Embed from Getty Images Most days of the week it’s a sure bet, but on Saturday, Cloud Computing was a longshot: at the Preakness, that is. But the horse with the most technology-oriented name I think I’ve ever seen prevailed to win the 142nd Preakness Stakes. Cloud Computing, which went off as a 13-1 shot, denied Kentucky Derby winner Always Dreaming a chance at the Triple Crown and likely confused millions of viewers struggling to understand why someone would give a horse a name that nerdy. Owners William H. Lawrence and Klaravich Stables are hedge fund guys, so perhaps they… Read More
You can’t talk sports tech without at least a little bit of sabermetrics. That’s one topic Seattle Mariners General Manager Jerry Dipoto will discuss at the second annual GeekWire Sports Tech Summit on June 21-22 in Seattle at CenturyLink Field. We are excited to welcome the 48-year-old baseball executive on stage at our second annual Sports Tech Summit, which brings together leading thinkers in data science, sports marketing, virtual reality, wearables and more for an informative and action-packed event that includes evening cocktail receptions, fireside chats, interactive panels, live demos, a Sounders match and much more. You can buy tickets here — early… Read More
Amazon’s voice technology has made its way into Major League Baseball. Earlier this month, the Seattle Mariners became the first professional sports franchise to place Amazon Echo devices inside stadium suites. At Safeco Field, fans at each of the 59 suites can now use their voice to order food, change TV channels, play music, and even have Alexa — the AI powered voice assistant built into the Echo — sing “Take Me Out To The Ballgame.” GeekWire had a chance to test out the new technology this week before the Mariners took on the Oakland Athletics. Fans can use Alexa for its… Read More
Sir Richard Branson understands the value of sport and fitness. After all, when he’s home at Necker Island, the billionaire entrepreneur wakes up each morning and plays tennis, goes kite surfing, and gets in a little paddle-boarding or swimming. Then the 66-year-old does it all over again as the sun sets in the evening. That passion for staying in shape is part of why Branson helped launch Virgin Sport, an arm of his Virgin Group conglomerate that is gearing up to host its first U.S.-based “fitness festival” in San Francisco this October. Virgin Sport San Francisco runs October 13-15 and is designed to be… Read More
There may not be a sibling combo that knows more about today’s dynamic sports and entertainment landscape than the Leiweke brothers. Tod Leiweke is the chief operating officer of the NFL and was previously CEO of the Seattle Seahawks and Tampa Bay Lightning, in addition to past executive positions at the Minnesota Wild, Vancouver Canucks, Golden State Warriors, and PGA Tour. His older brother Tim has an equally-impressive resume, having spent 18 years leading sports and entertainment giant AEG, and then two years as CEO of Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment. In 2015, he founded Oak View Group, one of two groups… Read More
