Gamers play MTB racing on a big screen at the UCI World Cycling Championships in Glasgow
Featured image credit: Piing
Our weekly tech round-up from the stadium ecosystem includes cricket's innovation competition and how big screen games entertained fans at the Cycling World Championships...
Cricket searching for tech disruptors
The International Cricket Council (ICC) has launched the second edition of the Next In hackathon, inviting technologists to revolutionise the sport through cutting-edge innovation.
Launched in association with global payments platform Nium, the Next In hackathon is a platform that brings together technologists from around the world who share a passion for cricket. The second edition offers participants the chance to showcase their skills, collaborate with like-minded individuals, and contribute to the evolution of cricket in a digital age, culminating in the hackathon final in India in early November during the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup.
The three tracks for participants to focus on include fan experience in stadium and at home, as well as enhancing team and athlete training experience, and growing participation in the sport.
ICC Next-In 2.0 offers a prize pool of $20,000 for the most innovative and groundbreaking ideas.
The ICC said: “Through this platform, technologists will have the opportunity to develop innovative solutions that can elevate high performance training, enhance fan engagement, and encourage mass participation in the sport.”
The first ever Next In hackathon saw 9550 teams from 113 countries involved, including 1000 registrants from the USA with the winning idea presented by team ‘Fanisko’. Their solution offered an enhanced live cricket viewing experience through 3D Augmented Reality, allowing users to play the game in real time from the comfort of their homes.
Big screen games wow cycling fans
Cycle racing fans have had an extra dose of excitement at the UCI World Cycling Championships in Glasgow with hi-tech games for crowds on the big screens in the fan zones.
Games from developer Piing were displayed in between races across Glasgow and at other UCI World Championship race venues across Scotland in partnership with LED screen provider Adi.
Spectators at the BMX events were invited to play the newly released MTB racing game that was fully rebranded for the UCI, pitting contestants against each other on a virtual course.
Piing’s Guinness World Record breaking Quiiz, a general knowledge game that can be played by thousands of contestants at the same time, was screened across various World Cycling Championships venues including the Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome.
“We couldn’t think of a better place to introduce our MTB racing game to the world than with adi.tv at the fantastic UCI Cycling World Championships in Glasgow,” said Gareth Langley, Piing’s chief executive. “Virtual cycling might not be on the official World Championships schedule, but we’re working on it!”
Chase Center’s grab and go store
The Golden State Warriors and Chase Center have announced the launch of “ampm ASAP Grab and Go,” a new, autonomous checkout store experience, powered by Verizon Business technology, located on the arena’s main concourse.
Originally launched as a pilot during the 2022-23 NBA season, the store is now fully operational for all events at Chase Center and offers fans quick and convenient ways to purchase food and beverage items.
The store allows guests to pick up pre-packaged snacks, candy and freshly baked ampm cookies as well as beverages, without going through a checkout line. Powered by Verizon Business and AiFi technology, guests can tap, swipe, or insert a credit card upon entering the store.
“The ampm ASAP Grab and Go store is a perfect opportunity to leverage innovative technology that will enhance the fans’ food and beverage experience at Chase Center,” said Mike Kitts, the Warriors’ chief commercial officer.
“Innovation is a core component of our business, and both Verizon and ampm have a laser focus on creating opportunities to enhance the customer experience, a unique partnership triangulation that has resulted in a new, innovative grab-and-go contactless shopping concept.”
City’s new anti-discrimination text service
Manchester City is launching a new text service for reporting discrimination and anti-social behaviour at the Etihad Stadium on a matchday.
Fans who see or hear abusive behaviour are encouraged to text the service to make the club’s dedicated security team aware of what they have witnessed.
The club said: “The service is available to all fans at the Etihad Stadium on matchday. You can share your feedback anonymously by texting your block, row, seat number and a short description of the incident to the number.”
Golf’s TGL incorporates AI-driven experiences
Infinite Athlete, whose Tempus Ex Machina syncing technology facilitates operations and fan experiences, is partnering with TGL, the new arena-based golf league launching in January 2024.
Tempus Ex’ FusionFeed API combines all video and data for a wide array of use cases, including the recent introduction of Match View X, a personalised streaming experience first adopted by Premier League power Chelsea FC.
Infinite Athlete’s FusionFeed technology can synchronise and deliver every available piece of data generated by every data and video vendor at a live sporting event — including each video angle, stats platform, and player tracker covering each play.
TGL intends to leverage the FusionFeed to create AI-powered products that will be led by newly announced official technology partner Full Swing.
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