Sports Innovation

SBJ's Tech Awards: Winners Span Data, Performance, Fan Access

SBJ's 2026 SBA: Tech awards named winners in AI, athlete performance, fan accessibility and venue operations, including Elevate's EPIC and OneCourt.

Pollstar names winners of 2026 Excellence in Concessions Awards

Pollstar published its 2026 Excellence in Concessions Awards on Sept. 2, recognizing venue food, beverage and hospitality programs across the U.S.

Athletes Unlimited is betting on softball, and that changes what its vendors must deliver

Pausing AU Pro Basketball and volleyball frees capital for AUSL’s six-market model, where sellouts, ABC ratings, and new tech ownership are reshaping ops.

A $150m shared training center in Portland is changing how women’s sports facilities get built

RAJ Sports’ Kaiser Permanente Performance Center adds a 100,000-sq-ft, dual-team model, and it changes how operators should spec rooms, gear, and event tech.

As the World Cup hits US soil, creator-access clauses move into broadcast rights deals

FIFA's decade-old concession to Fox locked in $485M for rights experts value at up to $1.5B, reshaping how sports media rights are negotiated.

Disrupting the Sport of Cheerleading: Establishing Cheerleading as an Official Olympic Sport in 2021 (Episode Two)

A grassroots activity becomes a global phenomenon as pioneering leaders navigate the complex path to Olympic recognition

Sky-High Innovation: How Drone Shows are Revolutionizing Entertainment and Beyond

These synchronized aerial displays are replacing pyrotechnics with sustainable alternatives that captivate audiences at scale

Navigating the Evolution of Stadium Experiences with Zack Klima

Technology and consumer demand are forcing venues to completely reimagine what modern stadium experiences should deliver to fans

College Football Should Step Up Its Fan Engagement Game to Capitalize on a Willing, Able, and Available Base

College football risks losing momentum to the NFL by failing to modernize its approach to keeping fans connected and invested year-round