March is no longer just for college hoops. The annual Sloan MIT Analytics Conference is upon us, and there is no doubt that you’ll see a slew of articles and commentary based upon Sports Analytics & Big Data from the panels next weekend.

All innovations in sports are driving toward big data with performance and content. Check out this nice summary ‘5 Ways to Win with Data and Analytics from Sports’ from Stacy Nawrocki of IBM Analytics.

There is no question that the in-stadium experience has improved. Both the in-game and the at-home experience has bloomed into an engaging experience. We’re seeing a slew of new app activity from sports teams.Through real-time box scores and in-game support, NBA fans are receiving new percentage and +/- stats. Yet, what I find a big area for growth is in-game support is giving fans the same advanced data insights that the league provides to team to turn them into in-game commentators.

Think about how immersive an in-stadium and at-home experience will be when the same access to shot charts, passing stats, and other advanced ‘health’ statistics such as running speed, jump height comparisons, and other wearable data are provided to bloggers, twitterheads, and passive fans. Think of how powerful the in-game debates and questions such as whether or not Derrick Rose is Top 10 point guard, is Stephen Curry a true defensive liability, or is Dirk Nowitzki a ‘one-trick’ pony, now become.

Insights should always be used to support the narrative. By empowering the fan with the same info that mainstream media and teams have, the narrative will become a lot more powerful.

BD