The Los Angeles Dodgers and a company called R/GA are ushering in a new wave of sports technology and entertainment designed to help start-up companies launch new business models, as well as promote the growth of exciting products and services. The Dodgers issued a Press Release yesterday outlining the program. It is called the “Dodgers Accelerator” and its’ purpose is to create innovative ways to engage fans, enhance the consumer experience, and develop ways to take the game from the stadium directly to the community.
The number one goal of the Dodgers organization is to improve fan relationships. One idea is to bring the players’ fitness-tracking and health diagnostics data to the fans as a way to keep them involved. The Dodgers already have the highest cumulative fan attendance in the history of Major League Baseball, and the Accelerator program intends to boost the fan experience even more. The Dodgers organization wants to continue to build strong community partnerships and strengthen its fan commitment by investing wisely in the team’s future.
The Dodgers Accelerator is open to start-up companies globally that are developing anything applicable to sports technology and entertainment. Innovations related to Fan Engagement, e-Sports, Smart Arenas, Fan Relationship Management, Big Data and Analytics, Performance Training, Fantasy and Gaming, and Virtual Reality & Second Screen are a few of the areas the Accelerator is interested in.
A total of 10 companies will be chosen, and each will receive $20K in funding, 80+ mentors from the LA Dodgers and R/GA, co-workspace facilities in the city of Los Angeles, on-site technology and design experts, development and branding services from R/GA, partnership, distribution and strategic support from the Dodgers organization, and an invite-only Demo day. The Dodgers Accelerator is receiving applications until June 29, 2015. The program begins on August 17th, and runs thru early November.
R/GA is a digital agency for the Connected Age. It was founded in 1977 to meet the needs of digital clients and brands by working with agencies that tap the power between technology and the consumer. R/GA believes that technology has the power to change not just the delivery, but the way we consume information. They understand that media changes the message, and are keen on designing platforms built to go on for a long time by becoming “digital destinations” that encourage on-going contact. It is one of the world’s largest marketing and advertising services organizations, and employs over 1500 people in offices world-wide.
The Accelerator program offered by R/GA is an exciting way for sports-centric start-ups to build partnerships and network with sports teams, and for sports teams to stay connected to their fans all over the world through the use of technology. You can follow the Dodgers Accelerator on Twitter @DodgersAccel.