Top 5 Sports Technology Trends for 2019

The sports technology industry continues to reshape how fans engage, athletes perform, and sports generate value. Whether it’s for boosting athletic performance, creating immersive remote experiences or maximizing operational efficiency, innovative tech has become a major driver of growth within the industry.

Boosting athletic performance

Smart technologies like wearable devices monitor athlete health and performance to enable individualized coaching and training, while identifying potential injuries or risks. This enables teams to take action before injuries occur and improve their strategic decision making.

Enhanced fan engagement

Personalized highlights and digital ticketing are driving higher engagement levels for both sports teams and fans. For example, during the 2020 NBA Playoffs, WSC Sports used AI to create over 67,000 personalized highlight clips that matched specific viewer preferences. This boosted the brand’s visibility and loyalty, as well as generating new revenue streams for the league.

Sports stadium solutions

Whether it’s for managing crowd flows or improving security, technology is transforming the stadium experience. Smart ticketing, access control and security systems optimize operations for reduced cost and enhanced operational efficiency. This is especially true for smaller venues that need to keep staff and resources organized and ensure safe evacuations in the event of an emergency.

Big data analytics are also a critical component for optimizing the use of stadium facilities and assets. For instance, a sports league can utilize geofencing to identify high-traffic areas and attract more customers during off-peak hours with offers or events.