It's YOUR Time...

July 28, 2023

Morning, and welcome back to The Sports Road! Yet again, it is FINALLY the weekend… With there being an obvious lack of live sport, what better way is there to be kept up-to-date with the latest and greatest in the industry than here with us 😂 Enjoy! 

Here's what we got for ya today:

  • It’s YOUR Time

  • The Smart Revolution

  • Volleyball Did WHAT!?

  • The Future…

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Times are changing!

When we first started The Sports Road, it’s fair to say that Golf wasn’t the pinnacle of entertainment… And – to be honest – while it may not be everybody’s cup of tea, the sport is changing….

I mean from drama, to technological advancements, BIG investment, and more, in the last couple months the sport has had everything 😂😂 

With a majority of the success being led by managing to expertly engage fans into both on and off-field events, it doesn’t look like those in charge are ready to stop yet.

In fact, it looks like they’re just getting started!

What today, you ask? Well, it could be time for YOU to get into the game like never before…

Yep, That’s right. Announcing the release of their very own Virtual Reality (VR) based tournament this week, the PGA Tour is giving fans the opportunity to play on their favourite courses from the comfort of their own home.

This is how the tournament is going to look:

  • Following a number of qualifying rounds, 500 of the world’s best players will compete in virtual reimaginations of the FedEx St Jude Championship, BMW Championship, and Tour Championship

  • With each of the courses being recreated in the game, competitors will be able to have a near one-to-one experience of what the pros go through during the prestigious tournaments.

  • Prizes for the VR Championships include VIP tickets, unique digital medals, and more!

“We are thrilled to introduce this immersive experience that puts PGA TOUR fans inside the ropes, allowing them to truly feel the exhilaration and challenges faced by the world’s top professional golfers… This is the first time that fans have been able to experience a major sporting event in this format – bringing PGA TOUR fans closer to the action than ever before.”

Chris Wandell, Vice President of Media Business Development at the PGA TOUR

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The Smart Shinpad: WHAT?!

Look, if you have been keeping up with The Sports Road over the last few months, you would know about the ‘Smart’ revolution…

Alright, alright – maybe not. But, just listen to this. I mean from the smart tires, to the smart ball, to even smart socks, it looks like technology is taking a hold of the things we consider even the most mundane!

Offering fans and players alike deeper engagement with data, the tool is especially useful in projecting and analysing performance.

That’s why this new initiative and partnership may just be the most impactful yet…

What is it? The Smart Shinpad.

While it may not actually be called that, Soccerment’s XSEED Pro could seriously change the game.

  • Powered by advanced sensory technology, the shin pads promise to aid in all aspects of physical performance.

  • Being connected to a mobile app, the technology within the system syncs to your phone and delivers a comprehensive and in-depth analysis of performance.

  • With the information being easily distributable, players are able to share their performance analysis with different clubs, aiding in their goals to make it to the top of world Football.

So, why is this important? This week, the company announced a deal with the CEE Cup.

If you don’t know what that is, essentially it’s a tournament which gathers professional youth teams from all over the world and has them compete against one another.

Offering players such as Anthony Gordon, Tomáš Souček, and more the opportunity to get their names out into the public, the partnership makes sense.

Allowing players high-level analysis, by combining forces, the CEE Cup and Soccerment could be changing the future of world Football.

This is DEFINITELY one to keep an eye on!

Volleyball: The Time is NOW

Volleyball: Everyone’s favourite sport that they hardly ever play…

Despite that though, on a professional level it never seems to get the love that it deserves. No disrespect of course, but I mean, when was the last time anyone heard something the most recent news and stories in professional Volleyball!?

Well, that may be changing very soon…

That’s right. In a deal which will see the Pro Volleyball Federation team up with tech firm, Navigator, the sport may finally be getting the attention that it needs to be considered one of the best.

Drawing up a plan for effective distribution, the two are looking to maximise competition exposure ahead of the new season.

“Entering into a partnership with Navigate as a trusted advisor was a major strategic decision for Pro Volleyball Federation… The expertise they provide in data and analytics, along with their extensive network of relationships within the media space, will assist us in securing broadcast agreements and content distribution channels that provide the best exposure for our world-class athletes as we launch our inaugural season in 2024.”

Stephen Evans, Co-founder of Navigate

Seeing as Volleyball plays a major role in the Olympics, in preparation for next year’s event, the drumming up of local interests could be crucial.

Offering opportunities for fans to engage with the sport like never before, this could be the beginning of a whole new era for Volleyball.

With countries already having invested heavily into AI and other technologies in the industry, don’t be surprised if this is NOT the last you hear of the sport!

We Need to Talk About: The Future of Broadcasting

We say it over and over again, but it really is looking like the future of sports broadcasting lies in streaming services and websites.

I mean, nobody wants to go through the whole ordeal of buying multiple different packages and having to call this person and that person just to see a couple of sports games…

Naturally, it would only make sense for one of the world’s biggest streaming services to get in on the action.

Enter, YouTube…

So, what is now? Logan Paul? KSI?

No. YouTube’s sporting presence is going to the most elite professional level. In partnership with Warner Bros Discovery’s (WBD) Max streaming service and Verizon’s mobile and broadband subscribers, YouTube TV will be making its coverage of the NFL available.

Seeing as Google has already leveraged multiple platforms to aid Max, the partnership only stands to further strengthen the two firms’ relationship.

“With Warner Bros. Discovery, we expanded our multi year relationship across our entire Android ecosystem, including partnering on the launch of Max… YouTube’s expanded deal for Max, inclusive of a Max-NFL Sunday ticket bundle on YouTube TV, also underscores our joint commitment to bring the highest-quality content and experiences to our customers.”

Philipp Schindler, Alphabet and Google Chief Business Officer

Quick Bites

Meme of the day

Quote of the day

“I said to Mikel at the end of the game that it means Champions League game [for them], because the intensity that they put was not normal, was not usual in a friendly game, but I understand perfectly that everybody wants to win.”

Xavi on pre season friendly vs Arsenal

Picture of the day

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Chat to ya on Monday! ☮️