Sports Media Report
DDSports Inc. (ShotTracker), a revolutionary sports technology that captures rich performance data via sensors and provides statistics and analytics with sub-second latency, today announced a first of its kind partnership with Playfly Sports to deliver real-time analytics via sensors to the participants of this weekend’s New Mexico State High School Basketball Championships in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
It is the first time for an elite state-run and sanctioned championship where performance data capture will be collected and used to enhance the experience for coaches, scouts and through Playfly’s integration into in-arena video boards at The Pit at The University of New Mexico for fan and brand engagement. ShotTracker technology is currently used in over 70 major colleges and universities, but this expansion into the high school market is believed to be a first in the use of real time analytics.
This is expected to be the first of many opportunities where ShotTracker’s technology, either already installed or in the process of being installed, at elite college facilities will be able to be incorporated into high school games that are played in those facilities. They will range from holiday and state championship events to special intersectional regular high school games that draw large audiences every year.
“We are very pleased to be able to show proof of concept and expand our reach through this Playfly partnership with the New Mexico Activities Association,” said Bill Moses, ShotTracker CEO. “The location, the Pit at the University of New Mexico, has enjoyed the benefit of our partnership with the Mountain West Conference, and the timing of this year’s State Championships, which was delayed by The Pandemic, really gives us a great opportunity to close out the basketball calendar for this year.”
“The systems we are installing and expanding continue to create more and more opportunity, not just across men’s and women’s college basketball but with broadcast partners and other sports down the road,” ShotTracker co-founder and President Davyeon Ross said. “We have long looked for the right opportunity to show the capabilities of what we can do to the high school market, and that opportunity has now arrived.”
“This offering for the New Mexico Activities Association State High School Basketball Championships opens up a new world of possibilities for high school athletics that have long been talked about but now can be implemented, in terms of technology and data capture,” said Michael Schreiber, Playfly Sports CEO and Founder. “Our university partners host a great deal of elite events, and ShotTracker’s best in class technology will be an invaluable addition for Playfly’s high school associations moving forward.”
The New Mexico Activities Association State High School Basketball Championships began at regional locations this past Monday May 3, with over 40 teams competing across five divisions. The tournament will progress to The University of New Mexico this coming weekend, May 6-8, with 10 teams reaching the state championship finals. In partnership with New Mexico Gas Company, all 10 schools will wear sensors and be able to take advantage of the ShotTracker system.
“We are excited to have ShotTracker as an added element to the Finals for the 2021 Boys and Girls State Basketball Championships,” said NMAA Executive Director Sally Marquez. “Providing real-time data to the coaches and fans will only enhance one of New Mexico’s premiere sporting events.”
Playfly Sports’ innovative platform offers brands a differentiated advertising and media engine consisting of customized scaled linear, digital, and experiential assets that connect with sports fans at a local, regional, and national level. Currently, Playfly Sports represents nine state high school athletic associations in addition to its portfolio of high-profile collegiate and professional properties and partners.
ShotTracker, whose recent $13 million funding round includes Evertz Technologies, Verizon Ventures and Hearst Ventures, currently brings elite-level, real-time analytics to the court. The company’s patented technology tracks data in three parts: a ShotTracker-enabled ball, sensors on players’ jerseys and court sensors that map the court in 3D. Data is processed through the company’s proprietary algorithm displayed on the ShotTracker app and dashboard and is also integrated with Evertz’s cloud-based live production solutions. The real-time data can be used to automate camera productions from remote locations and can be licensed by media and sports data companies and will be enhanced by all the innovation Verizon is bringing through their cutting-edge work in 5G.
