The Role AI Plays in the Sports Industry
As AI dramatically transforms the way organizations across finance, insurance, healthcare, and education operate and do business, the sports world takes no exception.
The sports industry encompasses so much more than the activity on the field or court. Behind the scenes, there’s:
- Training & injury prevention
- Data & statistics
- Sponsorship & ticketing sales
- Marketing & PR
- Equipment manufacturing
- Refereeing & officiating
- Strategy & analytics
- Talent recruitment & trading
All these sectors of the sports industry can take advantage of the efficiencies and insights provided by advanced AI technology. In fact, the global AI sports market is predicted to reach $19.9 billion by the year 2030.
AI doesn’t only benefit the “big five” sports of football, baseball, basketball, hockey, and soccer. Non-traditional sports like golf, lacrosse, tennis, horse racing, and more also utilize AI to drive fan intrigue, sponsorship participation, and revenue.
5 Ways AI Supports Sports Advancement
Understanding the amount of effort that goes on behind the scenes in the sports industry sheds light on how AI can positively influence operations from gameplay to marketing. Explore five top categories where AI is supporting sports advancement below.
1) Performance-Based Predictive Modeling
Predictive modeling is one of the most sophisticated forms of AI, and in the sports industry it provides valuable insights to player performance and analytics. Through AI predictive modeling, coaches can strategize proactively by anticipating injuries or slumps.
AI algorithms can also analyze historical data like injury history, performance stats, and more to forecast player performance— which is highly valuable for player signing and trading.
Predictive modeling can also stimulate game scenarios, which helps with coaching, training, and strategic planning.
2) Accurate & Fair Officiating
Most commonly, AI-driven game footage assists with fair play and refereeing. AI tracks ball and strike locations in professional baseball, reviews close calls in professional football, and accurately calls fouls in professional basketball. In non-traditional sports, AI helps accurately call penalties in PGA golf tournaments and out-of-bounds or in-bounds plays in tennis.
This unbiased insight allows for more fairness and sets a new standard of accuracy beneficial for players and fans alike.
3) AI-Infused Sports Equipment
Sports equipment is a massive parallel industry that fuels amateur athletes and professionals alike. Major technological updates and improvements to sports equipment haven’t happened much in recent years— as a lacrosse ball is a lacrosse ball and shin guards are shin guards.
But AI is challenging that sentiment and proving that sports equipment can continue to adapt and improve for the better.
Some examples of AI-infused sporting equipment include:
Running Shoes
By monitoring movement and heart rate, AI-infused running shoes adapt their cushioning level based on the runner’s fatigue levels.
Bicycles
AI-powered bikes incorporate GPS and traffic data to find the most efficient routes.
Golf Clubs
AI sensors monitor the user’s swing to then adjust the club’s swing height to be more optimal for the user.
4) More Engaging Fan Experiences
In order for non-traditional sports to grow in popularity? There needs to be passionate fans.
Personal, immersive experiences go a long way for attracting and maintaining fans. Sports teams and leagues utilize AI for engaging fan experiences with:
- Player Interaction: AI-powered chatbots allow fans to interact with their favorite players.
- Tailored Discounts: Chatbots identify fans’ interests and offer customized discounts.
- Parking & Stadium Navigation: AI-assisted recognition technology identifies license plates to help fans find parking spots and their seats in the stadium.
- VR Experiences: Virtual reality experiences powered by AI allow fans to have an immersive experience with the sport and team.
- Ticket Purchasing: Chatbots can gain information from fans about their preferences to suggest relevant games.
5) Captivating Sports Sponsorship & Ticketing Sales
AI also plays a pivotal role in inside sponsorship and ticketing sales. For all sports, securing valuable partnerships and group ticket sales can make or break the sustainability of a particular team, club, or league.
More and more sports leaders are turning to their tech stack to stand out in the competitive world of sponsorship and ticketing sales. For example, DIGIDECK, the #1 sales presentation software in the sports industry, comes equipped with AI Assist.
DIGIDECK AI Assist allows sales and marketing teams to improve the intentionality of their sponsorship and ticketing pitches. With the AI tool integrated directly into the platform, users can instantly summarize important calls and meetings, modify existing messaging, or generate new copy in the perfect tone for their prospect for more impactful presentations.
Surge Your Sales With AI
Is your sports team or league leveraging AI to increase fair play, fan engagement, and revenue? As the world relies more and and more on AI, it’s clear that the sports industry is no different.
As you continue to utilize AI to increase visibility of your sport, consider pairing the benefits of AI with time-saving automations, trackable analytics, and immersive visual designs in DIGIDECK.
Curious to learn more about how the DIGIDECK presentation platform can help your team, league, or stadium win big deals in half the time? Schedule a free 30 minute demo today!
