The Sacramento Kings want to bring a little Google Glass to the court this NBA season. Specifically, they have teamed up with location and data-mining company CrowdOptic to give fans a little something extra. On January 24th, the Kings have a game with the Indiana Pacers and they will be wearing Glass for at least part of the evening. Unfortunately, we’re not likely to see any actual in-game video, but the team plans to wear Glass during warm-ups and while they are sitting on the bench during the game. Live video from the players will be streamed to the Jumbotron at the game, and will also be available on smartphones. The TV broadcast of the game is going to carry images from the Glass-wearing players.
Google Glass was also featured at the 2013 NBA draft, and it brought a lot of attention to the technology and to the players wearing it. Victor Oladipo was the number 2 overall pick in the 2013 draft, and he arrived at the draft sporting his Google Glass eyewear. The NBA asked him to remove the device once the actual draft started, but it still placed Glass front-and-center in the minds of NBA players and fans. The Sacramento Kings, with their lackluster first half of this season, were looking to cash in on some of that action and give their fans a little something more. Seeing as how the team isn’t giving their fans a winning season, at least the fans can get up close and personal with the team on January 24th.
Jim Kovach, the head of business development at CrowdOptic, thinks that this partnership is the beginning of a trend in the NBA. The company is negotiating with the NBA right now for rights to the content created using Google Glass. “The investment is for the long-term, and it’s the very first footage anyone has so close to the game. There really is a strong interest in building this out,” Kovich said. If CrowdOptic can get in good with the NBA and produce some great content that fans enjoy, we may see an expansion into other professional sports as well. Imagine a firsthand look through the eyes of an offensive lineman in the NFL or even the first-person view of a UFC fighter. Pretty wild, huh?
The Sacramento Kings released a video teaser for the game on the 24th against the Pacers, too. Check it out below. What are your thoughts on Google Glass in professional sports?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zNMoFULXXak
Source: ABC News
Via: PCMag
Image: SportTechie