The following interview is part of our ongoing Expert Series that asks C-level professionals, team presidents, league executives, athletic directors and other sports influencers about their latest thoughts and insights on new technologies impacting the sports industry.
Name: Ryan Montoya
Company: Sacramento Kings
Position: Chief Technology Officer
Ryan Montoya is the Chief Technology Officer for the Sacramento Kings. His responsibilities include providing direction and managing the Sacramento Kings new technology and innovation strategies to enhance the fan experience and improve the team’s performance. Under his leadership, the Kings became the first NBA team on Twitter, to use Bitcoin, experiment with Google Glass and utilize drones. He also led the team’s strategic investment in VOKE VR.
Additionally, he oversees all technology for Sacramento’s downtown entertainment and sports complex, Golden 1 Center. Throughout his career, Montoya has advised, invested and served at all levels of early stage technology companies.
Montoya began his career as an aide to President Clinton, Vice President Gore and two Cabinet Secretaries. A native of Colorado, Montoya received his bachelor’s degree from the University of Notre Dame, a master’s in International Studies/Security from the Josef Korbel School of International Studies at the University of Denver and an MBA from California State University, Sacramento.
1) What utilization of technology in professional or college sports has recently blown you away and why?
The NCAA’s use of Intel True VR (formerly VOKE VR) during the NCAA Final Four this year was groundbreaking. To see such an advanced technology at such a large event was great, and shows the exciting future that VR has in sports.
2) The 2016-17 season is the first season of the Kings’ new Golden 1 Center. What is the one piece of technology at the arena that is driving forward fan engagement more than anything else and why?
All of the technology in the arena is designed to enhance the fan experience — we designed the first-of-its-kind dual mode Kings + Golden 1 Center app to function as the fan’s remote control, allowing them to take advantage of advanced arena features. Through the app fans can upload photos to be featured when they arrive at the arena, provide feedback to better control the climate in their section, check out advanced stats and even order food directly to their seat.
3) If money were no object, what technology would you build or buy to help you do your job better?
Kings Chairman and Owner Vivek Ranadivé has been working with state and federal regulators as well as private companies to advance the use of autonomous vehicle technology on Sacramento roadways. An autonomous vehicle and hyperloop transportation network would allow us to better connect our arena with our fans and our city.
4) As a sports fan, what sports-related service, app, product, etc., could you not live without and why?
Without question — the Kings + Golden 1 Center app. It features the latest team info and connects me directly to the advanced features of Golden 1 Center.
5) If you had to project 20 years into the future, how will most sports venues be constructed from a technology and connectivity standpoint?
It will all begin with technology. Even before the first shovel hits the ground, teams will be asking how do we connect our fans. The shared experience and dialogue is becoming as important as the spectacle in the venue. Speed will be king and will become one of the factors determining how teams in the future operate.
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6) Give us your bold prediction about a form of technology that will be integral to the NBA over the next 12 months and why?
The NBA is doing great work with VR. It’s going the be a key to growing the game internationally. As broadcast technology improves, the next phase will be bringing more people in to experience the in-arena environment, not just the game.