It really is a whole new ball game. As we approach Labor Day 2015 and get ready for Gravity Summit SportsTech 2015, let's look at how pervasive technology is in sports.
From big data in the Olympics to smart helmets on the field, from virtual reality at the U.S. Open to how wearables for athletic and fitness training, to drones on the golf course and the expanded fan experience in state of the art stadiums, it's a super exciting time.
And this is just the beginning. Smart TV tech and apps are providing tons of information during broadcasts -- and you'll be able to get statistics on players or launch built-in fantasy league apps on your TV.
Or the recently announced opportunity at the upcoming U.S. Open to play tennis against Maria Sharapova using virtual reality, and brought to you by American Express.
And with Facebook's recently announced milestone -- that 1 billion users used Facebook on Monday, August 28, 2015, it makes perfect sense that Facebook will look for new and creative ways to make the platform available to leagues and advertisers. As Variety reports, "The NBA, over the course of the 2015 Finals series, delivered more than 100 million video views on Facebook, up 180 percent from last year."
And now Facebook is testing "suggested videos" with video ads; partners include NBA, Hearst, Fox Sports and others.
Can't wait to see what's next as these two massive industries collide!
Beverly Macy is Beverly is an educator, author, speaker, and thought-leader in marketing strategy, digital business, and the power of emerging technology. She teaches Global Business Sports & Entertainment at UCLA Anderson Center for MEMES. She is CEO of Gravity Summit, host of SportsTech 2015.