Sports' ChatGPT?

May 15, 2023

Just like that, we’re back. Looking for a pick me up from those post weekend blues? The Sports Road is the place for you. With today’s edition being all about how your favourite sports are using technology to interact with fans, you do NOT want to miss this one…

Here's what we got for ya today:

  • Yankee’s New Chatbot

  • AR is Back in The Game

  • A New Sport…

  • The World’s CRAZIEST Challenge

Most valuable public market sports teams

Let's get into it!

Yankees: Time For Some AI…

Nothing has taken over the world in the last few months quite like ChatGPT. Yep, you know where this one is going…

But really, with the platform having already surged into becoming one of the most used websites in the world, it was only a matter of time before the next big AI chatbot was created.

And it looks like it has. *BUT*, there's a twist.

That’s right. Being solely centred around sports coverage, GameOn’s AI chatbot is dedicated to improving fan experiences.

Offering fans easier access to attaining tickets, the AI is also there to answer any sport-related question.

So with that, you may ask why we’re even talking about them today.

Well, this week the company has announced a deal with global GIANT, the New York Yankees.

This is what we know so far:

  • While the chatbot will allow fans far easier access to tickets for Yankees games, most of its powers are being shown off IN the stadium

  • Those in the stadium will have direct access to the AI

  • The technology will be built-in, and available in various different languages to accommodate for the Yankees global fanbase

Having already partnered with the NBA and FIFA, GameOn’s ceiling is seemingly VERY high…

“While we currently support numerous teams spanning the NBA, NFL, NHL, and others, there's a certain honour and prestige to be working with the Yankees. We're excited to implement our industry-leading platform to benefit Yankees fans as they navigate their most important questions related to attending games at Yankee Stadium.”

Alex Beckman, CEO of GameOn Technology

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This Could Get Interesting…

The NHL has seriously been on one recently…

Looking to improve engagement with the next generation of sports fans, the Hockey league have already teamed up with Roblox and Disney.

Now though, it looks like a new form of entertainment has been identified - AR Mini Games. Following the model made famous by Pokemon Go and other HUGE mobile games, the NHL could very well be onto something.

Teaming up with Verizon and ESPN, the three are gearing up to drop two AR Mini Game experiences.

This is what we know so far:

  • The two games, ‘Puck Pong’ and ‘Puck Pursuit’, have been designed to act as complements to ‘The Drop’, ESPN’s NHL show

  • Having the ability to compete online, the league will be able to engage a depth of fans and grow the game

  • Within the game, fans will be able to use the AR technology to experience content through volumetric figures of pundits or players

“Along with our partners, the ESPN Edge Innovation centre has been experimenting with how Augmented Reality could enhance the way fans can experience sports content. The Drop AR Mini Games give fans a fun and exciting experience that also complements what we’re doing from a production standpoint with ‘The Drop.”

Kevin Lopes, Vice President of Business Development & Innovation at ESPN

Building towards the future, the use of technology has been key in the NHL’s recent innovations. Keeping up to date with the newest that the tech world has to offer, the league could really begin to jump ahead of the game.

Subscribe to The Sports Road and you could do the same 😉

The ULTIMATE AI

Whether you like it or not, the way that sports are presented and broadcasted HEAVILY impacts their success.

So with that, in honour of it being a new week, here’s a new sport.

Ultimate (Ultimate Frisbee), welcome to The Sports Road.

Showcasing the world’s best Ultimate talent, the American Ultimate Disc League (AUDL) – in some ways – has a responsibility to show the world what the game is all about.

Like we touched on before, in today’s age, that’s pretty hard to do. So, with that, have a guess at how they’re planning to increase engagement within the broadcast…

AI. Obviously AI.

Yep, teaming up with Lensa AI, the AUDL are ready to take their broadcast to the next level.

Acting as a service to create animated avatars from uploaded photos, the league will be incorporating animated versions of players to each game. Following models popularised by leagues such as the NHL, NBA, and NFL we’re sure this partnership will only spell positive things.

“We are absolutely thrilled to partner with AUDL to deliver a whole new level of digital experience to the League’s fans and supporters. The work within the field of generative AI has recently been taking revolutionary leaps, and we, at Prisma Labs, are honoured to be able to shape meaningful collaborations within this context and take our partners on this journey with us.”

Andrey Usoltsev, Prisma Labs CEO

Being one of the fastest growing sports in America, this partnership will further the relationship between fans and players.

We Need to Talk About: The ‘Hardest Geezer’

It was only a matter of time before we HAD to write a story about the ‘Hardest Geezer’...

15,000 Kilometers. 240 Days. 360 Marathons. 16 Countries.

Running through some of the most difficult terrains out there, the journey will include long runs across places like the Congo rainforest (during the rainy season) and Sahara desert…

Just over three weeks into his journey, Russ had this to say:

“Rest days don't exist in my world. We don't do rest days. They just take away from the purity of the physical challenge. I'm out here to suffer and rest days make it easy… Also, no one's ever done this before, so I'm trying to set a fast time so that no one tries to beat it.”

Russel Cook

He’s living up to the name, I guess.

Aside from the huge amount of pride and recognition he’ll get for completing the challenge, the 26 year old is also raising money for charity.

With proceedings being split between The Running Charity and WaterAid, this journey is set to help millions.

As we start this week, this leaves us with one question:

What’s your excuse?

Quick bites

Meme of the day

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Quote of the day

"You need to play with supreme confidence, or else you'll lose again, and then losing becomes a habit."

Joe Paterno

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A BIG Win

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Chat to ya on Wednesday! ☮️