizes…
- As the temperature changes and our feet evolve with the added heat, trainers will have to be programed to accommodate for changes in body temperatures
Using this information, Sports Direct have mapped out what the future could look like. Dynamic stabilisers, pressure sensors, and colour-changing electrochromic materials are all things we can expect in the future.
In fact, these shoes could even be self-cleaning and be equipped with electro-active materials which change shape in response to signals from VR glasses… Crazy!
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Fitness For Everyone
Look, if there’s one annoying thing about recent developments in technology, it’s that excuses are becoming less and less viable. Gone are the days of saying “ugh, I can’t go to the gym – it’s too far.”
With Tonal, it seems anything is possible…
Ok ok, we get it. You may be asking – what is Tonal?
Well, being a smart home gym tech startup, the company can help you get fit FAST. Experiencing a serious boom during Covid, the company experienced some MAJOR successes.
In fact, being valued at $1.9 billion last year, the company received investment from athletes such as Serena Williams, Steph Curry, LeBron James, and Mike Tyson 🤯🤯🤯
Since then, though, the company has dropped to between $500-600 million. With the demand for home-workout equipment dwindling, the company has struggled in the post-lockdown period.
Well, it looks like things are taking a turn for the better.
Appointing a new CEO, the company has also managed to raise $130 million!
“We were doing a ton of top line marketing, driving brand awareness and a lot of TV advertising. We did get great brand awareness, but we’ve shifted into a bottom of funnel approach to marketing to really hone in on performance and reduced a lot of that top of funnel marketing, in order to be as effective as possible.”
What’s up, Doc?
In more ways than one, the Warner Brothers have influenced generation after generation.
From games to TV, we all grew up with them in our lives. Now, the company’s attention has turned to The Sports world… *and we’re not talking about a third Space Jam*
Yep, with this weeks’ release of ‘Max’, Warner Brothers Discovery’s (WBD) new streaming platform, a whole new host of broadcasting opportunities have become apparent.
Using streaming services as a platform to broadcast live Sport is not something new in the industry. In fact, streaming services like Amazon Prime are beginning to take over the Sports world. Just look at their deal with the Premier League. Offering a unique take on how we consume Football, the platform offers an in-depth look at stats and facts while the game plays.
But why does that matter?
Well, WBD are believed to be targeting a long-term NBA deal.
“We’re a global leader in sports. We’re a global leader in news and in a few months we’ll come back to you with details of our attack plan to use this important and differentiating live content to grow our streaming business even further.”
This news comes along after a couple things. Firstly, a series of announcements related to the Sports world by the Warner Bros (Cheeky self plug), and secondly, the release of NBA’s record digital and social engagement numbers.
Who knows what the future holds, but this partnership could lead to serious success…
A Game Changer
SkillCorner: An AI being backed by the very best…
From Liverpool to others, the company works with over 85 of the world's best Football teams and four out of Europe’s top five leagues.
Until now, the Paris-based company used their AI to focus on both Physical and Tracking data.
Using this, clubs could analyse previous games' physical data and use them to future benefit. But that’s all about to change…
How? Well, this week the company released a new product.
Named Game Intelligence, this is what consumers can expect:
- A whole new set of information expected to guide player scouting and evaluating game-state
- An evaluation of the volume, type, and threat of off-the-ball runs made by players
- Look deeper into players capabilities in possession by recognising and serving the most threatening runs
- Placing an extended focus on player intelligence
Quick bites
- Jack Grealish: Manchester's Superstar?
- Bad News: Sadio Mane suspended...
- Boxing: Another disappointment
Meme of the day
EA Sports added Sean Strickland last week and gave him less punching power than Bruce Buffer 💀
— Out Of Context MMA (@oocmma)
Apr 13, 2023
😂 😂
Quote of the day
"Every kid around the world who plays soccer wants to be Pele. I have a great responsibility to show them not just how to be like a soccer player, but how to be like a man."
Photo of the day
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Chat to ya on Friday! ☮️
