Innovative Software for Sports Fans

In the world of professional and amateur sports, innovation is the name of the game, and that applies to the technology used to consume those sports just as much as it does the technology used by coaches and organizations to give themselves the greatest edge possible. The fan experience is one that sports leagues are constantly workshopping and iterating on, in order to connect with a changing audience and one that may need additional stimulation or options compared to previous years.

The NBA Pivots Into Virtual Reality

Take, for instance, the National Basketball Association. Over the past few years, the NBA has experimented with displaying games in Virtual Reality, for fans in possession of VR kits/headsets. During the 2021-2022 season, over 20 games were available in VR for fans around the world. Not only could fans access the games and view them as if they were courtside, but they were also able to tour the stadiums and have an almost-lifelike experience of going to a game, without actually having to leave the comfort of their own homes. Highlights and replays were available after the fact on Oculus TV as well, for those who missed the live airings or who wanted to revisit the action. While the technology is still fairly niche and the number of games were limited (there are roughly 2500 regular season games in an NBA season, so only a tiny percentage were in VR), the fact that the NBA is trying out new technology to improve the fan experience is indicative of who they are as an organization and their constant efforts to connect with a younger, more forward thinking audience. The NBA is renowned for its popularity with a younger, more “online” fanbase, and the addition of VR games is just another representation of that.

Sports Leagues Innovating for a More Efficient Fan Experience

Across sports as a whole, teams and organizations know that they need to improve the in-stadium experience if they want to retain fans and customers, particularly in a post COVID-19 world in which anxiety about going to crowded stadiums and standing in long, packed lines may still be affecting a significant portion of the populace. But like their plays on the field, sports teams are innovating for their customers in order to ensure the best experience possible.

As we move into an increasingly interconnected world in which our phones are our lives (only a slight exaggeration, at this point), companies have pivoted into making our phones a one-stop shop for everything needed during games and sporting events. Take, for instance, autonomous shopping within a stadium. In partnership with companies like Zippin, stadiums and arenas across the US are making experiences much like going to an Amazon Fresh a possibility, where customers can utilize an app on their phone to shop at their leisure without the inconvenience of a checkout line or the need for in-person cashiers. By increasing the speed and efficiency at which fans are able to purchase food, drinks, and memorabilia, sports leagues are maximizing the amount of time that fans can spent doing what they’re headed to a stadium or arena to do: actually watching their teams play.

What’s Coming Next

The sports landscape is an ever-changing one, and that’s true for both the teams, players, and the fan experience. In 2022, the fan experience isn’t even remotely similar to what it was in 1962, and while there may be more costs to be a fan these days, there’s also improved technology for every facet of the sporting event experience that can only serve to better highlight what’s happening on the court or field. Whether it’s the continued acceptance of existing technologies like VR or instant check out, or sports betting algorithms or technologies like those available at OddsJam, there’s a lot on the horizon for sports fans with an interest in technology.

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