Weekly Newsletter 4/12
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INNOVATION IN ACTION
ENTERING A NEW AGE IN STADIUM TECHNOLOGY
As the Major League Baseball season got underway last week, the New York Mets introduced a new technology to help fans have a seamless entry into the ballpark. The Mets exhibited its facial recognition ticketing system last Thursday at Citi Field as part of a showcase event of the ballpark’s new amenities for the '22 season. Computer vision company Wicket has partnered with the Mets to add its facial ticket kiosks at all ballpark gates after a smaller pilot last season. The technology will create a faster and more frictionless ingress process for fans, but it is not the only way to get in. Fans can still have their mobile tickets scanned on their phones to enter Citi Field. In fact, fans under 14 are not eligible to use Wicket’s system given New York's age laws on facial recognition deployment. This kind of computer vision technology has applications across the industry for age verification beyond beverage purchases, reaching sports betting opportunities as well. Venues and tech companies are continuing to adapt how to best serve Fluid Fans and will provide new revenue generation opportunities as a result.
Sports Innovation Lab Events
WELCOMING A NEW FACE TO OUR TEAM
Join us in welcoming the newest member of our team, Morgan Stearns! As our Project Manager, Morgan will work with our Advisory Services team to ensure our clients are receiving top-tier research and insights to help grow and innovate their business. Morgan is a former Division 1 collegiate athlete and professional soccer player. We look forward to Morgan bringing her extensive leadership and organizational skills to our team and our clients. We're thrilled to have you, Morgan!
The Fan Project Spotlight
INVESTING IN A GROWING FAN BEHAVIOR AND MARKET
Gaming Society, a gamification and content company committed to making sports betting easy, has announced the closing of its $3.5 million seed funding round. Founded by sports executive and entrepreneur Jaymee Messler, co-founder of The Players’ Tribune, and NBA Hall of Famer Kevin Garnett, Gaming Society is expanding its approach to sports betting. The duo created Gaming Society to be the vehicle for introducing the majority of sports fans to now-legal sports betting. Messler is a member of our Women's Sports Executive Network and a true innovator in the women's sports and betting industries. Keep an eye out for the innovative strategies Messler and her team at Gaming Society are sure to bring to the industry in the future.