Get the latest sports technology news! From VR boxing to the newest sports ticketing apps, from VAR drones to AI linesmen - we've got you covered
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Morning everyone! It’s Monday – and with that – a new newsletter. If you haven’t read The Sports Road before, expect some laughs, cringes, and more. Bringing you the latest in sports and technology, enjoy!
Here's what we got for ya today:
ChatGPT’s Newest Sporting Adventure
Manchester City’s Newest Signing…
PremiAR League
The NHL Did WHAT!?
Most Valuable Sports Teams:
Let's get into it!
ChatGPT’s Newest Sporting Conquest…
The Tour de France – Cycling’s oldest and most prestigious Grand Tour – is one step closer to the future...
With the sport not being considered the peak of entertainment (sorry Cycling fans, just being honest 😅), it seems as though the organisers have come up with a new plan…
Looking for a way to connect newer fans to the sport, the intention seems clear.
Holding a fan base consisting mostly of people over the age 55, this year’s tour will heavily use social media as a means to interact further with younger generations.
Last time out, we spoke about the tournament’s deal with Tiktok. Signing a deal that will see the app's advanced algorithm push the sport to millions, it doesn’t look like they’re stopping there…
In fact, in an effort to further inform new fans, organisers have enlisted the help of online giant, ChatGPT.
Here’s what we know so far:
NTT – the Tour de France’s main technology partner – will combine the generative AI with official tournament data to improve in-stadium fan experiences.
In doing so, ChatGPT will be used in partnership with the ‘Marianne digital assistant’ – a digital human platform already used by the tournament.
In pairing the two, fans should be able to receive answers to questions in a faster, more accurate, and personable manner.
Interestingly, the partnership will rely on the use of real time data. Noting the importance of being up-to-date in terms of what is actually happening on the ground, the process requires complex connectivity methods…
Using things like geolocations sensors, microwave signals, edge computing capabilities, and more, this partnership is bound to change the way fans interact with the sport.
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Manchester City’s HUGE Signing…
What have we learned over the last couple of months? Well, wherever sport goes – more often than not – Web3 follows…
Whether it be in Football, Basketball, Tennis, or anything else, the influence that sport has in the virtual world is only growing.
I mean, did you not see Boxing’s first ever fight in the Metaverse over the weekend?? Spoiler: the Boxer beat the Youtuber… 🤦♂️
Sorry, we got sidetracked. Saying all that though, some clubs are a bit more active in the scene than others.
Having already struck multiple deals, built stadiums, and released loads of NFT’s, Manchester City have seemingly singled out technological development in the industry as integral to their success both on and off the pitch.
What now, you ask?
This week, the club and OKX – the world’s second largest Crypto exchange – have extended their partnership, promising to continue innovating for lots of years to come.
With the club's fan base extending globally, the importance of maintaining a strong online presence is crucial.
Just listen to what Ferran Soriano, Manchester City’s Chief Executive, had to say:
“We have already seen great Web3 experiences designed by OKX for Manchester City’s global fan base and there will be many more to come. This is a very exciting partnership.”
Ferran Soriano, Manchester City’s Chief Executive
With City having already held a virtual shirt reveal as part of the deals extension, it’s fair to assume that fans should be expecting the club to maintain its huge online presence.
Allowing fans a space to interact with the club on a more personable level, let’s just hope it has a better turnout than the Emptihad.
We mean Etihad. Sorry City fans! 😂
AR in The Premier League: WHAT!?!
On the topic of technology being used to engage global fan bases in Football, guess who we’re talking about next!?
The Premier League, of course…
What did they do now, you ask? Well, it looks like English Football’s top flight is trying its hand in Augmented Reality (AR).
Now this may sound pretty weird, but trust us…
To fully understand the league’s upcoming project, you’re going to need to imagine Pokemon Go and translate it into a Football setting…
Alright, alright. Let us explain:
In anticipation of the league’s USA pre-season tournament, the Summer Series, organisers have announced the creation of an AR-powered mini game.
Offering America-based fans the opportunity to win multiple different prizes, the appropriately named Trophy Hunt will require participants to search for ‘trophies’ planted across the five cities in which the tournament will be held.
Being made in collaboration with UK Metaverse Consultancy firm, Doppelgänger, the experience will be Web-based.
Available to all smartphone users, rewards consist of VIP tickets, signed shirts, merchandise, and more!
Following a model which has shown itself to be incredibly successful over the years, it would be no surprise if this were to blow up…
Offering fans who usually would not get the chance to interact with their favourite teams an outlet to do so, such uses of technology will only work to further grow the Premier League’s brand.
So who knows, maybe you could be watching your favourite Premier League teams live in the USA!
We Need to Talk About: The NHL
The NHL has a new official technology innovation partner, and it may just impact every single one of the league’s 32 teams big time…
Broadcasting over 1,300 games a year, as is pretty obvious, the NHL requires incredibly strong technological infrastructure…
Striking a multi-year partnership with Presidio – an IT service management company – the current system may be changing.
Before large-scale changes are made though, let’s take a look at the potential impacts the switch may have on one of the league’s most important days – Draft Day!
With security being of HUGE importance within such a system, no team would ever want to lose out on a pick due to circumstances of hacking or losing key information…
Well, with Presidio’s presence, that shouldn’t be a worry…
Creating an application with the purpose of aiding teams in selections, while automatically channelling data into the NHL’s official scouting services, the company will be relying on complex technology to better the experiences of club members.
Specifically by making use of hybrid cloud technology, team employees will be allowed secure access to various forms of information.
“As a leading global digital services and solutions provider, Presidio will provide us with capabilities to further modernise our infrastructure, and create a foundation of applications for ongoing innovation, including the new NHL Draft Application which we look forward to using at the 2023 NHL Draft.”
Bob Cagnazzi, chairman & chief executive officer, Presidio.
Quick Bites
The Ashes: The Big Update
F1: The Grand Prix…
Football: Goodbye to a LEGEND!
Meme of the day
2 ⭐️ signing! 🥴💀
Paul Merson’s view on Yaya Touré, 13 years ago. https://t.co/dShmp6y3Ik
— mcfc lads (@mcfc_lads)
Jul 2, 2023
Quote of the day
“It’s not the will to win that matters—everyone has that. It’s the will to prepare to win that matters.”
Paul Bryant
Photo of the day
🚨🚨| NEW: FIFA will test a new offside law, where the WHOLE body of the player must be in front of the defender for it to be ruled out.
The player below would NOT be offside using this rule. [DirectTVSports] https://t.co/EVQTuoEnDt
— CentreGoals. (@centregoals)
Jul 1, 2023
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