The sports industry had an exciting period in 2021. It was the season in which some normalcy returned in the sports industry. For instance, most sports action returned, and fans were allowed to watch live matches after a long time away. It was also great for sports betting enthusiasts on OgaBet, as they had live events to wager on. Some of the prominent sports were football, tennis, rugby, cricket, and basketball. Additionally, the integration of sports and technology generally improved the industry. So, what were the most prominent sports tech trends of 2021? Read on to find out more.
Fan Engagement Technology
Data-Driven Personalization
Data-powered personalization touched on different levels of fan and consumer experience. The trend cut across all verticals in sports technology, including performance and business. For example, the industry richly combined first-party data with AI platforms to produce essential and timely recommendations. This ability was revolutionary in sports and connected fitness.
Data-driven personalization was also critical to the fan viewing experience. For instance, the platforms learned player preferences and behaviors, meaning they could know what content they consume. It also offered new revenue channels across the viewing experience.
Some of the revenue channels included integrated e-commerce offers that prompted fans to buy merchandise to respond to some action on the pitch. Others include advanced statistics and in-game odds for sports bettors.
VR Headsets
With many fans not able to attend live sporting events, Virtual Reality became an important technology. The technology offered the fans the ability to watch their favorite matches in real life but from the comfort of their living rooms.
For instance, die-hard football fans could stream matches using VR headsets. This enabled them to simulate the in-stadium experience more realistically. As a result, they ended up with a more immersive experience.
Athlete Performance Technology
AI and Wearable Sensors
AI’s capabilities as a tool for athletes grew in 2021. Club management could easily monitor player heart rate, lung capacity, muscle movement, and body temperature. Consequently, it became an essential technology for monitoring overall player health and potential for injury.
In the end, the insights from these technologies helped to push players to achieve their maximum output. It also enabled players to avoid preventable injuries.
Augmented Reality for Analyzing Injuries
AR was applied in different ways in the sports industry. One of the notable uses of the technology was understanding the extent of player injuries. It was also used to monitor the recovery progress more precisely.
For instance, athletes wear sensors that monitor their bones, muscles, and joints. The sensors are then connected to an AR visualize, which observes movement and range of motion to get accurate insight in real-time.
What Lies Ahead?
The integration of sports and technology will continue to improve in the foreseeable future. So far, based on what was experienced in 2021, it is evident that technology plays a critical role in different areas of the sports sector. Therefore, as technology and sports experts continue to explore more possibilities, all stakeholders should lookout for a better sporting future.
