I am a huge sports fan and an even bigger technology geek so when the two worlds collide and create something together I am thrilled. It is neat to see the technology being used in a creative new way and it enhances my experience at a game or visiting my favorite team online. It does feel as though the sports industry has embraced technology in the marketing of their teams and sports, in the construction of their stadiums, in the sales of their tickets and even in the special events that they host.

Technology and social media is everywhere in sports. Teams have better websites, mobile apps, social media communications and truly are the role models many of us in the marketing community follow. Below is a great article that appeared on MSNBC.com today about the new Miami Sun Life Stadium which is now on my list of places I must visit in 2012, what stadiums are on your list?:

“Each fan who visits Miami’s Sun Life Stadium has individual parking habits, bathroom break patterns, favorite concession stand foods and ideal seats from which to watch the big game or live concert event.  Stadium managers hope to respond to the wants and needs of every single visitor by teaming up with IBM to track the ebb and flow of humanity inside the 75,000-seat building.

A first step comes from monitoring anything that might affect the crowds that come to enjoy WrestleMania in the spring or a Miami Dolphins NFL game in the fall. The stadium’s new IBM’s Intelligent Operations Center allow the staff to respond almost instantly to changes in parking, weather forecasts and even shortages of beer or nachos at a specific concession stand — the first real-world test is set for an soccer game between Mexico and Columbia on Wednesday.”

To read the full article from MSNBC, click here: http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/46559840/ns/technology_and_science-innovation/#.T006mPGPWiw

Written by: Erika Rossi Raia, Right Brain Media