Whether it’s an athlete using genetic insights to inform training, the use of biometric monitoring to optimize athletic performance, or technology that curates sports experiences for fans, emerging digital technologies are revolutionizing how people experience sport. This is creating new growth opportunities for the industry but it’s important that sports organizations consider their impact on the consumer as they deploy these technologies, reassure their audiences about how their data will be used, and ensure that they are delivering on long-promised impacts like fan personalisation and immersive remote experiences.
Increasingly, we see sports tech companies leveraging smart textiles to create next generation protective equipment. This includes sensors embedded in clothing and footwear that provide granular data on player impact. For example, sensor technology from Riddell’s Axiom football helmet is able to monitor impact forces and help teams determine when an injury has occurred. Similarly, footwear from Nike’s Aerogami line uses sensor technology to determine the force distribution of foot strikes and adapt cushioning accordingly.
As well as providing protection, this type of granular data will enable improved medical analysis on players. This will help reduce the number of players forced to retire with post-concussion syndrome, and it may also drive policy shifts around return-to-play protocols. Similarly, instrumented mouthguards from companies like HITIQ can identify when an impact has happened, and this will help teams decide on the most appropriate return-to-play protocol for each incident.
Finally, virtual reality (VR) is transforming the way that we watch and interact with sport. VR systems like Cosm’s immersive stadium experience offer viewers a realistic, stadium-like experience at home. Similarly, virtual reality apps such as Pro Era are allowing American football players to practice game simulations with real-time NFL data.