Contact Sales

Heading to ICE in Barcelona? Visit the Genius stand to see sports betting's future. Book a meeting now.

<header class="pt4" aria-label="Article header"></header>
<div class="relative reader__grid">
<div data-scaffold-immersive-reader-content="">
<div class="reader-article-content reader-article-content--content-blocks" dir="ltr">
<div class="reader-content-blocks-container" tabindex="0" data-artdeco-is-focused="true">
<h1>Leaders Week round-up: Why a new era of intelligent sports begins NOW</h1>
At Leaders Week in London, our Chief Product Officer Matt Fleckenstein, and Chief Sporting Director of the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL), Tatjana Haenni, took to the Tech and Innovation stage. 
The duo discussed how 2024 has been a transformational year in the women’s game, and how on and off the field – like many sectors – artificial intelligence is driving a new frontier in sport. 
“New technology gets adopted when it seamlessly becomes part of the fabric of consumer’s lives,” said Fleckenstein. “AI is fast becoming normalised in how we run and experience sports.” 
<div id="attachment_5057" style="width: 1034px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-5057" loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="wp-image-5057 size-large" src="https://cms.geniussports.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Leaders-1024x683.png" alt="Our CPO Matt Fleckenstein (centre) and Tajtana Haenni (left), Chief Sporting Director of the NWSL, at the Tech and Innovation stage at Leaders Week. " width="1024" height="683" srcset="https://www.geniussports.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Leaders-1024x683.png 1024w, https://www.geniussports.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Leaders-300x200.png 300w, https://www.geniussports.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Leaders-768x512.png 768w, https://www.geniussports.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Leaders-1536x1024.png 1536w, https://www.geniussports.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Leaders-2048x1366.png 2048w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" />Our Chief Product Officer Matt Fleckenstein (centre) and Tatjana Haenni (left), Chief Sporting Director of the NWSL, at the Tech and Innovation stage, Leaders Week.</div>
In front of a packed Leaders Week audience, the session uncovered the benefits of new machine systems of intelligence for sports leagues, teams and federations, from tactical analysis to broadcasting, sponsor activation and fan engagement.  
As Fleckenstein laid out, Genius Sports and its rights holders partners are at the “forefront” of a bold shift, driven by a first-of-a-kind data and AI platform called <a href="https://www.geniussports.com/genius-iq/">GeniusIQ</a>.  
<h2>Say goodbye to fragmented tech</h2>
The digitisation of sport in the past 20 years has left rights holders with no choice but to adapt in order to keep pace. Consider the cyclical nature of media, data and broadcasting rights deals, and it’s no surprise that many sports today operate in fragmented tech ecosystems. 
According to Fleckenstein, “AI is enabling new systems of intelligence that provide rights holders with a transformative, holistic and synergetic way to drive short and long-term growth at a league level, and then down to the teams, coaches, broadcasters, officials, sponsors and fans.” 
In the case of Genius Sports, this begins with Dragon, a next-generation camera and tracking infrastructure system, supported by a suite of machine-driven solutions built on the <a href="https://www.geniussports.com/genius-iq/">GeniusIQ</a> platform. GeniusIQ translates data into content and experiences by understanding the true semantics of what’s happening during the live game.
<h2>Fan-first experiences</h2>
It’s no secret that sports fans today expect more immersive experiences than ever before. By 2030, 67% of fans expect sports consumption to be more interactive. 
Fleckenstein and Haenni agreed that, in today’s fast-paced social media-driven world, the “immediacy, intelligence and immersive nature” of sports content is key.  
Advancements in the richness of sports data have changed how fans watch and analyse live games, assess performance and even select fantasy teams. In the same vein, it’s changed how leagues and teams think about fan experiences. 
Performance metrics, such as expected goals or shot speed, are now expected to form part of a broadcasters’ game analysis, while gamification is commonplace for users on apps and other digital platforms they use to consume sports. Preferences differ between demographics meaning that customisation is crucial. 
The English Premier League’s Data Zone and the <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/posts/geniussports_excited-for-the-sportspro-ai-conference-next-activity-7242141809588539392-KsSp?utm_source=share&amp;utm_medium=member_desktop&amp;lipi=urn%3Ali%3Apage%3Ad_flagship3_pulse_read%3B1Y%2FDMpM9T6yFQq5bOcP1UA%3D%3D">Danish Superliga’s ‘Manager Mode’ function</a>, as used during the Danish Cup Final last year, are standout examples of alternate, data-driven broadcasts that have enhanced experiences for fans.  
At the same time, through BetVision, GeniusIQ is delivering truly innovative and immersive watch-and-bet experiences for NFL fans, complete with augmentations and in-game statistics on game-state, player performance and live odds.  
<iframe loading="lazy" title="BetVision by Genius Sports" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/JJJYGA4LmzM?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>
“It’s about serving the data in a contextual, relevant way,” added Fleckenstein. “You need to give fans the control to turn the dials on and off. The art is creating a customisable experience for each fan.” 
<h2>New monetisation potential</h2>
Leagues such as FIBA, the Premier League and the WNBA are just a few examples of forward-thinking rights holders investing in new intelligent solutions to deliver an optimal future of sport. 
One of the many benefits is new commercial opportunities. Enabled by the GeniusIQ platform, for example, Premier League team Brentford FC and NFL team LA Rams recently delivered first-of-a-kind augmented, sponsorable video highlights on the big screens inside the stadium. This new asset class is driving contextual engagement among already engaged audiences, providing unmatched visibility and memorability for brands via real-time ad placements.  
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-5062 size-large" src="https://cms.geniussports.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/1728908654749-1024x576.png" alt="" width="1024" height="576" srcset="https://www.geniussports.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/1728908654749-1024x576.png 1024w, https://www.geniussports.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/1728908654749-300x169.png 300w, https://www.geniussports.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/1728908654749-768x432.png 768w, https://www.geniussports.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/1728908654749.png 1280w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" />
Previously, these innovative applications of data and video content were unimaginable, but the exciting possibilities don’t stop there. Imagine what will be possible in a year’s time? 
AI combined with rich personalisation and data innovation means applications like 3D recreations of the game, simulations of player performance, augmented reality and monetisable integrations with platforms like Roblox are all on the table, providing sports and brands with genuinely exciting avenues to explore. 
The world of sport is changing, and rights holders need the right technology to stay ahead. New single systems of intelligence, as highlighted by Fleckenstein and Haenni, are laying the foundation for game-changing outcomes and opportunities for every stakeholder involved. 
<a class="app-aware-link " href="https://www.geniussports.com/genius-iq/?utm_source=linkedin&amp;utm_medium=organic_social&amp;utm_content=genius_IQ&amp;utm_campaign=GeniusIQ_landingpage" target="_self" data-test-app-aware-link="">Learn more about GeniusIQ</a>.
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>

Leaders Week Round-Up | Why a new era of intelligent sports begins NOW

Why Genius?

Products

Learn

Company