Why Manchester City were named the most innovative sports team in the world

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According to a report by Sports Innovation Lab, Manchester City have been named the most innovative sports team in the world.

The research and market intelligence firm assessed worldwide sporting clubs across three different categories: technology alignment, organisational agility and revenue diversification.

Over 8,000 data sources were analysed by the firm over multiple years, as well as more than 150,000 market signals to eventually determine the final rankings.

“Our team of analysts masterfully identified patterns of success among the world’s most nimble and well-prepared sports organisations,” said Josh Walker, Sports Innovation Lab co-founder and president.

“Our ongoing daily research and guidance will help the industry in charting the journey ahead.”

Manchester City were listed above an array of sporting sides, due to various factors.

The report stated “Manchester City has had their challenges recently, but that hasn’t stopped them from taking full advantage of their global brand awareness to diversify revenue opportunities, launch their own OTT service, and expand their products and services.

“City has consistently delivered unique experiences that other teams with fewer resources and smaller audiences would be wise to emulate.”

As an example, the English club recently launched a Facebook campaign that promoted a freestyle football competition to a global audience.

City have also worked with the social media giant and its supporters to generate long-form and short-form content that extended fan participation well beyond game-day, creating a variety of non-rights protected media.

Activations like that and the partnerships they have built with companies like Nissan, take advantage of City’s larger amount of assets they have through the City Football Group (CFG).

Sports Innovation Lab scored City the highest in technology breadth, meaning it is willing to use different services and products well before other sporting sides.

For example, City were the first team to launch a channel on Youtube Kids, a platform for children aged 12 and under, whilst also developing a partnership with Capstone Games to offer fans a digital experience where they act as a football manager and make critical in-game decisions.

The club does continue to be highly praised for its varying revenue sources as well, across its operations.

“In addition to all the brand and tech alignment City uses on social platforms, it gets similarly high marks for its revenue diversification and development of the Etihad campus — a multi-use district around the stadium that gives Manchester a hub of various media and entertainment experiences. As it continues to collect first-party data from its fans globally, it will be in a prime position to deliver Fluid Fans (technologically savvy supporters) a personalised experience,” the report said.

Other notable recent activity includes the Premier League side’s deal with Onefootball to distribute global editorial content on the German based company’s app, and their exclusive content deal with Douyin, a Chinese service owned by ByteDance (the company who owns TikTok). Mumbai City’s new deal with Puma, who outfits Man City, also highlighted the power of a centralised ownership group like CFG.

Sports Innovation Lab doesn’t forecast City will dip from the top of their bracket anytime soon.

“We expect City will be hard to unseat at the top of the rankings. They have a strong tech focus that should keep them ahead of the pack,” the report concluded.

The full Sports Innovation Lab list of the 25 most innovative sporting teams are shown below.

Full list:

  1. Manchester City (Premier League)
  2. Real Madrid (La Liga)
  3. Arsenal (Premier League)
  4. Barcelona (La Liga)
  5. Bayern Munich (Bundesliga)
  6. Manchester United (Premier League)
  7. Golden State Warriors (NBA)
  8. Paris Saint-Germain (Ligue 1)
  9. Juventus (Serie A)
  10. Sacramento Kings (NBA)
  11. Liverpool (Premier League)
  12. Philadelphia 76ers (NBA)
  13. New England Patriots (NFL)
  14. Green Bay Packers (NFL)
  15. AS Roma (Serie A)
  16. Borussia Dortmund (Bundesliga)
  17. Tottenham Hotspur (Premier League)
  18. Toronto Raptors (NBA)
  19. Seattle Seahawks (NFL)
  20. Chicago Cubs (MLB)
  21. Los Angeles Clippers (NBA)
  22. San Francisco 49ers (NFL)
  23. Cleveland Cavaliers (NBA)
  24. Atlético Madrid (La Liga)
  25. Schalke 04 (Bundesliga)

 

 

 

 

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Signality: Revolutionising Sports Data with AI Technology

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Image credit: Signality

Signality was founded in 2016 with a clear vision to transform sports data. The company was driven by the ambition to make sports data as efficient and autonomous as a self-driving car.

With a rise in AI technology, the Swedish-based company are changing the way sports data is captured, analysed and utilised.

Signality have focused heavily on using their technology to create an extensive and complex soccer data system thanks to their automated cloud-based platform.

This platform processes thousands of live soccer games every year, delivering unparalleled data insights. It can ingest feeds from a single panoramic camera to multiple cameras, with more inputs resulting in richer data.

As the company continues to grow, it is expanding in the sports media landscape, after recently being acquired by automated camera and video production company Spiideo, another Swedish sportstech brand.

Signality’s Soccer API

The company’s prized product is their Soccer API which comprehensively tracks data sets from all different angles of the sport to help clubs, leagues and athletes perform at their best.

This is how it works:

Revolutionising Soccer Analytics with Automated Tracking and Event Data

A cutting-edge Soccer API is transforming the way soccer data is collected and delivered. Through fully automated tracking and event data collection, the platform leverages static video camera streams to derive accurate positional and event data without the need for manual intervention.

Automated Data Collection and Low-Latency Delivery

By connecting video streams to the platform’s system, users can initiate an automated process that generates real-time data feeds. These feeds, accessible via an open and user-friendly API, ensure low-latency data delivery, providing crucial insights for analysts, coaches, and broadcasters.

Comprehensive Tracking Data

The platform provides detailed positional data for all players, including the ball and referee. This data forms the basis for numerous Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) that can be easily derived, such as:

  • Total Running Distances
  • Speed Zones
  • Number of Sprints
  • Player Separation Metrics
  • And Many More

This positional data is presented with high accuracy and precision, allowing teams to analyse movement patterns and player performance comprehensively.

Rich Event Data

In addition to tracking data, the API delivers extensive event data, covering a broad range of on-field events. Each event is timestamped and linked to the respective team and player. The list of supported event types is continuously expanding and currently includes:

  • Kick-Off
  • Goals
  • Passes
  • Substitutions
  • Red Cards
  • Yellow Cards
  • Corner Kicks
  • Dangerous Free Kicks
  • Penalties
  • End of Phase

This comprehensive event data enables deeper tactical analysis and enhances the storytelling for media coverage.

Proven and Validated Technology

The quality of the platform’s services has been validated by Gothenburg University, ensuring reliability and accuracy. In addition, continuous in-house validation and collaboration with partners help maintain and improve the high standard of service. Interested users can request further details about the validation process.

How It Works

  1. Connect Video Streams: Users can connect their respective video streams to the API and optionally provide additional match information, such as team lineups, home and away teams, and kick-off time.
  2. Automated Processing: The platform’s AI models process the video streams, automatically extracting positional and event data.
  3. Access Data via API: The processed data is made available through an easy-to-use open API, enabling seamless integration into existing systems.
  4. Quality Assurance: Built-in QA services ensure data accuracy by continuously training and refining AI models based on feedback and new data.

Conclusion

Signality’s Soccer API offers a revolutionary solution for automated soccer analytics. By providing fast, accurate, and comprehensive data through a robust open API, it empowers teams, analysts, and broadcasters to gain unparalleled insights into the game. With proven technology and continuous improvement, this platform is set to become a key player in the future of soccer analytics.

First AFC football eSports Forum looks to the future

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Image credit: AFC

The Asian Football Confederation has looked to the future in the first ever AFC Football eSports Forum.

Hosted in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, over two days, the forum reiterated the AFC’s dedication to captivate and draw audiences across a range of different multimedia, especially through the hugely popular gaming industry.

The conference brought together key stakeholders such as AFC Member Associations (MAs) and eSports professionals to develop off the triumph of the AFC eAsian Cup, which was launched alongside the AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023.

To begin the forum, event attendees participated in an introductory session to understand the AFC’s Football eSports strategy.

AFC Deputy General Secretary, Shin Man Gil, outlined the importance of adopting eSports into the AFC.
“Earlier this year, we marked the beginning of a new chapter in the Confederation’s rich legacy when we introduced the AFC eAsian Cup,” he said in a press release.
“It demonstrated the immense potential of eSports and opened the doors to welcome a whole new section of fans. We must embrace digital innovations to expand the reach of our sport and deepen our connection with fans, especially with our younger audience.”
Forum sessions presented by the Football Association of Indonesia, and United Arab Emirates Football Association, focused on identifying and growing Football eSports talent and sharing insights.
On the second day of the conference, game designer Konami showcased their latest updates to the eFootball game, highlighting the inclusion of the AFC continental tournaments. While in another session, attendees learned of ways to engage young people through digital mediums.
Pranav Jayachandran from the All India Football Federation, commented on the significance of the forum.
“Listening to the success stories of our peers has been incredibly inspiring and we will return from this Forum with a wealth of knowledge that will surely contribute to enhancing our respective football eSports initiatives,” he said via press release.
“The world of football eSports is continuously expanding and to be part of this process is really exciting. The AFC eAsian Cup was not only a thrilling experience but also signalled the immense potential of Asian teams, and we are all eager to see how this ecosystem evolves in the future.”
The AFC will next launch the AFC eChampions League Elite event in April-May 2025, signalling the organisation’s commitment to developing Football eSports.

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