When it comes to driving immersive fan experiences, technology is at the heart of it all, explained Kameryn Stanhouse, VP of sports and entertainment partnerships at IBM, “The old days of how my parents consumed sports, where they watched and then it was over—that no longer exists,” she said. Today’s fans have opportunities to feel closer to their favorite teams and athletes.
Fan experiences on AI overdrive
Kate Johnson, global marketing director of integrated brand partnerships and head of sports and entertainment at Google, shared that the journey is just beginning. “Thinking about how tools like AI are going to put the power in fans’ hands to be creative about their own viewing experience and how they engage with it is going to be fascinating,” she said.
For instance, IBM is already using AI to power a coaching app with Agassi Sports in which former pro tennis player Andre Agassi gives tips on serves and backhands. “Served through trusted partners that you know can deliver the information correctly, and having a legend like Andre be the endorser of that helps it be comfortable,” said Stanhouse.
Griffin Johnson, creator and entrepreneur, expressed some caution about experimenting with AI agents, but acknowledged the potential. “The interaction that you’re going to get with that, and the actual fandom that athletes are going to be able to build, is going to change the world,” he shared.
