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It’s Friday, everyone – and you all know what that means… Welcome back to The Sports Road! Bringing you the best (and weirdest) in all of sports and tech, our job is to make sure YOU don’t fall behind on some of sports’ biggest stories… Enjoy!
Here's what we got for ya today:
NBA: Upgrading
Rugby: Be More Engaged Than EVER
AI, AI, AI
This Winter’s Biggest Transfer…
Most Valuable Sports Teams:
Let's get into it!
NBA: Doing it Right
There’s no two ways about it. Technology is absolutely integral to positive development in every single sport out there.
The problem? Well, technological innovation isn’t just something that appears from out of nowhere. You need the right people, with the right connections, knowledge, and infrastructure (you know, along with loads of other things 🤑🤑🤑).
Luckily for the NBA, though, they have all of that. And have put it to seriously good use…
That’s right. We’re talking about the NBA Launchpad. For those who don’t know about the program – let us explain:
Created a couple of years ago, the NBA Launchpad was born to ensure that the NBA can stay ahead of the game. Acting as their very own tech-incubator, the program is dedicated to seeking out the most exciting start-ups in Basketball.
So far, the initiative has been incredibly successful. Bringing through some of the industry's most talented entrepreneurs and experts from all over the world, elements of the initiative’s selected companies have been littered throughout the sport.
But it doesn’t look like they’re stopping there… Announcing five new startups this week, the incubator looks like it's set to be a fixture in the minds of all NBA fans.
This is what we know about them as of right now:
Reboot Motion: Based in LA, the firm sets out to provide an analysis of player movements through helping larger organisations understand and engage in biomechanics.
Tonsser: Based in Denmark, Tonsser has developed a digital product that will enable younger athletes track and compare their performances.
Plantiga: Based in Canada, Plantiga offers in shoe sensors that are powered using AI and can be used to track load, performance, and asymmetries during play.
TextQL: Aimed at improving fan experiences, TextQL – based in New York – is an AI intelligence platform that delivers real-time data insights to non-technical users.
Dimension Studio: Also tailored towards improving fan experiences, this London-based firm provides a platform for virtual engagement.
“Collaborating with NBA Launchpad companies gives us a chance to look at new and innovative ways to enhance fan experience and engagement… This year’s group of pioneering technologies provides us with yet another opportunity to place our fans at the centre of everything we do.”
Jason Bieber, NBA Vice President of New Business Ventures
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The Smart Ball…
If there’s been any sports-tech innovation that has gone from strength-to-strength in the last year, it’s been Rugby’s Smart Ball…
Developed by Gilbert, the ball can track the ball’s position in 3D, provide real-time updates up to 20 times per second, and do much more.
Used predominantly in the international scene, such seems the nature of the sport, that – despite its benefits to both the played game and fan experience – it hasn’t been properly trialled in club Rugby.
Until now, of course…
That’s right. This week, Major League Rugby (MLR) announced that they’re switching ball providers to (drumroll 🥁🥁🥁) – you guessed it – Gilbert.
Why is that important, you ask?
Well, as part of the agreement, the MLR will be given access to all the data and capabilities of the Smart Ball.
While offering obvious benefits to coaches, players, and those involved with the playing side of the sport, the implementation of its use will also benefit us fans!
Combining data from the new ball with the capabilities of Fox Sports, fans will be able to look at data in real-time.
Bringing fans closer than ever to what is actually happening on the pitch, graphical overlays will help engage more fans into – what many consider – to still be a developing scene.
If you watch any type of tier one sport broadcast, everything is around data and stats and real-time visibility on those stats… I think this technology and what it will enable us to do in broadcast is a really big deal. I think it will transform the viewing experience.” Down the line, Hardy said the Smart Balls could be deployed for officiating use-cases as well. One example, determining forward pass calls, could have integrity and fan experience implications.
Harry Hardy, CCO of MLR
The Future of Broadcasting…
This new partnership could have some serious impacts on the way we ALL consume sport.
With media becoming more and more dominant in the industry, the way in which games are broadcasted is beginning to matter a whole lot more…
And that’s exactly why Pixellot is here. Being the world's largest producer of live sports, the firm has been constantly leveraging new technologies to bring sports broadcasting to the next level.
Predominantly using AI, the firms cameras offer enhanced tracking, multiple viewing angles, and a future proof/cost effective way of maximising engagement.
Why is this important?
Well, this week the company announced a partnership with NBC Sports.
This is what we know so far:
Together, the two will place an extended focus on youth sports.
Specifically, youth grounds will be equipped with Pixellot cameras and offer automated live coverage of every game.
Integrated with SportsEngine Play – a subscription service dedicated to youth sports – games will be easily available.
“Expanding our partnership with Pixellot is a pivotal step in our mission to elevate the streaming of youth and amateur sports. By integrating Pixellot’s state-of-the-art camera technology with our SportsEngine Play streaming platform, we’re setting new standards in sports broadcasting, making it easier and more affordable for venues to not only share their sporting events with a wider audience but also benefit from a new revenue stream.”
Brett MacKinnon, NBC Sports Next SVP & General Manager
We Need to Talk About: Lewis Hamilton
The January Transfer Window just shut close.
And, to be honest, it was quite bleak, wasn’t it… With no big transfers really happening over the month, Football fans may have been quite disappointed.
Luckily though, the F1 is here! With big news. Like, really big news…
So, Lewis Hamilton. Even those who aren’t fans of F1 know who Lewis Hamilton is. Holding seven world titles, a BBC Sports Personality of the year award, and more, over the last couple years, the driver has risen to serious prominence.
I mean, he was literally knighted a couple years ago..
His most recent move, though, has absolutely shaken up the landscape of racing…
Over the last few weeks, there’s been some rumours linking Hamilton to a move from Mercedes to Ferrari.
Causing a seismic shift in the setup of multiple F1 clubs, the move will most likely see Carlos Sainz leave Ferrari and even more moves happen in the scene.
“Hamilton at Ferrari is a wonderful combination, and it's the only move he would ever consider making from Mercedes. Driving for Ferrari has been an idea in his mind for a long time it just always looked like something that would never make enough sense.”
The Race
JUST. ONE. NORMAL. DAY.
PLEASE!
Quick Bites
Football: The Breakdown
Boxing: MEGA!
NHL: Is This it?
Meme of the day
Trent watching Conor Bradley:
— Francesco (@01fmz)
Jan 31, 2024
😂😂😂😂😂😂
Quote of the day
"It's the in-game decisions, the soft fouls go against us. I'm not looking back over the last 10 games, it's over a longer period, before I was here as well. Maybe the thought process and the outlook is that they [Sheff Utd] won't be long in this division and 'I might be refereeing the other team next year, so don't want to upset too many people'."
Chris Wilder
Picture of the day
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