Sony Corp. has acquired a majority stake in STATSports Group, a Northern Ireland-based sports data and performance analysis company.
Terms were not disclosed.
STATSports reports that its range of sports analytics is used by “800 professional teams and federations worldwide, with clients including Manchester City, Liverpool FC, Arsenal, PSG, Juventus, Inter Miami in soccer, national teams in soccer like England and Portugal, and American sports franchises like Washington Commanders, LA Dodgers, Florida Marlins, and Minnesota Twins.”
Utilizing tracking technologies including wearable devices with GPS, heart rate and accelerometer sensors, STATSports provides “more than 70 real-time metrics processed on-board for immediate feedback.”
The acquisition will see STATSports integrated into Sony’s sports businesses, which include Hawk-Eye and Beyond Sports.
Sony Corp. noted that the “move aims to create a comprehensive data and analytics platform for the sports industry, combining STATSports’ expertise in athlete data collection with the existing capabilities of Hawk-Eye and Beyond Sports.”
The deal will enable Sony to provide an “end-to-end service encompassing data collection, officiating, broadcast enhancements, and fan engagement.”
Rufus Hack, CEO of Hawk-Eye, Pulselive, Beyond Sports, and KinaTrax, stated, “This acquisition is a powerful step in our journey to build the ultimate sports data and analytics engine by integrating STATSports’ state-of-the-art wearable technology with our existing optical solutions. This opens up a path for new applications in performance analysis, as well as officiating and fan engagement, which enables us to deliver a more complete and valuable solution to our partners and the entire sports community.”
Alan Clarke, CEO and co-founder of STATSports, said, “This is a landmark moment for STATSports. Since 2008, our mission has been to help teams and athletes reach their full potential through performance monitoring technology. Partnering with Sony allows us to accelerate that mission by integrating our wearable technology with Sony’s world-leading solutions. Together, we can set new standards in performance analysis, athlete development, and injury prevention, while also offering audiences new ways to engage with their favourite sports teams.”
Image courtesy STATSports
