If you need proof that the Pacific Northwest is a hub for the intersection of sports and technology, look no further than GeekWire’s inaugural Sports Tech Summit. Last year, the tech site expanded its repertoire to include a sports tech category. Now, it’s going above and beyond, inviting many of the most innovative sports industry professionals to share their expertise on sports technology for a major one-day event.
From league administrators to investors, there will likely be something for everyone who finds sports tech fascinating.
Captains of Sports
If you like knowing what your favorite leagues are up to, have no fear. Two of the Pacific Northwest’s biggest leagues will be well-represented.
Major League Soccer commissioner Don Garber is one of the top speakers of the Summit. Garber has led the way for the M LS to not only expand its operations but its technological reach. The MLS was one of the first professional sports to broadcast in virtual reality.
In addition to Garber, the Sounders’ majority owner, Adrian Hanauer, will be speaking. The National Football League will be represented by its Chief Information Officer, Michelle McKenna-Doyle, and Seahawks’ wide receiver Doug Baldwin, Jr.
With one session focusing on how technology is influencing athletic performance and fan engagement, Baldwin is likely to be one of the session’s major contributors. Not only is he prolific social media user, Baldwin is also part of a leadership consulting firm’s roster of speakers.
Both the MLS and the NFL are providing other speakers to the Summit, including team managers and other owners.
Captains of Industry
Technology itself will also be well-represented at the Summit. One such tech captain is STRIVR Chief Executive Officer and founder Derek Belch. STRIVR develops virtual reality training for athletes. While STRIVR’s tech hasn’t quite reached the Northwest, this will be the perfect opportunity for the company to show teams like the Sounders what it can offer.
The Summit is also hosting sessions on how data is impacting sports and technology. Proving that data scientists do more than just sit in labs, Davidson College Mathematics and Computer Science Professor Dr. Tim Chartier will be sharing his expertise. This includes working with ESPN, ESPN Magazine, NASCAR, and the NFL, consulting on data analytics projects.
IDG Ventures Vietnam’s Henry Nguyen will also be present at the Summit. In addition to his title of Managing Partner at IDG Ventures Vietnam, Nguyen also holds that title for the Los Angeles Football Club, the MLS’s newest team. Using his venture capital expertise, Nguyen and his LAFC leadership team have begun the planning and building process for the first open-air stadium built in the city since 1962, entirely privately funded.
With the presence of management like Nguyen, the Summit gives attendees a wide range of opportunities. Journalists will be eating up the newest trends, fans will be basking in their favorite league news; if you happen to be part of a sports tech startup, this could also present a great opportunity for giving a killer pitch or two. Let’s all hope that the Summit is a huge success, so there are more opportunities like this in the Northwest.
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