Most dynamic of all may be the impact on the fan experience, says Davyeon Ross, co-founder and president at ShotTracker. Not only does live data-sharing enable broadcasters to show fans value-add diagrams like shot maps or up-to-the-second stats, but the future could be headed for an experience that fans can more easily personalize, both at the game and at home. ShotTracker’s technology can allow isolated cameras to follow individual players, and as streaming technology improves, fans may one day be able to personalize who they’re viewing on the court or field at any given time—perhaps up to several streams at once.
“Our data is connected to the video, so we could make it so that if you’re home, you could configure it and say, ‘hey, I want to choose what view I want to see. I want a ‘Zion Cam’ or maybe I want this pylon view that’s available,’” Ross says, referring to cameras attached to an individual player or pylons around a stadium. “Historically, broadcasters have controlled what we see as consumers. I think the evolution of 5G is not only in-stadium, but outside of stadiums. It’s going to empower and amplify those solutions to allow a certain level of personalization that will come in the future.”
An evolving fan experience
For fans, the partnership of 5G and sports can completely transform the “live” experience.
One area likely to benefit greatly is stadium operations. In the future, fans may be able to opt-in to enter the game with ticketless, hands-free entry or quickly grab snacks, beverages or merchandise by paying with touchless sales options rather than using a card or phone. A first step in that direction, a Verizon 5G-powered store offering “grab and go” checkout, recently opened at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami.
“I visited our ‘frictionless’ store in Miami,” says Nagy, “and I walked in and walked out within 30 seconds buying the merchandise that I needed.”
Wayfinding through augmented reality can allow fans to potentially see wait times for bathrooms, concession lines or exit gates before they get up from their seats. Missing the action to grab refreshments has always been a downside of the in-stadium experience.
Other innovations have yet to be envisioned. And even with the progress, Nagy says Verizon will continue to take in fan input and shape the stadium experience moving forward. His team is studying, for instance, how fans interact with the Multi-View experience. “Is this something that you use when you’re going out for a break to grab a beverage and want to stay up to date with the game? Or is it something you’re going to use in your seat when you’re sitting 20 rows back from the field?” Nagy asks. “We’re exploring that right now, and we take a lot of feedback from fans.”
Changing how teams track and improve
Beyond the fan experience, 5G is making a profound impact on the sporting world.
During the Phoenix Suns incredible rise to the NBA Finals last season, the team had a secret weapon beyond its talented team and savvy coaching staff. Verizon 5G and advanced analytic tools helped the Suns reveal otherwise hidden insights. The team used 150 HD cameras, sensors, nodes and 3D force plates to capture computer-aided motion analysis, player and ball tracking, and shot tracking. It then leveraged 5G Ultra Wideband connectivity to tie it all together into a single integrated system.
