Flatlander

Lab rats

2009-06-02T07:14:00.002-05:00

We're not really sure exactly how the newly born ESPN Innovation lab is going to function (envision the sporting version of scientists at work on fossils behind plexiglass walls at museums). But given their commitment to info-graphics and other color analysis in a "virtual environment" this bears watching. Details are scant (ESPN will not provide the cost nor size of the lab, and we only know it employs five people as of now) but we'll continue to keep an eye on any developments.

More on the roof at Wimbledon

2009-05-21T07:01:00.001-05:00

Follow up to the post from last week: here is some audio from NPR about the 'grand' opening event.

Here come the Roofs

2009-05-14T06:57:00.003-05:00

Yes, that's roofs, plural. The French Tennis Federation determined the architect for roof over Phillipe Chatrier, aka Centre Court. The roof will be in place by 2011.

Wimbledon, as you know, has their sparkling invention in place and it will be unveiled this weekend officially with a charity match. BBC has video here and here. While I'm still skeptical it will move the tournament along at the pace they want, the key (obviously) is the the gem matches will not be delayed and won't disrupt television schedules, etc.

This leaves the U.S Open as the only Grand Slam event without a lid on it. Given the loud, rowdy crowds at the Open and it's assorted ubiquitous qualities (night play, flight patterns into LaGuardia airport, etc.) I'm quite fine with that. Let it be.

Stadium Lament

2009-05-12T07:08:00.003-05:00

It's hard to make any salient points in 300 words or less regarding stadium design (lord knows we've tried and occasionally crashed miserably). Mark Lamster takes the new NYC stadiums to task, among others, in the latest issue of I.D. Magazine. His point well-meaning and in an ideal world (hell, even in a reasonable one) his points about inspiring stadiums that actually function as great public spaces would be applauded and put into action.

Sadly, I don't agree that stadiums serve the role they once did. The grand palaces and functional mudholes that served both as 'escape vehicles' from blue collar life and as a nexus of social activity have now moved in a different direction. They are all about "experience", and often that experience involves isolating one from their fellow fans. This occurs primarily through the use of skyboxes that destroy seating bowls, but also involve everything from the distracting (Jumbotrons full of data) to the inane (Bank One Ballpark's swimming pool in the outfield). The 'stadiums mimic society' argument isn't a new one and I'm not going to fly that proverbial flag in depth here, but there is some truth in it.

Lamster loses me again with the line "baseball fans don’t really care much about design or styling, retro or otherwise. They demand only one thing—a good ballgame" is disproved about two blocks from my house every day, where thousands of Bleacher-goers stream through the outfield at Wrigley field and really don't give a damn what the outcome of the game is, so long as there is some sunshine and beer, and the seeminly requisite three hours of post-game drinking in the streets of Wrigleyville.

I'm of the opinion that the larger struggle stadium designers face is to strike a balance between the demands for wider seats, aisles and concourses dotted with shopping and 'info-tainment' experiences, while still somehow keeping the fans close to the field of play, rather than stashing them behind glass boxes or putting them in a third deck that requires oxygen to reach. The days of going to the ballpark "just to watch the game" are dwindling fast.

Some Upgrades Ought To Come Standard

2009-05-12T06:58:00.002-05:00

The ISC has partnered with a firm called the ISS (confused yet?) to implement a texting service for all fans at ISC tracks. Spectators will now be able to communicate directly with the racing operations center. This is a huge win for any fans who find themselves in a situation of distress, or worse. More here.

The NFL Draft and Social Media

2009-04-17T07:04:00.003-05:00

Here's a nice article on cnet. Regarding the live Draft App however, we have to respectfully call 'BS' on the lack of an iPhone deployment. Sprint is tight with the league and therefore gets the jump on all other mobile providers, so just call it what it is fellas.

Closet sports analysts, take heart.

2009-04-17T06:49:00.003-05:00

You've got a new tool at your disposal for editing / splicing / mashing up your favorite web videos, and adding telestrator-like commentary. It's here courtesy of Markup Video. Extra points for using the 'pee wee football' clips as a product demo.

HOK Sport becomes Populous

2009-03-31T08:22:00.002-05:00

Populous, the 'break-away' nucleus of people formerly known as HOK Sport, have officially rebranded and launched. My initial reaction is that this is a great thing-- sometimes ventures become so successful and popular that they interfere with the mission of the parent company (not sure thats the right word to use, but so be it). Basically, there comes a time when the kids have to leave the house and go it alone, so good luck to them. We'll be watching.

F1 starts down under

2009-03-28T08:15:00.002-05:00

The talk all week has been the speed of the newly named Brawn GP Racing (formerly Honda). Watching qualifying this morning, however, I was struck more by the lap times, which are stunningly fast considering the FIA has been trying to get the overall speeds down. So much for making the cars more generic by truncating development, eh? Soon the 'Schumacher-esque' speeds will become the norm it seems.

But for now it will be all about Brawn and Williams, at least until the FIA have their say about the 'diffuser row' in Paris in a few weeks. Here's a good bit on Ross Brawn, someone I've always admired.

Miami Marine Stadium

2009-03-25T06:06:00.003-05:00

I get wrapped up in the 'new' and the 'future', but it's always good to stop and remember what came before. Flipping through Dwell magazine I came across a stunning little bit of design still standing, at least for now: Commodore Munroe Stadium in Miami, more commonly known as Miami Marine Stadium. Used primarily for boat races and the like, it eventually felt the punch of Hurricane Andrew.

The Friends of MMS can use your help, so I encourage you to take a few minutes on their site.

MLS pushes forward

2009-03-21T03:33:00.003-05:00

18 teams. That's how many MLS franchises will be in place by 2011. Be careful guys, the air is thin up there and we wish you well.

Portland was awarded the last 'available' franchise this week, and work will begin on renovating PGE Park, presumably sooner than later. They will have their work cut out for them, as PGE currently doesn't have much expansion room and it seems inconceivable that the facility would continue to house both a soccer team and a baseball team. Add the inevitable drama that surrounds a stadium involving public financing and its going to be a tight timeline for them. (See the March 1st post for more of that).

Truth in 24

2009-03-14T06:15:00.003-05:00

Just one last Audi mention on the weekend- I had the chance to see Truth In 24, the documentary on the Audi R10 this week and it is fascinating from start to finish, both for technical and 'project management' standpoints. OH yes... a bit of facing goes on as well. Catch it on ESPN Friday March 20, or look for it to appear at a special event near you. Great stuff. Intersport and NFL Films did a very nice job visually on the film as well, this was no small production.

Mcnish to Appear on Wind Tunnel

2009-03-14T06:05:00.004-05:00

Wow, where did the week go?! Like an R10 TDI, it left us in the dust. Which leads us to... the LeMans series. Again. Americans can catch Allan McNish on the fantastic Wind Tunnel, hosted by Dave Despain, this Sunday evening. I'll be interested to hear McNish's thoughts on the new R15 TDI.

The ALS series kicks off at Sebring next weekend. Sebring is fun precisely because you get to see some new things unveiled. To that point, look for the new Acura proto-types slated to appear.

Update: Some great information and a picture of the new R15 can be found on the Formula1Blog here.

'Green Racing'

2009-03-06T23:32:00.003-06:00

Yep, it's gaining credibility. Audi ran a car in the American LeMans series last year that ran on biodiesel...KERS, not exactly green but still a step in the right direction, is now embedding itself in Formula One. And the U.S. EPA is apparently paying attention and giving a tip of the cap to the American LeMans Series.

The Friday Numbers

2009-03-06T12:05:00.004-06:00

As its Friday March 6th, we thought we'd have a little fun with Six Nations Rugby. Apologies for the lack of posts this week... reality crashed our party and this weekend it's a trek to Lincoln Nebraska (Husker baseball on the agenda). Regular posting should resume then.

Getting on with it already:

- The Six Nations Championship was known before 2000 as the Five Nations Championship. (Italy was added in 2000.) For those unaware, Six Nations is an annual international rugby union competition involving six European sides: England, France, Ireland, Italy, Scotland and Wales. The winner is considered ‘the rugby champion of Europe’ despite the lack of the official title.

- Despite the second-most wins (34) since the start of Six Nations, Ireland has not won the trophy in 23 years, the longest current drought.

- In 2007 Ireland was dealt a cruel blow. For the second time on the final day of the Six Nations rugby union tournament, a game was decided by a video replay. This time it decided the champion, as France beat Scotland on the replay decision, consequently giving them the tournament win over Ireland.

- The Championship trophy has 15 side panels, representing the 15 members of the team. There are three handles to represent the three referees.

- Each team plays the other teams in the pool one time. In 1972, all five teams finished in a tie, the only time it has happened since the inception of the tournament in 1883.

The coming decade: Design meets economic reality

2009-03-01T09:50:00.022-06:00

The last 20 years in the U.S. have been some of the most prolific in terms of innovation and build-out in stadium design. Those days are gone for now. But what happens to those projects that are underway, when the budget money has been spent, the public is over-taxed and frustrated...and community icons are still at risk of fleeing? Ask Minnesota. The citizens of greater Minneapolis have no less than three facilities underway or or in discussion* and the state flagship Vikings will probably have to rent from the local University while permanent digs get hammered out under the Metrodome Next initiative.

*Target Ballpark
*TCF Bank Stadium
*Minnesota Vikings Stadium, TBD.

Public stadium financing is a nasty issue, with valid and invalid points on all sides, and not the point of this blog per se. (See other resourceful blogs and books for that.) But we're wondering aloud this morning whether a prolonged economic downturn might see the return of the days of the dreaded "multi-use facility" or just the end of new facility construction period. The latter portends bad things, and when the order of the day is to spend our way out of this mess with public works it becomes a high-stakes gamble. The former produced some of the most hideous and controversial stadium design in our lifetimes. (Ex: Riverfront Stadium, Cincinnati, below). Sidenote- love the good people of Cincinnati, and I know you have fond memories of Riverfront, but...eeek.

Perhaps, in this age of streaming, updates, and video on demand, we'll find that smaller, more fiscally responsible settings will be the order of the day. More people will follow their teams from a venue other than the old ballpark, especially if the corporate sugar-daddies aren't there to foot the bill. I'll be sure to think about it when I'm eating my $10 hot dog at the New Yankee Stadium later this year.

Photo credits:
HHH Metrodome by Tim Wilson
Riverfront Stadium by Brent

Adidas.tv

2009-02-28T07:20:00.006-06:00

If 2008 was the Year of the Widget, 2009 will be the Year of Rebranding the Widget. In this case we're talking about Adidas TV. My first thought was that Adidas was merely skinning their Youtube videos which is a fairly common but stale tactic. It turns out they've created a cagey little gadget that you can put on your web pages (Facebook, Blogger, et al.), send via email, and upload to your mobile phone. But why take my word for it? Scroll down and you'll see a sample install of it on the right rail.

The install took all of :30 seconds, and resizing it is simple if you know even a thimble-full of javascript. People who say Social Media isn't trackable completely miss one point, which is that Social Media apps are just part of a larger initiative and that larger initiative always includes some kind of tracking mechanism. The 'rising tide floats all boats' theory in action. In this case they've done a great job and created a nice little add-on for people who want to spice up their pages with some video without any fuss.

The Friday Numbers

2009-02-27T16:44:00.005-06:00

Sorry, most of you are probably at the bar already, I didn't get to post the numbers this morning. So without further ado...here's your Friday diversion. We're celebrating February only having 28 days (I'll drink to that) and that means spring is around the corner.

- At Age 28, Adam Dunn has more home runs, runs, and walks than Reggie Jackson, Darryl Strawberry, Jose Canseco and Harmon Killebrew all did at the same age.

- Legendary basketball coach Pat Summitt has averaged 28 victories a year for 35+ years...and a typical NCAA women's basketball season is about 35 games. Over the last four seasons the New York Knicks have averaged just 28 victories per year out of a possible 82.

- Pitcher Tim Wakefield has 164 victories in a Red Sox uniform, leaving him 28 short of the two club record holders: legends Cy Young and Roger Clemens.

- Darrell Greene, a Washington Redskins Hall-of-Famer, was a first round pick by Washington, in 1983. He was the 28th overall pick. He also wore the jersey number 28.

- Legendary basketball coach Dean Smith was born on February 28th, 1931.

- Last year Amateur UK horse jockey Anthony Knott won his first ever race. It took him 28 years to do it.

- There were a total of 28 sports at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, China.

See you in March!

mi adidas

2009-02-27T13:41:00.007-06:00

In a surprise that can only be called serendipitous, I found a sweet email from Adidas in my inbox two nights ago announcing the launch of mi adidas (clever wordplay there), a site for customizing one-off sets of shoes... straight on the heels of my NIKEiD post a day earlier. I love my Adidas shoes, but there can only be one 'smartest kid in the online class' and we're reserving that for Nike at the moment. Here's why:

1. Interface. While mi adidas is certainly navigable, its got the plot a bit wrong. I want to choose my colors and know my options straight away. I dont want to be asked my gender / shoe size / shoe width first. That's what happened when mom took me to the store right before school was back in session. I'm going to assume you can figure out a way to make these shoes for me regardless of those details. While Adidas sports a more classic and clean interface, certain UI options were overlooked as well: it's great to show me the timeless Stan Smith on the homepage and let me customize it, but let me select it right there. I want to do the customizing without being required to jump through several categories to get there. (eds note: tried this on Safari and Firefox for Mac; perhaps it is clickable via Internet Explorer but I can't verify that.)

2. Urgency. Nike are the masters of imploring you to get on with the matter. Just Do It, right? The contest is always the context-- the Royale32 tournament, or the Euro2008 ID soccer campaign-- giving you the impression that time is limited. Those contests are satellites of the main NIKEiD site to be sure, but even hitting the iD site through your generic login, you'll see terms such as 'Spring Collection' and a display presentation like you'd find at the local boutique. Translation: you're out shoe shopping, be impulsive, have some fun. If you're not feeling it yet, maybe you oughtta click on the Nike Sportswear Music widget in the corner (yep, you can buy the music you're listening to via itunes or visit the artist's site).

So while I'll applaud mi adidas for the efforts so far, I'd say its a bit more like shopping for shoes at the suburban mall, while NikeiD is hangin' somewhere in fashionable mid-town.

NIKEiD throwdown

2009-02-25T21:18:00.003-06:00

Nike iD and the Nike iD Studio are all about specialization; a brilliant concept to involve customers in unique "one-offs" if you will. I've never really believed Nike makes a ton of money off the iD concept, but it plays well with the younger crowd and keeps them true to their street roots.

So what better way to play up those roots than an old-school East vs. West throwdown. Enter NIKEiD Royale 32, a design contest where people are required to create their entries at the NYC Mercer location or the LA Montalban location, and voting occurs online. 32 contenders, 4 weeks, and one winner. Very cool, and painless... vote and get on with it. Purchase your choice if you want. No hassle, no commitment. Nicely executed, with the one exception...Nike are masters of the Inbox but terribly frustrating for passing links along to friends or mining for yourself. Meaning, you'll get something cool via email and Nike will dial you in straight away, but good look stumbling along through their site(s) and finding the unexpected treasure.

Logistics

2009-02-25T07:26:00.002-06:00

You thought you had problems packing up your kids for a trip to Florida, eh? Then pity the crews of an F1 team like Williams who have to deal with "packing day". I suspect this time of year poses unique problems such as: no race adrenaline, routines not entirely established or executed comfortably, and so much at stake in the testing process. Especially this year as the testing rules have changed so much. I dug up this video from the AutomotiveTV channel on moving an F1 team around the globe. (side note: if you're not subscribed to AutomotiveTV, you should be.)

Spotlight on marketing

2009-02-23T14:00:00.002-06:00

A tidy and interesting interview with Perry Cooper, senior VP of digital and direct marketing for the NHL can be found in the recent issue of Deliver® magazine. It's a great reminder in this day and age when Direct Mail is yawned at (at best) or (worse) sneered at, the NHL has shown that it's all about the touch points...reminding your customers of your offerings in the right way without bombing them with offers. In this instance, the direct mail is a targeted outreach in tactile fashion, something often lost in today's "receive-process-delete" society.

Spring Training 2

2009-02-22T21:11:00.004-06:00

Down the road a piece from the Indians new facility lies Camelback Ranch, the new home of the Dodgers and Chicago White Sox. Facility sharing is nothing new and occasionally makes for strange bedfellows-- the Indians will welcome their intra-state rivals from Cincinnati as facility partners in Goodyear soon.

While the desert browns and assimilation into nature are both on display in Camelback and Goodyear, Camelback is taking aim straight at the holiday crowd with lakes, walking paths and more. Even the CR website says its "a campus rather than a complex...a park rather than a facility." When you've got 140 acres and budget that isn't endless, the choice becomes clear: develop the property or develop the stadium. And while the main stadium does not appear to be lacking, it's clearly only part of the experience promised by the CR proprietors. How else to explain the music bandstand and the orange grove? (Nice tip of the cap to the original Dodgertown in Vero Beach). 'The Ranch' will also host concerts and corporate outings when baseball is not in session.

If you plan on going, the Chicago Tribune has some helpful hints and potential warnings.

Yas Marina Circuit

2009-02-20T12:42:00.003-06:00

Continuing this week's overly-indulgent car theme, I found new pics of the Yas Marina track in Abu Dhabi . Side note: yes, we're a little obsessed with tracks and stadiums these days but fun design is worth celebrating. Besides, when you're in Abu Dhabi there are virtually no financial restrictions...so the designers get to go a little nuts. See for yourself.

Yas Marina official website
Pics from Formula1.com

The Friday Numbers

2009-02-19T20:47:00.003-06:00

Yes, I realize it is not yet Friday in some parts of the world, but we post when we can, calendar be damned. Since the Chicago Auto Show is this weekend and F1 testing has begun on the heels of the Daytona 500, we've got cars on the brain. Here you go:

- After F1 testing on January 26, 2008, Nick Heidfeld of BMW Sauber said of the new vehicle: "Last year [at this stage] things seemed better to me. Last year the balance was there quicker and we were more where we expected to be." In 2008, Nick Heidfeld would complete 1,112 out of a possible 1,117 race laps, the most of any driver.

- The Fastest Lap in the 2008 Bahrain Grand Prix was 1:33.6 set by Felipe Massa of Ferrari
- The Fastest Lap in 2009 testing at Bahrain was 1:32.01 by Kimi Raikonnen of Ferrari
- Massa and Raikkonen finished 1/2 respectively at the 2008 race.
Lesson: Ferrari is really fast at Bahrain.

- Matt Kenseth won this year's rain-shortened Daytona 500. The Daytona 500 has been rain-shortened 4 times in it's 51 history.

- The American Le Mans Series will begin it's schedule with the Twelve Hours of Sebring in March. The past 10 winners of the 24 Hours of Le Mans raced at Sebring prior to their Le Mans victory.

- In 2008, Toyota had 445 Million USD available for its F1 program through suppliers, ownership contributions and sponsorships. It had the most money at its disposal of any F1 team. In 2009 a budget cap will be introduced, believed to be 150 Million USD. Only three teams on the F1 grid had less than 150 Million at their disposal for the 2008 campaign.

- The 2009 schedule for NASCAR will result in 37 stops between now and November. That number is more than double the events scheduled for Formula One, IndyCar Series, LeMans Series and WRC Rally Car.

2009 Formula One Rule Changes

2009-02-17T12:15:00.002-06:00

Almost perfect. An engaging two-minute film here. Props to AutomotiveTV.

Spotlight on Cycling

2009-02-16T08:13:00.007-06:00

Any form of racing is a giant petri dish for innovation- mechanical, chemical or otherwise. This weekend we saw a handful of cycling teams roll out in the Tour of California with Shimano's new Dura Ace Di2 electronic gear-changing system. This system isn't brand new per se, as it was used in last year's Tour De France by a couple of two-wheeled guinea pigs. But its the first time we've seen multiple teams jump on the bandwagon with Shimano's final product.

This New York Times article sums the landscape up pretty well. The key line in the article starts here: Because cycling teams rely on sponsorship from companies like Shimano for their financial survival... And there is the crux of the matter. You want sponsorship? You help us sell products. All that aside, the Di2 system is actually a bit lighter than the current Shimano cabling system, and once riders get over the fear of dead batteries and ill timed shifts I could see this catching on. Anyone who does a lot of riding in inclement weather also knows that fewer moving parts = fewer weather related problems, etc. I'm not sure I like the idea of letting riders use the electronic system in time-trials which is precisely where it will have most of its impact. I liken it to electronic -traction control in Formula One; It makes for a more interesting race, but it doesn't make for better drivers.

Interesting that Campagnolo is launching a version, so you can be pretty sure we've got industry-wide buy in on this equipment. And if Shimano can't make it work, then probably can't be done. So the heavy-weights have spoken. Now we'll see what the riders have to say.

The Friday Numbers

2009-02-13T13:24:00.003-06:00

For fun, we thought we'd start a regular Friday distraction called 'the numbers'. Because Fridays are all about small distractions right? These may not always be design and tech oriented, but they will most definitely involve sports. Since it's Friday the 13th, the most talked about and feared day on the calendar, its only fitting we start with 13. Here goes...

RACING:
-The number 13 has not been in use in Formula One racing since 1976 and has only twice made an appearance at racetracks in the World Championship.
-Formula 1 teams are no longer given the number 13 when car numbers are given out to them. The team now finishing seventh in the previous year's championship will take numbers 14 and 15 as opposed to 13 and 14.
-The only driver to win a race in the No. 13 car was Johnny Rutherford, making his NASCAR debut at Daytona. Rutherford would win the Indianapolis 500 of Open Wheel racing three times.

STADIUMS:
-George Steinbrenner rejected 13 plans by architectural firm HOK prior to the building of the new Yankee Stadium.
-Most American High School gymnasiums have scoreboards which contain 13 digits (score, time of possession, etc.)

BASKETBALL:
-Wilt Chamberlain, who wore the jersey number 13, was named to 13 All-Star teams.
-Tonight, February 13th, the Harlem Globetrotters will play in Madison Square Garden...Wilt Chamberlain once played for the Harlem Globetrotters.

SOCCER:
-Its not always bad luck. Kristine Lilly, who made more international appearances than any other player in the sport's history, wore #13 for the USA women's team.

HOCKEY:
-No player wearing the #13 sweater has been inducted into the NHL Hockey Hall of Fame.

Green Point gets its roof

2009-02-11T12:59:00.003-06:00

Cynics please step down, the Green Point stadium in Capetown is finally getting its head-dress. And what a beauty it is. The massive glass / steel / cable roof, designed by Birdair (Buffalo, NY) is unique, providing a veil-like effect for the stadium at the foot of Table Mountain. If you've not seen the official Green Point stadium site, visit it here. The 2 minute youtube video provides excellent site context.

I will make no pretenses about it- I have friends in South Africa and Zimbabwe and hope that this WC can heal a part of the world that is desperate to prove not just that it is normal, but that it can shine when given the chance. As those games draw near, you'll see more stadium photos from around South Africa here. An ongoing catalog of the stadium progress can be viewed here.

Spring Training 1

2009-02-10T07:03:00.011-06:00

With Spring Training upon us, I thought I'd take some time over the next few weeks to look at the new facilities and assorted gadgetry that will make its debut across the ballparks and 'mallparks' of Arizona and Florida. The Cleveland Indians are up first; their fantastic new facility in Goodyear Arizona has all the makings of a blueprint for other MLB clubs to follow: real practice and workout facilities for personnel, easy access to high-end urban shopping and restaurants, expansion options, a design compatible with its surroundings, and lest we forget... Club Suites! For only $75 million, this too, can be yours.

Goodyear AZ is in fact named after that bastion of Ohio manufacturing, the Goodyear tire company in Akron, so its fitting that the Indians ended up here. And with apologies to the good people of Winter Haven, it's a clean break from the baggage that weighed them down at that facility. The current US economy will prevent some of the more elaborate entertainment and business options at the complex (does anything get built without conference centers and an on-site hotel anymore?) but as you can see from the photos there is ample room for growth, and the complex is a straight-shot of 30 minutes from downtown Phoenix on I-10. Companies and sponsors wanting to create an "Indians getaway" for staff or friends won't be short on options.

ed: Remember when Spring Training used to be about baseball? And it was cheap? No more. Spring Training is an event, and events demand financial commitment. Especially from you, dear consumer.

It should come as no surprise that HOK, the 800 lb. gorilla of world stadium design, are behind the beautiful design. We're loathe to call it "post-modern" but modern and classy it is, as if Bloomingdale's Home Outlet decided to pitch in on the project. When the grand entrance is fleshed out with plant life/grass/walkways it should make for a striking entrance. The gradual slope of the seating bowl and the wide concourse give the stadium a European feel (ex: review some of the Portuguese stadiums used for Euro 2004) and are a subtle nod to the flat landscape it faces on the outskirts of the hardscrabble desert. A tip of the proverbial ballcap to the Indians, HOK, RTKL and the municipality of Goodyear for pulling this off.

Pay to Play

2009-02-08T20:29:00.002-06:00

To my regular readers (both of you. hah.) my apologies for a lack of posts this week. Without dwelling on it too much, I had to be hospitalized and that put quite a crimp in my writing/researching time.

I'm getting back to speed and in the meanwhile I've found this gem on Wired. ESPN is attempting to completely flip existing models on how video is distributed. Normally the ISP makes the rules and the content provider has to pay up for the bandwidth in use. But when your content is "that good" and "that widely distributed" the potential for a power-shift becomes self-evident. We've seen this tried before in other venues though (see: Ticketmaster versus Pearl Jam) and we know how that ends.

Dialogue, not Monologue.

2009-02-03T07:14:00.003-06:00

Detroit Red Wings media-maven Shannon Paul likes point out that advertising and corporate communications are no longer a dialogue but rather a monologue, and I think it's a point that can't be made often enough.

Telemundo and Terra apparently agree, as their new futebolstar.tv site tries to create meaningful new two-way content for the Latino audience. View the Ad Age Article for more info.

When there are no live games the site functions more or less like any other soccer portal, so it remains to be seen whether it will steal eyeballs from content-rich sites like ESPN Deportes, but I do like the concept of letting fans decided what replays they want to see. (If you don't watch much soccer it's easy to forget that the on-field action never stops, so cutting away to a replay is a dicey proposition for the broadcaster.) The screen-in-screen replay or 'split screen' seems to be a natural here.

Super Bowl: the digital army

2009-02-03T06:50:00.003-06:00

It's going to be a nutty week, so most of my posts will either be recaps or 'forwards' from other articles, but I couldn't let the Super Bowl pass without mention. The Super Bowl isn't traditionally the venue for a major network to breakout new technology as there are already enough distractions and logistical nightmares. This year was no exception, but I've noticed that every year we hear the word 'more' at the Super Bowl. More coverage, more cameras, more explosions. Well, if you're going to bring 'more' to the masses then it takes an army. This CNET article provides a nice background on the sheer firepower it takes to keep the Super Bowl afloat. Oh, and of course it analyzes Twitter (Big Surprise!). I spend an unusual amount of time monitoring media as part of my profession and not an hour goes by that someone isn't mentioning Twitter.

Texas sized swagger

2009-02-01T14:17:00.004-06:00

It took me awhile to find a webcam for the new Cowboys facility. I kind of thought maybe they just couldn't find a land-based camera to get it all in one frame. You think I'm joking? This view is from one of the short sides. The largest domed project in the world. I wondered if the down economy and the troubled bond-market might impact some of the more exorbitant stadium details as opening day draws near, but that appears not to be the case. The Cowboys and City of Arlington got the bond debt re-financed in December (no small feat in this economy) and it's full steam ahead.

The City of Arlington site has quarterly 'scoreboard' reports with pictures of the stadium progress and other information, if you're so inclined. Work continues on the massive videoboard, and seats continue to be installed.

Slightly off-topic: I was unaware that the Cowboys and the New York Yankees got together to create a new concession, catering and merchandising firm last Fall. They borrowed (!) $100 million USD to create Legends Hospitality Management. LHM will provide its services to the teams' new stadiums next year. Interesting to see these two sports powerhouses collaborate.

Yahoo Sports

2009-01-31T08:46:00.000-06:00

Nice little interview with Jimmy Pitaro, VP of Yahoo Sports, here.

Signing Day Draws Near

2009-01-31T08:36:00.003-06:00

The first Wednesday in February is always a big day for college football fanatics. All our ridiculous hand-wringing and chewed-off finger nails and endless hours scrolling through forums with faceless guys named 'SoonerFury' or 'DarthGator' comes down to this: Signing Day.

And as proof that Google is everywhere/all the time, you can now view the Google Map for all Top 100 recruits. (hat tip: Sports Illustrated) And if you're really extra-special bored, you can review the maps of your teams recruits dating back to 2004.

Checking in on Hawk-Eye

2009-01-30T07:01:00.006-06:00

Hawk-Eye is without a doubt the biggest innovation in tennis since the graphite racket. And since we're at the sharp end of the Australian Open, I thought I'd check in on the folks at Hawk-Eye headquarters in the UK.

Turns out their sister company Pulse is getting some serious media attention for their interactive matchday product (conveniently called "Pulse")...you can play the Australian summer Cricket game now, for free: Pulse Live.

Pulse will return for this year's U.S. Tennis Open, no doubt. From last year's U.S. Open file:
Pulse provides fans with a live and truly interactive experience of the tournament by giving users the opportunity to express their opinion, track player and tournament progress, improve their tennis knowledge and best of all predict the game-by-game outcome of the match.

Tennis fans get pretty animated when discussing their favorite pros, so you'll be seeing more of Pulse on tournament sites and mobile devices once they get the UI tweaked and some more engaging graphics.

Down Under

2009-01-28T23:06:00.012-06:00

The heat has been the big topic down in Melborne at the Australian Open this week. On courts temps pushing 125 degrees and higher are ridiculous, but having played in 90+ degree air temps with humidity quite often as a youngster, I don't have a lot of sympathy. None the less, it's given the announcing crews lots of fodder during down times to discuss the roof on Laver Arena, and you don't have to be an expert to see that the Laver is showing its age.

As retractable roofs go, its seen its day and served Melborne well but now looks like an old roll-top desk compared to modern facilities. We'll see what the new design holds, but the covered 'village square' and entertainment options between Court Arena and Laver Arena are essential and this rendering makes it looke like they're going to get it right by creating a true tennis village. I'll post more pics and video as I find them.

Kids Are Always Innovating...

2009-01-27T23:14:00.002-06:00

Amusing and clever story about a kid who has put a twist on Goalie gear design from Boston.com

Under Armour release

2009-01-26T19:51:00.005-06:00

Running enthusiasts and UA haters (there are many of you out there, admit it) have been waiting well over a year for the launch of the UA running line. This week, we finally get it. Runners are traditionally a fickle lot: a market that doesn't sidle up to marketing dogma and a force that demands innovation but well, kinda loathes change. Enter UA into the arena; the masters of branding, the protectors of the house and a company that oh-by-the-way makes some solid products. It makes for an interesting situation.

Steve Battista, Brand VP, and Chris Brewer (Dir. of Product Creation according to his LinkedIn profile) have been making the rounds and saying all the right things, but I'll give UA this: they've started out at a very competitive price point and with three models for men and women out of the gate, they've got options for all types of runners. Brewer did time with Mizuno and Fila, so he's no novice to the shoe market. I'm not sold on some of the color schemes but all signs point upward compared to the battle-tanker style Trainer line they released last spring. As for whether the products hold up, we'll see those reviews roll in soon. Admittedly, the reviews on the Trainer line were somewhat mixed.

See more for yourself here: http://www.underarmour.com/shop/us/en/footwear

Consol Energy Center - PIttsburgh

2009-01-25T23:01:00.002-06:00

I find myself rooting for Pittsburgh. The city comes almost out of nowhere when you arrive via auto, nestled among the rivers and the mountainous surroundings. And from a venue standpoint, they don't need to apologize to anyone. They hope that continues with the new Consol Consol Energy center, which now has a webcam and is in early construction phase.

I've been fooled by architectural renderings and promises from local business leaders before, so I'm withholding judgement for now, but here's a sneak peek. I like the glass facade...not so sure about the tan brick cladding (something earthier would have been my choice).

Venues and Displacement

2009-01-25T08:00:00.004-06:00

Never having been in a city with a legitimate Olympic bid until now, I didn't realize the level of protesting Chicago would get with the enivironmental crowd. As the bid book finalization nears, the protestations are getting more heated. See this Tribune article on the proposed Tennis Center as an example.

Environmental impact always plays second fiddle in stadium discussions to the twin gorillas of Job Gain and New Revenues. But these days 'going green' is all the rage and Chicago has a mayor who likes to show himself off as eco-friendly. (And to be fair, Daley has pushed through some great initiatives.) It's a tricky road for Chicago.

The city is too built up to cut new paths to new venues. And while we boast a healthy public transport system, it's nothing along the lines of say, London, which Daley's messengers might do well to study hard. In short: limited venue spaces are available w/o creating a lot of impact, and moving to more accomodating venues won't work if you can't get there. This one bears watching.

There's more on the Chicago venues at the official site.

2009: Back from the Dark Ages

2009-01-24T09:22:00.002-06:00

After several years of working on some "offline priorities", I'm making time to move some thoughts/pictures/memories into the digital world. My unhealthy (hah) infatuation with stadia, design, and pretty much anything sports-related in the design world is what I'm going to attempt to encapsulate.

To wit: my new Reebok pump ice skates... I've been amused for several days as to how Reebok's ubiquitous 'modified antelope logo' meshes with the blade design to complete a helix effect. See Below.