Empty stands come to life with Autograph Sound 

Autograph Sound has been able to add atmosphere to the game for clubs affected by Covid-19 who have been forced to play behind closed doors or with restricted crowd numbers. 

Even without fans at full capacity, Leeds United and Queens Park Rangers from the Premier League and Championship respectively have partnered with Autograph Sound to generate a realistic atmosphere for their home games as clubs across the UK continue to play without supporters.

Covid-19 has proven to be unpredictable with inconsistency surrounding the number of fans being able to attend events, depending on the current climate. With Autograph, the sound can remain the same.

The UK-based sound operator has been running for nearly 50 years, expanding to football from previous work in the musical theatre and play industry. They’ve been able to support clubs with authentic cheers and chants that you’d normally hear on gameday. 

Lockdowns in the UK meant that theatres were closed to the public, prompting Autograph to utilise their equipment in a different way. As football matches remained in play for professional clubs, the technology headed to empty stadiums. 

Normally if you hear crowd noise with no spectators, it is done through the broadcaster. Autograph wanted to allow players, coaches and other staff to feel that same sense of realism, albeit with artificial noise. 

Using staff from previous projects, Autograph got together with Leeds and QPR to create chants that can spread from multiple sections of the stadium. Watford FC goalkeeper Ben Foster does weekly videos for his YouTube channel where you can hear the QPR sounds in action via his GoPro when he played in goal away at the Kiyan Prince Foundation Stadium (Loftus Road). 

Noise can be heard for the pre-game build up, especially for a club like Leeds who have their own ‘Marching On Together’ song, as well as adapting to match scenarios throughout the 90 minutes such as goals. 

Autograph collaborated with Fan Chants, a company that built a library of 26,000 unique football songs around the world. The extensive collection of sounds ensures that chants are naturally different with a great mix that you’d hear in normal circumstances. 

Autograph will designate at least three people to a game so that they’re switched on to passages of play. Multiple computers can be used to control separate components of noise, with individual staff members to utilise the software.  

The first of these staff control intensity levels, where sound is altered accordingly to situations in a match – scoring a last-minute winner will be significantly higher for instance. A second person can monitor club-specific chants that can reflect the excitement they’d usually feel. If a team is pushing hard on a counter attack, the crowd will lift accordingly. A third staff member has extra control to anticipate key moments for goals, corners, cards and any other game-changing moments. They can even adjust to VAR decisions with a cancel button for goals which have tentatively been given.  

Games can be unpredictable at times, so the comprehensive coverage aims to make noise as free-flowing and realistic as possible to ensure sounds are adaptable to any situation. 

Clubs in the UK have only been able to welcome back up to 2,000 fans at a time throughout the 2020/21 season, but they’re currently back to no spectators at all. 

Even in the event of limited capacity in stadiums, the atmosphere is of course not as good. A partner like Autograph can deliver sounds of the game to help take your mind off the missing void of fans due to COVID-19. 

Autograph are looking to work long-term with UK-based clubs to add crowd noise for games now and for the unforeseeable future with limited to no spectators in attendance. It’s a project that can enhance the overall feel of matches, where players and coaches can get the same level of excitement as someone would at home. 

COVID-19 has been a challenging pandemic for nations across Europe, so Autograph are aiming to assist more clubs and leagues who are interested in getting their chants amplified in their home stadiums. 

Until COVID-19 is fully under control, Autograph’s sound software is one way of getting around the unique and tricky situation of affected crowd numbers if lockdowns for sporting events are forced upon us. 

You can find out more on Autograph Sound here. 

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Evolv Technology confirms leadership changes

The American security technology company, Evolv Technology, has fired President and CEO Peter George amid an internal investigation.

Evolv’s security products are used to detect weapons in arenas worldwide, protecting stadiums in football leagues such as the EPL and MLS, plus American sports such as the NBA, NFL, and MLB. The iconic MCG in Melbourne also employs Evolv’s security systems.

Evolv’s board had evaluated leadership at the company since May and terminated George’s contract without cause, effective immediately on October 30.

Evolv’s board outlined the need for change, meanwhile thanking Peter for his dedication to the company.

“We appreciate Peter’s years of dedication to our company and his significant contributions to the company’s mission. We wish him well in his future endeavors. That said, we have determined that a change in leadership is needed to improve the company’s culture as we prepare for the next phase of growth,” the board said via press release.

“We continue to believe that the fundamentals of our business remain strong. But we are also convinced that the company can do even better.”

Evolv has chosen co-founder and Chief Executive Officer Michael Ellenbogen as Interim President and CEO, as he imagined the long-term mission for the company.

“As a co-founder, I care deeply for this company and its customers, employees, and shareholders. I look forward to working closely with the board and our senior leadership team to advance our mission of creating a safer world while also driving the business forward,” he said via press release.

The Evolv board also reaffirmed the decision to terminate George’s contract was not in relation to the company’s recent inaccurate financial statements and declaration to delay future statements.

“The Board has been evaluating leadership and performance for several months – long before we became aware of any potential issues relating to the company’s sales practices and financial reporting. With respect to that ongoing investigation, the board remains committed to completing a thorough investigation as expeditiously as possible. Our goal is to ensure the company’s financial reports are always current and reliable and that our organizational culture reflects our values of integrity and honesty. That is the only way we can regain the trust and confidence of our investors.”

Evolv’s internal investigation is still ongoing, while the board aims to appoint a new CEO promptly.

MLS Innovation Lab has confirmed its second group of tech leaders

Major League Soccer (MLS) confirmed six companies have been chosen for the second edition of the MLS Innovation Lab, an initiative that is shaping the future of sports and supporting the league’s ongoing growth.

The initiative seeks to identify and support innovative start-ups and advanced technologies. The new cohort will focus on enhancing the league’s priorities in fan engagement, on-field performance, and media technology.

The MLS Innovation Lab was established in the autumn of 2023 to advance the league’s leadership in sports technology. After nine months of evaluation, selected companies showcased their innovations at the 2024 MLS All-Star Game in Columbus.

This event featured live demonstrations of cutting-edge technologies such as advanced GPS player tracking, AI-driven real-time language dubbing, and augmented reality experiences for fans.

In its second iteration, companies will have the chance to present their ideas in real-world settings within the MLS ecosystem. This includes opportunities at events like December’s MLS NEXT Fest in California, the Generation adidas Cup, the MLS NEXT Cup, and the MLS NEXT All-Star Game presented by All-State.

MLS Senior Vice President of Emerging Ventures, Chris Schlosser, mentioned the excitement of joining forces with scalable businesses from around the world.

“MLS continues to be at the forefront of innovation in global sports, The Innovation lab program provides an unparalleled opportunity for high performing companies to turbo-charge their growth, and to showcase their capabilities to the soccer world,” he said via press release.

“We are very excited to partner with this group of excellent start-ups from around the world to co-create new ideas and push the boundaries in sports.”

The following companies have been selected for the second cohort of the MLS Innovation Lab:

Edge Sound Research

EDGE Sound Research is a US-based leader in multimodal audio technology for live entertainment venues and virtual environments. The company focuses on real-time audio object isolation to create personalised experiences for diverse audiences. This innovation allows users to immerse themselves in the worlds of their favourite athletes, musicians, or characters, making unforgettable moments accessible through advanced sound technology.

OLIVER Sports

Based in Spain, OLIVER Sports is at the forefront of player performance monitoring technology, utilising AI to make elite-level data accessible to all soccer players and clubs. Their GPS trackers gather both athletic and soccer-specific metrics, including ball interactions. By providing actionable insights, OLIVER Sports enables coaches and players to improve performance, minimise injuries, and optimise training.

Soccerment

Soccerment, based in Italy, is a sports technology firm offering AI-driven data analytics tools and scalable tracking solutions to improve performance analysis across all levels of soccer. By focusing on proprietary performance indicators and advanced metrics like Expected Goals, Soccerment provides clubs, academies, and players with valuable insights. Their ecosystem features two key products: XSEED, smart shin guards that gather data, and XVALUE, a soccer analytics platform that delivers advanced metrics for match analysis and scouting.

Sportlight

Sportlight Technology is a UK-based sports tech startup that is transforming athlete tracking, physical performance, and injury risk management through its patented LiDAR and AI technology. Their wearable-free system provides elite sports organisations with exceptional accuracy and insights, enhancing player development, injury risk assessment, and rehabilitation. Installed in major stadiums in both the U.S. and abroad, Sportlight is a trusted partner for elite sports teams and leagues.

Lubu

Lubu Technologies, based in Los Angeles, is developing AI-powered wearable technologies aimed at improving athletic performance and recovery. The company has created a footwear-focused solution that analyses how the force of every step, sprint, and cut impacts performance and health. By tracking force impacts, cleat performance, and foot pressure during critical moments, Lubu offers athletes and coaches valuable insights to help optimise performance and enhance gameplay.

Wicket

Wicket, based in Cambridge, Mass, offers a facial authentication platform that enhances event experiences at over 40 stadiums across the U.S. and internationally. Utilising patented computer vision technology, Wicket partners with industry leaders to provide an exceptional guest experience through facial recognition for ticketing, payments, access control, and credentialing. As a privacy-first company, Wicket’s products are designed for opt-in use only.

For additional information on MLS Innovation Lab, click here.

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