The Innovator

Stats Perform collects sports data and uses artificial intelligence to unlock insights for media and technology, betting and team performance.

Gráinne Barry VP WORKPLACE & BUSINESS OPERATIONS STATS PERFORM

The global sports technology industry has taken off over the last few years with industry revenues expected to triple by 2021.

How is Stats Perform innovating to stay ahead of its competitors?

Stats Perform embraces and solves the dynamic nature of sport – be that for digital and broadcast media with differentiated storytelling, tech companies with reliable and fast data to power their innovations, sportsbooks with in-play betting and integrity services, or teams with AI analysis software. Our data represents over 35 years of sports data renowned for being the deepest and highest quality in the industry. We live-stream 25,000 events, cover 400,000 matches, and 15,000 competitions annually. We hold 1.3 petabytes of sports data with 30 million additional event data points collected annually.

How important is innovation in your organisation and sector?

The global sports technology industry has taken off over the last few years with industry revenues expected to triple by 2021. In support of the massive influx of interest, investment and innovation, sports brands, technology companies and entrepreneurs are collaborating throughout the world. New technologies core to sports technology are developing at an incredible pace. New categories of technology are emerging and are expected to grow rapidly – from sporting wearables to sensor-based equipment to performance feedback and applications for fan engagement. AI and machine learning are at the heart of the pace of innovation applied to the world of sport and its challenges. With the introduction of AI, we are witnessing another wave of change, from the way games are played to how they are experienced by fans. Stats Perform has over 50 AI scientists who are wholly sport-focused and to date we have over 20 patents for sports AI issued or submitted.

How is the Irish operation and its talent pool driving innovation in the organisation?

The Irish operation manages some of the global business functions including Video Operations, Coverage, Capacity and Workforce planning. Ireland has a strong pool of management talent which works well cross-functionally in our business and which readily creates and pilots new ideas and processes to drive continuous improvement in the significantly expanded business.

What are the disrupters facing your industry?

Sports integrity has never been under greater threat and scrutiny due to scandals within the industry such as match-fixing, slow data and odds manipulation. There is also the challenge of data privacy and security requirements. Stats Perform proactively tackles all aspects of sports integrity and are industry leaders in data integrity services which focus on prevention, detection and investigation of threats to integrity.

How has Ireland changed as a place to work?

Ireland continues to be pro-business with a diversity of well-educated talent. Stats Perform has been joined by DraftKings and LiveScore who both now have operations in Ireland. Ireland is known for its love of sport and this builds a natural ecosystem for industry-focused talent and collaborative innovation and opportunity.

What is next for Stats Perform?

The opportunities for new sportsrelated technologies is vast, ranging from sports nutrition, personalised genotyping, data management and feedback, smart clothing, technologyequipped training devices and equipment, to data-based performance analysis. Ireland has a proven ‘best-inclass’ record in ICT, pharma and biotech. Many of the large multinationals who are based here, Google, Microsoft, Intel, AWS and SAP, are bringing the same skills, creativity and innovative thinking and applying their innovations to new adjacent markets in the world of sport. The development of the International Rugby experience in Limerick City Centre in 2021 and the planned Ryder Cup at Adare Manor in 2026 will serve to further put Limerick, the Mid-west and Ireland on the international sporting map. These activities offer further opportunities for collaborative sports technology and innovation challenges over the coming years. statsperform.com