Lauren Brousell for CIO.com:
Many leagues and teams push for more technology on both sides of the spectrum: for players and for the business. These organizations see clear potential in using technology to collect and analyze new statistics for competitive advantage on the field, and to engage fans and improve the customer experience at games and in their homes.
The Los Angeles Dodgers Accelerator program, an initiative in which startups apply to receive funding and support for their technology products, is the most prominent example of a sports organization leveraging startups.
Sports teams are media brands at the core and know how technology can help on and off the field. Partnering with startups is a great way for them to outsource innovation. But if they want sustainable competitive advantage they need to grow their own tech muscles.