Clippers owner Steve Ballmer’s pure vision for a live NBA fan experience means the Intuit Dome features several aspects that push the envelope — the extent to which it relies on biometric identification, the completely independent F&B market setup, the well-documented number of restrooms and a Wall supporters.
But the Clippers have a unique opportunity to impact live in-game sports entertainment thanks to the nearly $100 million Halo Board Game, a game that has never been available in any arena. The Halo is roughly an acre by square foot, contains 233 million LEDs — the average scoreboard hanging in the center of an NBA arena is between 30 million and 50 million — and quadruples the computing power of the average scoreboard in an NBA arena. The scale, combined with 4K resolution, means its images are realistic and cinematic.
Halo itself does not contain artificial intelligence, but its systems contain machine learning technology that reacts to data from sensors in the seating vessel. This ability will be strengthened over time, resulting in the board responding more clearly to crowd energy, such as during the Clippers’ scoring run.
“He’s almost the man behind the curtain. He’s the engine that powers the building,” said George Hanna, the Clippers’ chief technology officer.
No team has ever had so much physical canvas on the floor to work with, which inherently requires new forms of content and the expensive equipment and processes required to make it. Unlike Sphere, which faced the same challenges, the Clippers are trying to ensure that Halo content is in addition to basketball games and concerts, and not the sole focus. But even just a month into the first NBA season in the Intuit Dome, the impact the Halo board will have on the arena and the sports industry is already clear.
In next week’s cover story, SBJ’s Brett McCormick examines how the Intuit Dome’s giant video board will impact the future of game-day entertainment outside the Clippers’ home.
On this week’s Sports Media Podcast, SBJ’s Austin Karp and Molly Cahillan take a closer look at what’s next for Diamond Sports Group. Later in the show, NWSL’s Julie Haddon joined to talk about the playoffs and where she sees the league going. Finally, SBJ’s Adam Stern comes to put a bow on the NASCAR season.
In the latest SBJ Live, SBJ’s Dan Kaufman led a fascinating discussion about how technology is unlocking efficiencies at scale and enabling the future of connected commerce with invited Vice President Scott Beatty and Oracle Executive Vice President Simon de Montfort Walker. They discussed how major transformation is transforming the fan experience and the complexities of managing large-scale venues in the dynamic world of sports and entertainment. The trio also talked about integrating technology stacks and explored innovative ways to interact with their fans, including the influence of generative AI, biometrics, and data collection.
Did you miss the sports business stories watched by SBJ’s Austin Karp, Ted Keith, and Joe Lemire? Watch this week’s episodes of Morning Buzzcast, SBJ’s most popular podcast.
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Juan Soto is expected to receive a huge, long-term free agent contract this offseason, but other stars may not be so lucky. Getty Images
Signs of baseball’s financial divide can be seen across the country this season. In California, free agent superstar Juan Soto and his agent were preparing to meet the Blue Jays, Mets, Red Sox and Yankees, each of whom were entering bids for the four-time All-Star that could ultimately cost between $500 million and $500 million. 700 million dollars.
Meanwhile, as Soto prepared for meetings with big-market teams with big local TV deals, the small-market Rays, Royals and Tigers were the last of more than a dozen teams hoping to find out RSN’s direct positions before a final hearing on the reorganization plan. Diamond Sports Group in U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Texas.
Many player agents seemed optimistic that teams would spend on players this winter, at least on an overall basis, but the impact of declining local media revenues was already becoming clear. Late this week, the Angels, Braves, Cardinals, Marlins, Rays and Tigers finalized their deals to return to Diamond RSNs in 2025. However, the Reds cut ties with Diamond, heading to the MLB television umbrella, while the Rangers build their team. Own direct distribution model. The Royals, who had a joint venture with the Diamond, are the only remaining club yet to make a decision for 2025.
Diamond emerged from that hearing with approval of its reorganization plan. The Soto Sweepstakes are supposed to last a little longer, but nonetheless, the situation has provided yet another reflection of the financial hole that exists in baseball, as SBJ’s Mike Mazzeo explains in this early access look for next week’s magazine.
The Cavaliers have been on an upward trajectory and reached the conference semifinals last season. Getty Images
Undefeated through 13 games — the sixth-best start in NBA history — the Cavaliers are on the scene in Northeast Ohio where every metric, like tickets, viewership, retail and social media, is at all-time (or LeBron James-era) highs. .
Even a full month into the season, single-game ticket sales are up 191% over last year, and membership and fractional plans are up 89%. Specifically, prior to the Nov. 13 win at Philadelphia, Ohio State’s FanDuel Sports Network averaged 58,891 households, an increase of 31% from the first 10 games of last season, while merchandise sales similarly grew.
To be precise, Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse’s year-over-year retail sales were up 46.5%, game day sales jumped 36.9%, and e-commerce sales were up 19.9% - representing an overall growth spurt of 26.8%. As SBJ’s Tom Friend reports in this early access look for next week’s magazine, the Cavaliers are doing their best to capitalize on fan enthusiasm since their hot start.
Coastal Carolina football coach Tim Beck (left) and SportsCenter host Dan Mullen cheerleaders before the App State game.
The fans at Coastal Carolina shook the pom poms in unison. Banners decorated with messages from “Moo Deng love the Chants” to “Beat Cr-App State” were spread around the few hundred students gathered in the alarming elements. Even football coach Tim Beck hit Crazy Sista Blonde Ale on the air, crushing the can and swinging his arms skyward to send the crowd into a frenzy. This is “SportsCenter” — well, 2 p.m. on a Thursday afternoon in the fall, at least.
Angry college students brim with Pit Viper sunglasses and poster board signs as ESPN’s “SportsCenter” airs at 2 p.m. with Matt Barrie and Dan Mullen live on site before the Chanticleers’ 38-24 win over archrival Appalachian State on Nov. 7.
The show, which has launched each of the past six weeks, has become a minor boon for ESPN as it continues to invest more in college football coverage, as SBJ’s Ben Portnoy reports in this early access look at next week’s magazine.
What is buzzing? In his forum, SBJ’s Abi Madkour covers the questions he’s asked the most, including Diamond Baseball Holdings and comparisons between F1 and NASCAR.
Capital Idea: SBJ’s Tom Friend reports that former Houston Comets star Fran Harris has designs on bringing a WNBA expansion team to Austin.
New Communities: SBJ’s Alex Silverman noted that MLS Next Pro sees an opportunity in taking clubs to alternative markets outside of the home cities of the MLS parent club.
Lifton Report: There’s no denying the growth of pickleball, but as SBJ’s Terry Lifton finds out, debate continues over its viability as a spectator sport.
Brave New World: SBJ’s Chris Smith takes a detailed look at Atlanta’s battery-boosted finances, which reveals how the only publicly traded MLB team has had as much success increasing revenue as winning games.
In action: Research expert David Bruton reveals SBJ’s second annual roundup of Best Places to Work in Sport.
What’s in a name? In an op-ed this week, SBJ contributor Shira Springer focused on brand identity in women’s sports as interest and scrutiny rise.
Hawaii Hoops: The Maui Invitational is set to celebrate its 40th anniversary, building on the must-see moments it provided in the early stages of the college basketball season.
