With Super Bowl LI rapidly approaching, there are tons of questions that need answering. They range from the ones about the halftime show why did Adele turn it down, what will it look like this year and will it be more spectacular than the infamous Super Bowl XXXVIII with its wardrobe malfunctioning incident? to the actual game.
Namely, is Tom Brady going to be allowed anywhere near the ball before the game starts and, most importantly, how did the Atlanta Falcons manage to get here? After having more or less a horrible decade ever since Michael Vick left except the 2012 season which was quite good, actually almost nobody saw this coming. And while the New England Patriots have been consistently good season after season and even won four championship titles in the last 15 years, the Falcons are rather a surprise. Maybe its their way to say farewell and show respect to the Georgia Dome?
However, these arent the only questions since lots of people are going to be focusing on ads and social media reports. So, if youre interested in the tech side of the Super Bowl more than in the sports aspect of it, here are some of the most intriguing technology trends that will surround this awesome game.
Shoot It Right!
The problem with the Super Bowl is that things are happening so fast the game can change in a blink of an eye and you might miss it just because you were sneezing or talking on the phone. Not to mention the bathroom breaks! Thats why having dozens and dozens of cameras all over the NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas is going to be more than necessary. Theyll make sure you see every interception, every pass, every touchdown and, most important, every sack of the game. But how good are these cameras and whats so special about them?
With the technology developing so rapidly these days, having a 4K TV in your living room has become quite ordinary and this opportunity brings you the joy of watching your programs in a much better resolution, contrast and higher response rate. With this technology present at the Super Bowl, youll feel like youre at the stadium, right next to Bill Belichicks sweaty hoodie.
However, thats not all Fox Sports has announced theyll be using 8K cameras and position additional 38 Intel-supported HD cameras all around the field for a full-360 view. This way, a new Be the Player technology will make viewers at home have a more satisfying experience than the ones at the stadium, especially if theyre not fans of Lady Gaga.
No Need for a Wallet
Since the NRG Stadium hosts around 72 thousand people, you cant imagine how crowded this Super Bowl is going to be. No matter which team you support or how passionate you are, the chances of losing your group or misplacing your spouse are, unfortunately, quite high. The same goes for your valuables the number of lost wallets, cell phones, glasses, watches and fan gadgets constantly rises year after year. So, if you dont want to cry over your missing treasures, do something about it.
One of the best ways to save your money is by not carrying your wallet with you. And if you also want to look cool while doing so, getting a RFID wristband is the way to go. These handy things have been proven handy and trustworthy at a number of events, concerts, parties and other massive gatherings. Last year, they were introduced to Super Bowl as well, minimizing your need to carry around a large amount of cash with you simply swipe the wristband at the checkout, and that was it!
Just like last year, there will be electronic RFID wristbands available at this Super Bowl, too. Youll be able to transfer your credit card information onto the wristband and use it to pay for goods all around the stadium. However, unlike last year, wristbands are now bonded yes, a company called JW Surety has planned to sponsor the event through dishonesty bonds but the final deal was never completed. This means you and your money will be 100% safe from the moment you enter the stadium till you leave the premise several hours and gallons of beer later.
Share, Share, Share
Another interesting thing thats going to happen at the Super Bowl is the huge number of people trying to connect to the Internet. Surprisingly, theyll be more focused on their phones than the game, but thats just the way the world works today, and theres nothing anyone can do about it.
Ultimately, its up to the organizers to ensure that everyone can connect to the Internet as soon as possible and share their favorite Super Bowl moment to their friends, followers and subscribers.
Last years game introduced a few innovations in this fields as well, so the Levis Stadium in San Francisco became a huge hub ready to provide Internet connection to thousands of attendees. In addition to the stadiums usual 40 Gigabit circuit, the fans were given over a thousand separate access points, so literally anyone who wanted to go online could do it in a manner of seconds.
This year, however, the hosts have to make an even bigger statement in this segment, knowing that so many people depend on those Wi-Fi bars on their phones. No matter how unsociable this all seems, theres still an upside to this trend: just imagine how many people worldwide wont be able to attend the game or come anywhere close to a live broadcast, so the only way theyll stay updated is via someones Twitter, Snapchat or Instagram account. And thats why more access points around the stadium means more happy football fans everywhere.
Hashtag It
Speaking of social media, dont forget its role in advertising as well. The Super Bowl is a huge opportunity for companies to get noticed, which is why TV ads are so expensive a 30-second commercial can cost up to five million dollars! However, these ads dont just showcase the newest products and services, but also have an impact on the popular culture as well. And one of the ways they manage to stay relevant are the hashtags.
No matter where youll be at the kickoff, youll surely be surrounded by lots of advertisements. Theyre all over the stadium, at your favorite sports bar, and even in your house, hidden in your TV. And a large number of these ads will try to involve you in the action as well, offering rewards, coupons and discounts for tweeting about the products theyre offering or using the hashtag theyre displaying. Thats the real connection between the game, technology and marketing and everyones goal is to get you interested in this brand or the other.
Big Game Requires Big Data
With so many variables surrounding the big game, its important to have all the vital information in the palm of your hand and use it properly. In the past few years, big data gained more importance in the NFL, from tracking players on the field via special sensors on their pads and helmets to predicting the final outcomes based on previous results and scores. Thats why big data is going to have a big role in this years big game, too.
There are some marketing issues here as well following the shopping patterns of NFL fans and gathering information more accurately allows big companies to anticipate whats going to be popular before, during and after the Super Bowl, so that they can advertise it more aggressively.
Finally, everyone can have some fun as well and try to predict the Super Bowl winner using big data. Analyzing two teams and every single aspect of their game from the number of completed passes and yards to the number of sacks and the health status of their key players is hard, but its surely interesting and entertaining.
Even More Technology
If this wasnt enough for you, dont worry there are a couple of more things you can explore regarding the Super Bowl technology. You could, for instance, start discovering the best apps that will help you reach the stadium, order food or place a bet, or, alternatively, simply record the game on your TiVo and enjoy it over and over again unless your team loses, of course. In that case, use the ultimate tech advantage of our age and press the delete button.
