Tech Innovations and Highly Anticipated Discussions Cued Up at CES Sports Zone

Photo via CES

Technology is increasingly making its presence felt in the sports world, and this year’s Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas will showcase the newest trends and innovations in the industry at the CES Sports Zone.

At the luxurious Aria Hotel, the CES Sports Zone will feature a selection of programming centered on the advancements in sports technology. Meanwhile, at the Sands Expo Hall, the expo will demonstrate the latest innovations.

Here’s a look at what can be expected next week:

January 8

The first seminar at the CES Sports Zone will be a presentation by Sports Innovation Lab’s CEO Angela Ruggiero and President Josh Walker. Ruggiero and Walker will chat about research in tracking trends in sports technology; the presentation will have an encore on January 9 as well.

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“If you’re not overwhelmed, you’re not paying attention,” Ruggiero said about the advancements and uses of technology in sports. “There are a lot of big companies that previously sat outside sports and are now making moves. Sports are a great way to show what’s possible.”

Data has transformed performance on the field by athletes and teams, and now it’s helping shape the sports off the field. Learning to weed through all the information will certainly continue to improve business operations.

After the Sports Innovation Lab presentation, a seminar will focus on business opportunities for pro athletes in the startup realm. Included in the discussion will be former NFL linebacker and versatile businessman Dhani Jones. With more athletes than ever thinking beyond their playing careers, it can be a daunting task to sort through all the options out there in an ever-growing field. 

Later in the day, a panel will tackle how new sponsorship partnerships are redesigning fan engagement. Finishing out the first day’s slate will be “The Connected Athlete: Building Better Athletes” and “The Smart Venue.”

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January 9

In a highly anticipated panel, representatives from Fox Sports, the NFL, NextVR, Intel, and Yahoo Sports will look at the present and future of mixed reality and immersive media.

The esports explosion will get a look during “The Technology of Sports and Fan Experiences” discussion, in which representatives from the Activision Blizzard Esports League and Twitch will speak to the growth and how the industry is using technology to meet its fans. Now a proven industry, esports can help other sports build their audiences.

Meanwhile, Turner President David Levy will lead a discussion about “The Next Era of Sports Media: A Conversation with David Levy.” Turner was the lead on the Tiger vs. Phil golf event last year and will undoubtedly continue to innovate in terms of keeping viewers interested.

Following Levy’s session, ESPN’s Rachel Nichols will lead a discussion between Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey and NBA Commissioner Adam Silver about the two organizations’ partnership and #NBATwitter.

READ MORE: How Riddell Is Changing the Game With New Football Helmet Technology

Also on January 9, South Point Casino will host a conversation between legendary broadcaster Brent Musberger and former NBA commissioner David Stern about the future of sports gambling. With sports betting legal at a federal level, the industry is just scratching the surface as more states pass legalization legislation. 

CES Sports Expo

Across the expo areas spread along the Strip, more than 140 exhibitors will showcase their technologies for the sports and esports industries.

Included in the brands will be a massive exhibit from Golfzon, a golf simulator brand. Austrian smart textile brand QUS will also be on the floor, showcasing its smart textile for sports training.