Football DataCo (FDC) has renewed its partnership with Genius Sports to enable the latter to retain a hold of Premier League sub-second and skeletal tracking data.
The data rights holder to UK football will allow Genius to continue to function as the official tracking partner of the English top flight via its Second Spectrum subsidiary.
The deal will include collaboration on the capturing, development and use of skeletal tracking data for the Premier League, its media partners and broadcasters, to create new opportunities and power fan engagement.
“Technology continues to drive how data is collected, analysed and presented,” commented Adrian Ford, General Manager of Football DataCo.
“Working with Genius Sports’ Second Spectrum technology enables Football DataCo to be at the cutting edge of what is possible, and we look forward to developing new ways of using data for our stakeholders.”
Looking ahead, the duo have outlined that incorporation of ‘interactive metaverse applications’ could be a possibility further down the line, enabling fans to ‘put themselves directly’ into fixtures and the match experience.
Data-backed augmentation solutions slated for delivery by Genius and FDC ifeature live statistics and metrics such as player speeds and shot velocities.
For Premier League clubs, Genius will also incorporate its Insight feed into the partnership, aiming to enhance performance via team and player metrics, alongside machine-learned video indexing.
The partnership enables Genius to maintain its position as a prominent data provider in sports tech, having recently signed an agreement with the Australian A-League and also maintaining partnerships with the likes of the NFL, NCAA, NASCAR and Liga MX.
Mark Locke, CEO of Genius Sports, added: “This partnership is an important next step in demonstrating the way data and advanced technology can amplify storytelling and fan engagement.
“Genius has believed deeply in this vision for many years, which is now becoming a reality in partnership with Football DataCo and the Premier League.
“We’re incredibly excited to work on solutions to enhance how the most popular league in world soccer is consumed by millions of passionate fans worldwide.”
