IBM Launches First Global Sports Consortium

IBM (NYSE: IBM) today announced the Sports and Entertainment Global Consortium, which was created to design, build and deliver the ultimate fan experience. IBM also announced the new Sports, Entertainment and Fan Experience consulting practice led by Jim Rushton, who joins IBM after serving as Chief Revenue Officer of the Miami Dolphins and Sun Life Stadium.

The consortium brings together IBM’s world leading information technology and recognized leaders in such areas as, construction and design, network infrastructure, wireless and telecommunications. Collectively, consortium members already are working with more than 250 of the world’s top venues. The sports consortium offers clients an integrated capability spanning design, strategy, technology and data to drive growth and profit across all sports enterprise businesses.

Founding members of the consortium, include:

• Architecture and Design: HOK
• Construction and Design: AECOM, Whiting Turner
• Infrastructure Technology, Software & IPTV: Alcatel-Lucent, Anixter, CommScope, Corning, Juniper Networks, Ruckus Wireless, Schneider Electric, Smarter Risk, Tellabs, Ucopia, Zebra Technologies, YinzCam, Zhone
• Communications Solutions Providers: AT&T, Verizon Enterprise Solutions, Level 3, Zayo
• Fan Experience Consulting & Data Management Integration: IBM

  

  The new consortium brings together IBM’s world leading information technology and recognized leaders in such areas as, construction and design, network infrastructure, wireless and telecommunications. The sports consortium offers clients an integrated capability spanning design, strategy, technology and data to drive growth and profit across all sports enterprise businesses.

  In many cases, sports enterprises and venues have yet to incorporate digital elements that are essential in providing a seamless year-round experience that will delight their passive, active, or high-value fans. At present, these enterprises must act as their own general contractors to assemble an extensive list of capabilities and integrate a complex stack of technology and business components.

   

   

   

   

According to A.T. Kearney, sports annually generate nearly $700 billion around the world and the market is growing faster than Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in nearly every country. The modern venue setting demands a sophisticated technology and wireless environment.

“We look forward to working with IBM and our clients to integrate new and emerging technologies into the design of stadiums, ballparks and arenas to create a more memorable experience for fans”, said Brad Schrock, AIA, a director of Sports + Recreation + Entertainment design at leading sports venue design firm HOK. “Fans will be able to use mobile devices to interact with the venue and the team, which will create extraordinary experiences.”

Yet less than half of U.S. sports venues provide even basic connectivity on game days. Fewer still are equipped to meet fan expectations for wireless services to mobile devices, e-commerce and entertainment options, and delivery of data and analysis of events and athletic performance.

As sports enterprises and venues look to digital capabilities to create deeper levels of engagement with fans and convert that engagement into new sources of revenue, they must be able to deliver high-bandwidth connectivity, with services and content increasingly customized to individual preferences.