SXsports is one of the newest ventures for SXSW Interactive. It began in 2014 and has already become very popular, attracting many of the top entertainers, personalities and thinkers of the sports industry. As a sports fanatic, this is definitely the segment of SXSW Interactive that I am most looking forward to. There are so many panels that have the potential to be very exciting and informative, but to make things a little bit easier on you I’ve narrowed it down to my top five must see panels at SXsports.
The Evolution of Audio in the 21st Century
Friday, March 13
3:30-4:30 p.m.
Four Seasons
Ballroom CD
98 San Jacinto Blvd
This panel will consist of ESPN commentators Colin Cowherd and Stephen A. Smith, and ESPN Senior Vice President of Production, Business Divisions Traug Keller, along with Bonnie Bernstein, Vice President of Content & Brand Development for Campus Insiders. The group will discuss the ever changing audio environment and the different channels that businesses using audio programming have begun to utilize, outside of terrestrial radio. They will explain how using platforms such as iTunes, Slacker, satellite radio, podcasting and simulcasting have impacted the way sports audio has been revamped, taking a new approach to content creation, program promotion and also discussing the impact of social media, allowing commentators to interact with the fan base.
Fantasy Sports: Changing the Fan Experience Daily
Sunday, March 15
12:30-1:30 p.m.
Four Seasons
Ballroom AB
98 San Jacinto Blvd
I know there are a ton of fantasy sports junkies out there, so this is definitely the panel for you. Clifton Ma, Head of Fantasy Sports at Yahoo and Nigel Eccles, CEO of Fan Duel, sit down to discuss the impact of fantasy sports. Fantasy sports have not only provided fans with a fun game to play and a way to follow your favorite athletes, it has also impacted fan engagement and consumption of live sporting events in the NFL and NBA. The biggest change in the world of fantasy sports is the introduction of daily fantasy sports. Will this be a sustainable model? These two influential panelist will provide us with insight in to the direction of the fantasy sports market.
UFC: Women Breaking Ground Inside the Octagon
Saturday, March 14
12:30-1:30 p.m.
Austin Convention Center
Ballroom D
I’m not a die-hard fan of UFC, but this might be the panel that I am most looking forward to. UFC President Dana White, along with the Women’s Bantamweight Champion Ronda Rousey and fellow female fighter Jessica Eye have a featured session where they will discuss the rapid growth and changing demographics of UFC. Since Rousey was crowned the first female champion in 2012, the landscape of UFC fandom has changed dramatically. Now the UFC audience is nearly 40% women and has grown the organizations social media following to over 20 million people. Originally, White expressed that women would never fight in the UFC, but this might have been one of his boldest and most brilliant decisions.
Drones and the Texas 500: A Broadcast Challenge
Saturday, March 14
3:30-4:30 p.m.
Four Seasons
San Jacinto
98 San Jacinto Blvd
It wouldn’t be SXSWi if I didn’t bring up drones, right? During this panel footage from an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) technology flying over Texas Motor Speedway will be broadcasted in real-time to Big Hoss, the largest LCD screen in the world, which is located at the Speedway. This panel will provide an unseen prospective to NASCAR and sports fans. In many live sporting venues, pole cameras, helicopters, guerilla video and photography are used to provide fans with footage of the event, but drones will take these activities to another level. Along with the unique footage that will be presented, the panelist will also discuss the technical and legal difficulties, why drones will revolutionize the sports industry and how they can help tell a story unlike any other camera.
Tech That’s Changing Sports and Building Empathy
Saturday, March 14
11:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.
Four Seasons
Ballroom CD
98 San Jacinto Blvd
Panelists and former football players Chris Kluwe and Derek Belch will provide SXsports goers with a discussion about the impact of technology in sports, most specifically augmented reality. Kluwe has been a strong advocate for the use of AR in sports, claiming that it would not only provide a much more entertaining experience for the fans, but would provide excellent data to coaches and players to improve their performance. From the standpoint of a fan, AR would allow you to experience a sporting event essentially through the eyes of an athlete, which could be extremely beneficial to the business side of sports. For the players and coaches, this technology will provide a better understanding of the game flow and improve execution, something that every coach wants from his players.