SportsTech Roundup: Week 35
From crypto-partnerships to AI-powered officiating, this week's sportstech roundup showcases the industry's relentless drive for innovation.
Another action-packed week in the sportstech world has flown by, leaving us with a trove of exciting developments to unpack. From blockchain making major plays in the sports arena to AI revolutionising athlete evaluation and officiating, the industry continues to push boundaries at breakneck speed. We've got streaming shake-ups, virtual reality breakthroughs, and even cryptocurrency diving into the pool of sports payments. So grab your digital playbook as we dive deep into this week's most impactful sportstech stories:
Image source: BusinessWire
Atleta, the blockchain for sports, has announced that it will be participating as a gold sponsor at the 2024 WebX conference in Tokyo, Japan
NFLPA is suing DraftKings and seeking damages for an “anticipated breach of contract” over IP rights for the sportsbook company’s NFTs
Scorability announced the launch of its athlete evaluation platform, designed to revolutionize college football recruiting
Comcast NBCUniversal SportsTech announced that the 10 companies in its fourth program have secured 15 business deals
Media Excel and Six Floor Solutions announce a collaboration to revolutionize video content delivery and highlight generation for live sports and news events
Verofax, an Abu Dhabi-based Web3 services company, led by Plug & Play Tech Center, raised $3M in bridge funding for the tourism and sports sectors
Full Sail University will host the Madden NFL 25 Championship Series from September 2024 through January 2025
Image source: BVB website
Borussia Dortmund announce partnership with BlockDAG, a layer 1 blockchain, to become the German club’s official blockchain partner for 3 years
Manchester City announced a sponsorship extension with their long-term partner and video game developer, Electronic Arts (EA) Sports
Body Cherish, a Korean sports nutrition technology company, announced the launch of its “Sports Nutrition Smart Bending Machine" that uses AI digital technology
Magnifi announced the hiring of Heiko Stroh as the company's new Director of Sales for the DACH region and Ken Ruck as its new VP of Sales
Smart basketball hoop manufacturer, huupe, is releasing its second product, the huupe mini
The Yankees YES Network and MSG Networks set to offer their content in a combined streaming app - the Gotham Sports app
Amazon has pulled back its planned $115 million investment from Diamond Sports Group deal
ESPN Chairman Jimmy Pitaro believes AI has practical use cases for the company’s upcoming flagship DTC service
Six Dreams unveiled new esports fantasy application platform for cricket and esports fans
Image source: ASUS website
ASUS announced a long-term strategic partnership with Qiddiya to revolutionise gaming in Saudi Arabia
World Squash Officiating (WSO) entered into a partnership with US-based startup DigiMithril to bring artificial intelligence into squash refereeing
The NFL, the NFL Players Association and StatusPRO announced the NFL PRO ERA will move to a live service model and feature deeper gaming experiences
Sportsbook and fantasy betting platform DraftKings agrees deal to buy Simplebet, a micro-betting markets provider
Aviron Fit Bike brings immersive training to home workouts by incorporating gamification into the workout process
TicketRev is partnering with the Sacramento Kings and Ticketmaster to offer fans the chance to submit offers to the team for premium seating
The NFL and NFL Players Association signed off on the use of a new device to measure field conditions
The DFL along with The Famous Group broadcast a game with virtual camera technology and 8K cameras in Germany
ARound launched an in-stadium AR experience for Minnesota United FC in partnership with Target
Bangalore-based startup Game Theory unveiled their AI-driven computer vision technology, G.O.A.T Vision
Apple’s sports app got major upgrades such as enhanced NFL and college football tracking, real-time scores, dynamic drive tracking, and more
iSwim, a swimming club in the Dubai Marina becomes the first swimming club to accept cryptocurrency payments
Harmonic set to demonstrate range of cloud and software-based innovations at IBC2024
Eurovision Sport partners with CAMB.AI to test live AI-generated translated commentary at the 2024 World Athletics U20 championships
Image source: Chilliz website
South Korean company Naver launches crypto wallet, Naver Pay Wallet, in partnership with Chiliz
Inter Miami CF announced a partnership with Polkadot to become the team’s global training partner
NYC Parks unveils new smart basketball hoop in partnership with huupe at Tompkins Square Park
Samsung to better athlete and fan experiences at the Paralympic Games with pop up experiences across the city
What a week! The sportstech field continues to evolve at a dizzying pace, with blockchain and Web3 technologies making significant inroads, AI transforming everything from recruitment to refereeing, and new streaming models reshaping how we consume sports content. It's clear that the intersection of sports and technology is not just about enhancing performance on the field, but also about revolutionising fan experiences and creating new business models.
As we wrap up this edition, one thing is certain: the sportstech industry shows no signs of slowing down. From Tokyo to Manchester, and from the NFL to esports, innovation is the name of the game. Stay tuned for next week's roundup, where we'll continue to track these exciting developments and uncover the next big play in the world of sportstech.
Don't forget to share this newsletter with fellow sports and tech enthusiasts who might find these insights valuable. Together, we can stay ahead of the curve in this rapidly evolving landscape. Until next time, keep your eye on the ball and your mind on the future of sports!