Data Analytics has completely transformed the sports industry as a whole. In today’s sports world, an astounding majority of the industry utilizes data analytics as its primary vehicle for any and every move during the offseason, salary cap restrictions, player statistics, team performance, win/loss probability, etc. Granted, there may not be a statistic for hustle, hard work, determination, and a player’s pure will to win a game. However, there are an infinite number of statistics around a player/team’s past performance and future predictions. And that’s simply the whole point of this trending concept of data analytics- to increase a player/team’s chances of winning a championship.

Data analytics is thriving in today’s sports industry because of how it simplifies things not only for the players, but also for the front office, coaching staff, trainers, and fans.

Moneyball is an incredible display of how data analytics can transform a franchise from tanking for the draft to becoming a solid playoff contender. Billy Beane, the General Manager of the Oakland Athletics (MLB baseball team), utilizes data analytics to construct his roster rather than relying on the scouts. He selects players based exclusively on their on-base percentage (OBP). By finding players with a high OBP, Billy assembles a team of undervalued players with far more potential than the A’s hamstrung finances would otherwise allow.

As a result of the theories displayed in Moneyball, Daryl Morey (GM of the Houston Rockets) adopted data analytics as the primary vehicle to operate his Houston Rockets and initiated his own concept of “Morey Ball”. Daryl Morey has structured the Houston Rockets roster based on a player’s 3 point shooting percentage and ability to spread the floor. The Houston Rockets have revolutionized the 3 point shot in the NBA as the Rockets attempted an average of 44.3 3-Pointers each game in the 2016-17 season- the highest in a single season in NBA history. Daryl Morey has instilled this theory of “3’s and dunks only” into his team. If you have ever watched a Rockets game, you will notice the earful players receive from the coach for taking a mid-range jumper. However, his Houston Rockets are currently sitting on top of the NBA standings after the addition of Chris Paul alongside James Harden. Mind you, this historic pairing of two ball-dominant point guards onto one roster received a lot of criticism during the offseason. Despite all the outside noise, Daryl Morey and his front office were confident in this pairing from a analytical perspective and it doesn’t take an expert to notice the success Houston is facing this season (Best Record in the Western Conference above the defending champs- Golden State Warriors).

Big Data is transforming the sports industry at a rapid pace. Data from wearable devices such as the Fitbit, Tom Tom Multi-Sport GPS, Apple Watch, etc. can monitor an athlete’s movement and help with recovery from injuries. Lauren Brousell, Senior Writer at CIO says, “Many technology vendors are trying to get into the wearable technology market, given the interest in devices like Google Glass and fitness trackers. Adidas has a system called miCoach that works by having players attach a wearable device to their jerseys. Data from the device shows the coach who the top performers are and who needs rest. It also provides real-time stats on each player, such as speed, heart rate and acceleration. That kind of real-time data could help trainers and physicians plan for better training and conditioning. Matt Hasselbeck, a quarterback for the Indianapolis Colts, says he’s in favor of technology that helps with player safety. By checking hydration levels or tracking hits to the head, we could start collecting that data now to make sports safer.”

In 2013, the NBA announced that it will install SportVU cameras in every arena. These motion-tracking cameras provide coaches, players, and fans reams of data aimed at revealing what it really takes to succeed at basketball’s highest level. An ESPN article says, “The system of six cameras and accompanying software that delivers the data was first used in Orlando during the 2009 Finals between the Orlando Magic and Los Angeles Lakers.

Want to see how successful Ricky Rubio was at guarding Russell Westbrook? The system could break down the shooting percentages and results of each head-to-head possession.

Want to get an idea how close to 100 percent Kevin Love was in his first few games back from a broken hand? The system could send information to the team trainers and doctors about his endurance and how quickly he is tiring during a game, thereby painting the most accurate picture possible of his recovery.

Want to see how many times Al Jefferson touched the ball on the left block in the first half? The system could send information to an iPad that showed the location of every one of his possessions and allowed coaches to make adjustments on the fly.

With the use of this technology, every game and every player will be monitored, creating a much more complete database. When a defender is in the area, offensive players can choose not to shoot when that specific defender is in the area. We can also monitor how that specific defender reduces the shooting average of the players he’s defending. These are some of the secrets this kind of technology unlocks.”

The rise of “smart arenas” is yet another product of Big Data that is taking the sports world with awe. Teams are using ground-breaking technology to make live sporting events more engaging for the fans. When you attend a live sporting event today, it isn’t simply to watch your favorite player or team. It is an entire experience which includes customer service, concessions, giveaways, statistics, player engagement, autographs, merchandise shopping, etc. Loren Mooney from Insights by Stanford Business said, “Franchises are looking for ways to capitalize on mobile technology to enhance the fan experience in their homes and as spectators in stadiums and arenas. Mobile devices are popular as “second screens” in home viewing of televised sports, but 70% of fans bring a mobile device to the stadium or arena and expect to use it during a game there as well, said Mark Craig of Cisco Systems Sports & Entertainment Group, who has been involved with creating arena Wi-Fi systems that will function with a dense population of users. The new Sacramento Kings arena has mobile applications for check-in, ushering you to your seat, indicating shortest bathroom and concession lines, seat upgrade options (much like what has been done in the airline industry), cashless commerce, and in-seat wireless charging. The Kings are exploring the use of drone technology to survey available parking spaces and even provide unique in-arena camera angles, said team senior vice president of marketing and strategy Ben Gumpert.” Can you imagine walking into a sports arena and being treated with your favorite margarita by the team cheerleaders at your seat because it is your birthday? Smart arenas can make that a reality by utilizing the data collected from scanned tickets at the gate to look for birthdays on Game Day.

Over the past decade, social media has increased fan engagement faster than any other platform. The MLB and NBA have already created a partnership with YouTube to stream game highlights and recaps of recent games to let fans remain more engaged. NASCAR is currently developing a “digital cockpit” that includes onboard telemetry and in-race social media interaction between fans and drivers. Today, fans are literally a click of a button away from knowing where and when Johnny Manziel got arrested, or where their favorite player will be partying in the city after a big win. Almost every team, league, and sports association has a social media profile on Twitter. From the pros to the minors, and from the high school athlete to the retired athlete, social media has been a force in the sports industry landscape. Here are a few statistics that will blow your mind-

1. Tim Tebow had more than 9,000 people tweeting EVERY second after he threw a touchdown pass in the playoff game against the New York Jets in 2012.

2. Jeremy Lin picked up 550,000 new Twitter followers in one month after he exploded onto the NBA scene.

3. Long gone are the days where fans buy newspapers on their way to work to stay updated with the sports world. 81% of fans prefer the internet as their primary source of sports news.

4. When the game is on TV, 83% of fans will check sports social media. 63% of fans will check sports social media even when they’re at the arena watching the game live!

5. 33% of fans watch live sporting events or highlights in the middle of business meetings during the day. Boom! I just saved you thousands of dollars you would otherwise spend on research/consultants trying to figure out why your company’s employees aren’t meeting deadlines!

Technology has transformed the way we live and how we do things. In sports, Big Data has been nothing short of a revolution that has enhanced the fan experience and generated historic profits for teams. At one point in time, fans didn’t have enough data on players and teams to predict the outcome of a game. Today, there is a statistic for every touchdown, free throw, home run, and goal that helps us set our daily fantasy sports lineup! However, this is just the beginning of a revolution. The best is yet to come!