New Technology Will Totally Change the Way You Experience Sports and Concert Events in the Near Future
 What if you could order a hotdog from a phone app and have it delivered to your seat at a football game?
- Imagine creating your own instant replays on your smartphone or viewing that winning touchdown from any camera angle in the stadium.
- What if your phone directed you to the best available parking space and rerouted you out of traffic congestion when the game or concert lets out?
These are just a few of the many ways new technology will connect you to the action and change the way you see, hear and experience big venue events—all in the very near future. A live event will no longer be sitting in a seat watching a game or concert, but will be a convergence of the physical and digital that will get fans into the game.
Today’s sports and entertainment fans demand better event experiences from the moment they leave their house, to when they enter the venue, to when they go home; from real-time traffic and parking information, to constant internet connectivity for viewing and posting photos, to finding the closest concession with the shortest line.
In the near future fans will be able to connect to all the action with their mobile devices to:
- Create their own instant replays, slow-motion playback, update play statistics, and get in-depth analysis
- Gain real-time insights into sports action through on-demand video highlights, replays, and game-tracker visualizations from various angles around the stadium
- Order food and beverages and have them delivered to their seats
- Find out which restrooms and concession stands have the shortest lines
- Receive traffic updates and parking suggestions to speed commutes
- Place calls, send photos and videos with unfettered internet access
- Technology will help stadium officials anticipate problems and minimize the impact of disruptions to expedite quick decision making
- Technology will also have security capabilities including management of cameras, doors, and video systems to make for a safer fan experience.
 ABOUT:  John Armstrong, North American Leader, IBM Interactive Experience leads the IBM Interactive Experience practice for North America, a next generation digital agency, consultancy, and systems integrator.  In this role, he leads a North American team of consultants that help clients engage with their customers and drive growth by harnessing the power of digital, mobile, social, analytics, and cloud technologies. John is a recognized thought leader in customer analytics and specializes in advising senior executives on innovations in the areas of customer experience, CRM, marketing, sales effectiveness, and human performance.
Interview provided by IBM
