Fluid Fan Featured Four Newsletter
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From our Founder Angela Ruggiero
"The biggest sporting event in North America, the Super Bowl, is taking steps forward to ensure a safe fan experience."
It’s no secret that the “power of togetherness” is being strained during this pandemic. Fans want to be in the stadiums cheering on their favorite players and teams, and sharing that experience with one another, but need to be assured it will be a safe experience. In order to do this, venues must ensure the correct protocols are in place, using the latest technology to create a safer environment for fans. The biggest sporting event in North America, the Super Bowl, is taking steps forward to ensure a safe fan experience. The NFL and Visa announced Super Bowl LV and beyond will be completely cash-free. In addition, Visa unveiled Visa’s Guide to Touchless Payments: A Key To The Return Of Live Events, a new step by step guide to provide leadership support to venues and events for adopting touchless payments globally. Acknowledging cash-free and contactless already had momentum pre-COVID, the league and its payment partner came to the decision to create a safe and healthier venue for the fans, players, and staff involved. All Super Bowl-related payments from the official NFL outlet will be digital-only, including parking and in-stadium. For cash-dependent fans, reverse ATMs will convert cash to a prepaid Visa card. We have seen stadiums throughout the world go cash-free, and Visa and the NFL will provide fans with a safer and more responsible way to recreate that “power of togetherness” during one of the biggest spectacles in sport.
Weekly Brand Breakthrough
In recent days Arsenal has become the first English Premier League club to commit to the UN Sports for Climate Action Framework. The International Olympic Committee, FIFA, and English football's head organization, the Football Association, have joined them in this commitment. The Framework attempts to unite the global sports community around the Paris Agreement's goals and the hope of reaching climate neutrality by 2050. This first step by the powerful soccer organization helps to shed light on the excellent work being done and solidify Arsenal's position as a steward of their environment.
Weekly Live Entertainment Breakthrough
The news of the cancelation of the 2021 NFL Pro Bowl may have gotten lost in the swell of other such disappointing news last month as COVID-19 cases sky-rocketed across the United States. The NFL, however, announced this week that a weeklong digital event would replace the Pro Bowl with players competing in EA’s Madden NFL 21. The league has promised appearances from celebrities, NFL Legends, current players, and professional streamers. Although the Pro Bowl is not a priority for many fans, the NFL’s quick pivot and innovative thinking demonstrate how teams, leagues, and sponsors are being forced to become more adaptable and flexible during this pandemic.
Weekly Media Breakthrough
This past week the Sports Video Group released an insight focused on the new immersive video experience recently unlocked by the Intel True View technology. With the power of volumetric video behind them, Intel Sports can now provide teams and broadcasters with an entirely new set of storytelling tools. True View allows fans to decide how they want to experience the game, with 360-degree video as well as AR and VR capabilities. This technology has enhanced the fan experience for most fans who are still at home and has embedded itself in the future of broadcast and sports storytelling.
Weekly Athlete Breakthrough
Aston Martin Red Bull Racing made news last week by partnering with Oura Health. The smart ring company will be Red Bull's first "Official Health Technology." The Oura Ring gained publicity this summer as the NBA used it for their bubble in Orlando to track players' health and, more importantly, spot any early warning signs of COVID-19. Athlete tracking technology has taken off during the last nine months, as teams, leagues, and universities attempt to keep the coronavirus at bay. While the need for constant temperature screenings may wane in the next few years, the pandemic has shown the overall value of athlete data technology; it's not going anywhere.
For more information on the changing trends in sports and all of our latest research visit sportsilab.com
Sports Innovation Lab Events
AUDIENCE ENGAGEMENT AND DIGITAL MEDIA WITH WIMBLEDON
On this week’s episode of the Fluid Fan Podcast, Angela Ruggiero is joined by Alexandra Willis the Head of Communications Content & Digital at the All England Lawn Tennis Club. Alex came on the show to discuss how Wimbledon is using digital content and immersive experiences to reach tennis fans during the pandemic. Without the Championship this year, Alex and her team had to get creative and use AI technology from their partners at IBM to create the first-ever digital tournament for their fans. Tune in to the conversation to learn about the technologies and strategies Alex is implementing at Wimbledon to grow the brand, engage their fans, and create new experiences for tennis fans across the globe.
INNOVATION & LEADERSHIP IN SPORTS WITH VAL ACKERMAN
The Sportico and Sports Innovation Lab Ask Me Anything Series will return Thursday, December 17th at 1 pm ET featuring an interview with Val Ackerman, Commissioner of the BIG EAST Conference. Val was named the fifth Commissioner of the BIG EAST Conference back in 2013. She spent eight years as an attorney and executive at the National Basketball Association, was the founding President of the Women’s National Basketball Association, and is a past President of USA Basketball, which oversees the U.S. men’s and women’s Olympic basketball program. Her expertise on the name, image, and likeness debate of college sports is unlike any other, and she is ready to share it and more throughout our conversation. You can view all of our previous AMAs on our website and our Youtube Channel.