Game-Changing Technology In Sports, Presented by SAP

Let’s play ball – with a new player: technology! Baseball is the only major sport where no clock rules the day, giving it the mathematical potential for a single game to last “forever.” The New York Yankees are harnessing technology to optimize every in-stadium experience so fans fill the stadium for every pitch. How do they do it? The experts speak. Pete Britt, NY Yankees: “You’ve got to lose to know how to win” (Aerosmith, Dream On). Ryan Somers, SAP: “Never let the fear of striking out get in your way” (Babe Ruth). Rob Carter, SAP: “There can be 100 people in the room and 99 don't believe in you but all it takes is one who does” (Lady Gaga). Join us for Batter Up! NY Yankees + Data = Fans Never Miss A Pitch.

The buzz: “A good hockey player plays where the puck is. A great hockey player plays where the puck is going to be (Wayne Gretzky]. Coaching the fastest game on ice is tough! Where to turn for help? Technology. The NHL built the next generation of “connected athletes” by supplying real-time data insights and analytics to elevate their preparation and performance when and where it counts. The SAP-NHL Coaching Insights App for iPad is one of many transformational innovations bringing fans closer to the action in arenas and across mobile devices. How did they do it? The experts speak. Chris Foster, NHL: “Great moments are born from great opportunities” (Coach Herb Brooks in Miracle). Rob Bendl, SAP America: “Don't give up. Don't ever give up” (Jim Valvano). Amy Schulz, SAP: “When you talk, you are only repeating what you already know. But if you listen, you may learn something new” (The Dalai Lama). Join us for Technology Hits The Ice: Next-Generation ‘Connected Athletes’.

The buzz: “The common wisdom about marketing is that people are busier than ever, have short attention spans, and are riddled with ADD…Nonsense. Enter long form content marketing. (Josh Steimle, forbes.com). Gone are the days of fans having to wait for the newspaper to read yesterday’s box scores. Technology has turned the sports world upside down on the field and behind the scenes. With the “second screen”, teams can engage fans during the game, but the challenge is to learn who the fans are, what motivates them, and how to provide the best experience possible. The experts speak. Taran Chadha, Momentum Worldwide: “The work that I’m proudest of is the work that I’m the most afraid of” (Steven Spielberg). Matt Belanger, Momentum Worldwide: “The biggest obstacle I ever faced was my own limited perception of myself” (RuPaul). Ryan Somers, SAP: “Write drunk edit sober” (Peter De Vries). Join us for Content-Crazed Sports Fans Benefit from Tech – Whether They Know It Or Not!

The buzz: “Three Phases, Two Hearts, One Passion.” This phrase describes the extreme Olympic “equestrian triathlon” sport of Eventing (discovereventing.com), where men and women compete equally as single horse-and-rider teams in a complete 3-phase test of dressage, cross country and show jumping. Now, data and storytelling, prediction tools, audience-judging and new technologies are transforming Eventing into an immersive fan experience attracting new audiences. Saddle-up for the excitement! The experts speak. Nicole Brown, Sports Broadcaster: “It’s not whether you get knocked down; it’s whether you get up” (Vince Lombardi). John Kyle, Sports Broadcaster: “There is no second place, you're either flying or falling” (What I Was Born to Do). Diarmuid Byrne, EquiRatings: “You can't be wise and in love at the same time” (Bob Dylan). Henrike Paetz, SAP: “Success is where preparation and opportunity meet” (Bobby Unser). Join us for Equestrian Sports and Technology: Eventing Re-Invented.

The buzz: “Analytics is making basketball a more beautiful game” (Timo Elliott for Uber Tech). The National Basketball Association (NBA) is one of the most technologically-driven leagues in sports, reaching a global audience. But the NBA is always looking for new ways to bring fans closer to the sport they love, especially the large percentage of fans who have never seen a game live. How to fix this? The NBA and SAP launched NBA.com/Stats, making 4.5+ quadrillion combinations of NBA statistics, dating back to 1946, available real-time to fans and media. Exciting times for fans! What's next? The experts speak. Sarah Ax, Momentum Worldwide: “Pressure is a privilege” (Billie Jean King). Evan Wasch, NBA: “Take that for data!” (David Fizdale). David Martinez, Director of Global Sponsorships, SAP: “The dictionary is the only place where success comes before work” (Stubby Currence). Join us for NBA Fans & Technology: Can YOU Count to 4.5 Quadrillion?

The buzz: Cirque du Soleil is known for amazing acrobatics and incredible performers on stage, but the technical gymnastics behind-the-scenes are just as impressive (Starla Sampaco, www.geekwire.com). Originally composed of 20 street performers in 1984, Cirque du Soleil Entertainment Group completely reinvented circus arts and became a world leader in live entertainment. The organization has extended its creative approach to entertainment forms including multimedia productions, immersive experiences, theme parks and special events. Its core mission is to invoke the imagination, provoke the senses, and evoke the emotions of people around the world – using innovative technology solutions. The experts speak. Frank Helpin, Cirque du Soleil: “Dance, dance, otherwise we are lost” (Pina Bausch). Alycia Rivas, SAP: “Be yourself. Everyone else is taken” (Oscar Wilde). Join us for Cirque du Soleil: Innovating the Experience.

The buzz: “Sailing is such a variable sport. There could be no wind, or there could be 25 knots. You never know what you’re going to get” (Hannah Mills). Competitive sailing is no simple task. Its special demands make it the perfect platform for technology innovations. Cutting-edge solutions can deliver an unprecedented experience for fans and a competitive advantage for sailors. Imagine the data collection opportunities of sensors on buoys and on boats, devices measuring wind and tidal information, sensors on sailors tracking biometrics. The sailors and experts speak. Dr. Axel Uhl, eXperience SAP Innovation Hub: “Coaches talk too much about tactics. The best system is no good if the ball is the player’s worst enemy” (H. Löhr). Rasmus Kostner, Extreme Sailing: “The storm don’t really matter until the storm begins to get you down” (Walk Tall). Jes Gram-Hansen, Extreme Sailing: “You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take” (W. Gretzky). Join us for Sailing: Riding the Wave of Innovation.

The buzz: Winning isn't everything, but wanting to win is (Vince Lombardi). Welcome to our new series about SAP’s sponsorship-specific sports stories from the NHL, NBA, Extreme Sailing, WTA, and more. We’ll examine the history of Sports from wrestling in ancient Mesopotamia and then cover modern technology advancements in Instant Replay, Virtual Reality, Robotics, and Smart Data that impact decision-making, fan-consumption, and player performance. Is there a downside to the Sports upside? The experts speak. Nic Smith, SAP: “I’ve missed more than 9000 shots in my career … I’ve failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed” (Michael Jordan). Fred Samson, SAP: “Always enter like a kitten and leave like a lion. But NEVER enter like a lion and leave like a kitten. Always be humble” (Carlson Gracie). Ryan Somers, SAP: “I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work” (Thomas Edison). Join us for Score! The New World of Technology for Sports.