Sport and tech are two of the biggest industries in the world, and they can and do combine across the board. Video games like FIFA, which is now called EA Sports FC, and Madden NFL rack up some of the biggest sales figures every year.

Sports like golf and football can be experienced and coached using dedicated Virtual Reality (VR) simulators, and technologies like Video Assistant Referees (VAR) and data analytics have been used by clubs and professional sports players for decades.

While these two industries already have a strong partnership, recent advances in tech and innovations stand to further change the sports industry, and, below, we look at some of the biggest tech trends in sports that are likely to take the industry by storm this year.

Cryptocurrency

Cryptocurrency is a disruptive technology, and it is not only changing the way some of us bank and send payments, it is having a direct influence on a host of other industries.

Various clubs and teams now accept cryptocurrency payments, typically via their website, for tickets and merchandise.

Many of the best offshore betting platforms also accept deposits and withdrawals using these digital currencies because they offer anonymity and security as well as near-instant payments.

Sports betting and casino writer Jeremy Olson notes that cryptocurrencies also attract lower fees than most traditional payment methods.

NFTs

Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs) are digital certificates that are recorded on blockchain and assigned to digital files like digital art, music, and memes. This enables the purchase and sale of digital items and sports teams and players are using them to raise capital and their profiles.

Soccer player, Ronaldo, launched his first NFT collection in 2022 with some fetching tens of thousands of dollars. Such was the success of the campaign, that a second batch was recently launched in partnership with major exchange Binance.

Already this year, the NBA franchise Golden State Warriors have become the first sports team to launch responsive NFTs. More teams and professionals are likely to launch their own NFT collections as the year progresses.

Fan Tokens

Fan tokens are a form of cryptocurrency launched by teams and players that can be bought and traded by their fans.

As well as being tradeable on major exchanges, these tokens can be used as a form of sports governance with token ownership benefits including the rights to vote on team-related matters or to get the opportunity to meet the players or reserve reduced-price tickets for events.

Fan tokens are especially popular in soccer, offering clubs the chance to raise additional capital and engage with supporters, and we will see this phenomenon spread further this year.

AI Coaching

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is another disruptive area of technology being used for everything from personalized shopping to business marketing.

It has already made its way into sports, but 2024 will likely see its continued use, especially within the sports coaching realm. AI can be used to monitor and analyze performance before offering methods to improve.

For example, AI can analyze the golf swing of the best golfers in the world before analyzing an individual’s swing. It can then identify the differences and highlight areas for improvement to the player.

Effective AI can even offer insights on the best exercises to improve swing power. These benefits reach far beyond golf, too, with some teams using AI to highlight imperfections in communication and other on-pitch matters.

AR Broadcasting

Last year saw Apple and Disney work together on bringing Apple Vision Pro to sports broadcasting. As well as enabling viewers to watch multiple games at once, the technology allowed picture-in-picture features and offered a wealth of on-screen stats.

Virtual overlays and other visual data can be used to offer detailed insight into games and performances, and while the technology remains relatively new, with big names like Apple and Disney on board, it is only a matter of time before it hits the mainstream market.

Wearable Tech

Wearable tech, a significant part of the tech trends in sports, is nothing new. Fitbits and similar devices have been popular with amateur and professional sports players alike for decades.

Even before the launch of the first Fitbit in 2009, professional athletes had access to similar technology.

More recently, wearable tech has been used by teams and professionals to help avoid and even recover from injuries.

Not only will wearable tech continue to get smaller and less invasive, but its uses will enhance, and devices will become more affordable and practical, which means the technology will continue to penetrate the sports world.

It may even combine with AR so that viewers can see the physical effects of games on players in real time.

VAR

Another technology that has been around for some time in various forms is that of the Virtual Assistant Referee. The technology is being implemented in soccer leagues and tournaments around the world, but similar technology has been used in other sports for decades. Hawkeye in tennis was introduced in 2006. Even in soccer, goal-line technology was introduced in 2014.

VAR has come under fire in some leagues and games for slowing down the game and still leading to questionable decisions, but it will continue to be implemented and its use will be tweaked and perfected over time.

Data Analytics

Professional sport relies heavily on data analytics, a key component among the tech trends in sports. It is used to measure performance and identify areas for improvement. The same data is also utilized in scouting to help identify potential acquisitions.

With the introduction of AI, data analysis tasks are likely to continue to prevail in the sports world. It will likely combine with AI and be used in AR representations because sports fans love good statistics, and good statistics are backed by solid data analysis.

Virtual Reality

Virtual Reality hasn’t quite taken off in the way many tech observers thought it would. Not yet, anyway. But sports could be one industry that helps this technology hit the fore.

Some broadcasters have offered stadium experiences via VR headsets that enable fans to watch games as though they are sat inside the stadium, or even experience a game as though they are one of the players.

As the immersive experience continues to improve, and more affordable headsets become available, we will likely see even more VR experiences for sports fans.

Tech Trends in Sports: How Technology is Revolutionizing the Game

The intersection of sports and technology is shaping the future of both industries in exciting ways.

As innovations like cryptocurrency, NFTs, AI coaching, and VR experiences continue to evolve, they promise to enhance fan engagement, optimize player performance, and redefine how we experience sports.

With each advancement, the potential for a more interactive and immersive sports landscape grows, ensuring that fans and players alike will benefit from this dynamic relationship.

The coming year is set to be transformative, paving the way for a new era in sports technology.