Enterprise IT vendor IBM today said it seeks to add business from the rapidly growing sports and entertainment venue industry through a consortium.
Jim Rushton will be leading the IBM’s Sports, Entertainment and Fan Experience consulting practice. Before joining IBM, Jim worked as chief revenue officer of the Miami Dolphins and Sun Life Stadium.
Some of the focus areas of the consortium partners will be construction and design, network infrastructure, wireless and telecommunications. The new IBM consulting practice will deploy more than 100 global specialists in experience design, mobility, marketing and data analytics supported by a network of 20 digital design studios.
Collectively, consortium members already are working with more than 250 of the world’s top venues offering design, strategy, technology and data to drive growth and profit across all sports enterprise businesses.
Founding members of the consortium
# HOK for architecture and design
# AECOM and Whiting Turner for construction and design
# Alcatel-Lucent, Anixter, CommScope, Corning, Juniper Networks, Ruckus Wireless, Schneider Electric, Smarter # Risk, Tellabs, Ucopia, Zebra Technologies, YinzCam, Zhone for infrastructure technology, software and IPTV
# AT&T, Verizon Enterprise, Level 3 and Zayo for communications solutions
# IBM for fan experience consulting and data management integration
IBM is tapping a number complex yet lucrative IT deals with the launch of the new practice. A.T. Kearney says sports generate nearly $700 billion. IBM will be playing a key role in the business since the modern venue setting demands a sophisticated technology and wireless environment.
Incidentally, IBM is already working with several sports events offering digital experience.
There is a need to improve customer experience at stadiums as some surveys indicate that 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.
Arthur M. Blank Sports & Entertainment Group signed on IBM as a founding partner for its Atlanta Mercedes-Benz Stadium to open in 2017 as the home of the NFL’s Falcons and Atlanta United FC of Major League Soccer.
“IBM is building the network backbone that will support the operational systems for the stadium, such as physical security capabilities including cameras, managed doors and video intercom systems,” said Jared Miller, chief technology officer, Arthur M. Blank Sports & Entertainment Group.
A large sports venue will have the infrastructure with fiber-based optical networks and distributed antenna system to ensure connectivity for reliable Wi-Fi to fans attending a game, video displays and digital signage. Hope IBM and its partners will bring better customer experience.
Baburajan K
editor@infotechlead.com
