» AI has the ability to take in massive amounts of data and run scenarios to determine the
STICKING TO THE STATS SMT’s system captures player names, jersey numbers and positions, offering a full overview of each player’s involvement in the game
On and off the field For players, teams and coaches, tracking technology is crucial in refining strategy. “Tracking helps us better understand causality – which playing style is efficient, with what shape, against a certain team,” comments Melvang. Stats Perform offers a technology called Opta Vision, which uses generative AI to track each player’s field position and performance from kick-off to completion to inform decisions. Currently available for football only, there are four stages in the Opta Vision analytic process: event and tracking data collection, generative AI, data synchronisation and AI modelling. In the first stage, Opta Vision collects tracking data from match footage. Then, an AI-based model fills in any missing information for out-of-shot players. This data is then synchronised with the help of human-led QA and, finally, AI is
experience, helping fans make more informed betting decisions based on real-time probabilities. For high-stakes sporting events like the Super Bowl (NFL) or March Madness (NCAA), real-time tracking data can be incredibly useful to bettors, allowing them to adjust their wagers during or immediately after a given play. This is where latency comes into view; if there’s a noticeable gap between a game and its broadcast, this can have implications for live bettors. Thanks to real-time data from tracking companies like Kinexon, betting platforms can provide live odds as well as predictive analytics. Kinexon also opens new prop betting opportunities; rather than predicting a winner or correctly guessing the final score, fans can place bets on player-specific metrics like fastest pitch, highest jump or longest pass. As the sports betting industry continues to grow, particularly in the US, data-driven insights will become even more valuable, making the activity accessible even to the most casual watchers.
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found both on the jumbotron and throughout the concourse. SMT also allows the NHL to create AI-based data visualisations that recreate the on-ice action in real time. Besides benefiting fans by visually simplifying the game, this technology also serves the pundits and presenters who break down significant plays during intermissions and post-game reports. A league that sees 1312 regular games and up to 105 additional matches during the playoffs, the NHL relies on SMT to keep fans engaged and informed. For bettor or worse Besides improving the viewing experience, enhanced tracking stats serve another purpose: they aid in sports betting. The betting industry in the US, for instance, is enduring a major overhaul, with more states continuing to legalise the activity after the Supreme Court changed its tune in 2018. For fans in those lucky locations, betting can be a fun addition to the sports experience, as well as a small source of income. Statistics and tracking data have become an integral part of the
ON ICE Tracking the speed, direction and position of players optimises team strategy for ongoing games
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