Trends in the sports tech sector

Sports have been one of the most preferred sources of entertainment all around the world for ages and to date, the popularity has remained the same. The choice of sports may differ geographically, but its importance in people’s lives is tremendous.

As technological advancements in sports have increased, so has the involvement of technology in sports. It isn’t surprising to see technology play a huge role in sports lately.

Technology has interwoven itself in the world of sports, today everything runs on the data, and it has progressed the way a sports institution functions.

Some of the most popular trends are performance analytics, advanced streaming techniques, eSports, fantasy leagues, immersive training, smart stadiums, etc., which have been witnessed at the international- and national-level professional games.

Performance analytics

The advancement of technology has caught up with sports and has been used to monitor the performance of the players during the training and during the matches. Smart devices such as smartwatches, wristbands, or even smart clothing can now gauge the heart rate, the speed of a player, accelerations, decelerations, work rate, the distance covered, etc., accurately. These data points help the sports team determine the overall performance and the specific area for improvement for every individual player and thus, simplify the decision-making process. The video and motion analytics share the exact statistics of the player’s positioning, the position of the ball, the player’s involvement in the game, the timing of a specific move, and the results of it. All this data helps the coach and the players understand the success rates of their actions.

Smart stadiums

A live game at the stadium is ideal for any sports fan to watch their favourite team. Of course, post-pandemic, there has been a shift, and now more people prefer to watch the games from the comfort of their homes rather than the stadiums. To make the live match experience better and encourage the viewers to attend the matches at the stadium, various in-venue features have been introduced, such as easy check-in, assistance with parking, etc. Many of the international stadiums use AI to understand the crowd sentiment and their reactions during live games.

The recent use of technology that many football fans witnessed was the stadium cooling at the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022. Due to the extremely humid weather conditions in Qatar, this cooling system was installed to create a cool bubble at the stadium and to maintain the temperature between 64 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit. It had “spot cooling,” which only got activated in the presence of people.

Fan engagement

Fans keep the games alive and are the spirit of the sport. To keep the loyalty of the fans, various sports teams have their own sports apps where they hold contests, provide opportunities for fans to meet their favourite sports stars, and give special access to official merchandise, AI-powered chatbots, video sharing, and exclusive content. Nowadays, many startups are creating fan clubs to encourage and build the eSports community. These platforms give a voice to the fans and help them reach the club or teams. Like-minded fans can discuss the match highlights and exchange their thoughts.

Advanced streaming
The rise of technology has changed the way sports are consumed other than through the traditional means. In the world of instant updates, streaming high-quality content that is easily accessible for viewers to watch from anywhere in the world on any internet-enabled device has become crucial. OTT allows viewers to stay connected to their favourite sports without missing any live action, as well as revisit key memories or highlights. Virtual reality is another way the viewing experience of the fans has changed; this technology allows the viewers to have a real-life experience through the screens.

Services for data analytics and other cloud services are also being used by sports bodies to ensure fair and safe gameplay, which is eventually profitable for all parties (players, coaches, and fans) involved.

Each piece of data in sports, from individual player performance analysis to fan engagement analysis, is critical for overall improvement. The software to improve the quality of data preservation is booming, helping to empower the players, teams, and fans watching these players on different streaming sites. The data also needs to be protected from cyberattacks.

Today, the tedious task of a scout has become easy due to the availability of the player’s data, which allows them to pick talented individuals from domestic leagues for a professional league. Similarly, the fans’ experience with the domestic leagues has also improved due to various applications and the help of social media. Technology has removed the distance barrier between a professional and a domestic league, so fans can pick a league of their choice.
The crossover of technology with sports has ensured that productivity and the entertainment quotient continue to remain high for the viewers as well as the players.

Company Name – SportVot

Spokesperson – Mr. Sidhhant Agarwal, Founder, CEO, SportVot