Twins named to shortlist for prestigious 2023 Sports Technology Awards
MINNEAPOLIS-ST. PAUL, MN – Honoring the club’s continued push to enhance their platforms and engage with fans in unique and innovative ways, the Minnesota Twins are one of six global entities selected to the shortlist for Governing Body, Federation, League or Team of the Year at The 2023 Sports Technology Awards, presented by The STA Group in association with NBC Sports Next. Recognized as the leading, international mark of excellence, The Sports Technology Awards celebrates tech-led innovation in sports; entries for all categories spanned five continents, more than 30 countries and over 50 sports.
Along with the Twins, the other Governing Body, Federation, League or Team of the Year finalists are: the Drone Racing League (DRL), the International Cricket Council (ICC), the Major League Baseball Players Association (MLBPA), the Israeli Basketball Association (IBBA) and U.S. Soccer. The six elite companies shaping sports via technology were determined by a panel of more than 50 global industry experts; the winner will be announced as part of The 2023 Sports Technology Awards Ceremony, set for May 18 in Manhattan, New York.
“The Minnesota Twins are on a mission to become the most innovative brand in sport and this recognition provides concrete validation that we are moving in the right direction,” said Chris Iles, Minnesota Twins senior director of innovation and growth. “We are truly honored to be nominated among the other esteemed finalists in this category.”
Among the highlights of the Twins’ tech-driven advancements from 2022 alone:
- Twins Accelerator by Techstars: The 2022 calendar year saw the conclusion of the first cohort of the Twins Accelerator by Techstars, and the beginning of the second; both incubated 10 of the best global early-stage entrepreneurs advancing innovative solutions to meet fans’ evolving needs for sports and entertainment consumption and engagement. As of February 2023, the Twins have engaged in, or had plans for, proof-of-concept activations with at least eight startups, including the 2022 Target Field integrations of AWSM Sauce, EDGE Sound Research and LeagueOS.
- The ResonX Sound Lounge by EDGE Sound Research – The Twins and EDGE Sound Research introduced fans to an entirely new audio experience with the ResonX Sound Lounge: a hi-fidelity audio system that enables a user to hear and feel every frequency of sound (audible, tactile, & haptic). For the first time, fans could feel the crack of the bat, the pop of the glove and be immersed in the game like never before.
- ARound: The Twins partnered with Minneapolis-based ARound for a first-of-its-kind, stadium-level shared augmented reality (AR) platform at Target Field. Introduced in August, the first-ever experience in a live sports setting engages fans during game downtime through immersive, interactive and shared experiences with fellow fans across the venue.
- Twins Gaming Dugout: Delivering a different twist to game day at the ballpark, the Twins and local esports and gaming entertainment startup Wisdom Gaming partnered to host a pop-up gaming lounge at Target Field for 13 home games in August.
About The STA Group
The STA Group’s mission is to identify, inform and celebrate the world’s leading sports technologies and the brands which embrace them. It does this through its portfolio of brands, The Sports Technology Awards, The Sports Technology Annual Review, The Sports Technology Power List, Tech Chairs – The Sports Technology Podcast and its newsletter, Access Innovation. The Group’s Partners include NBC Sports Next, Capgemini, The English Institute of Sport, Sportradar and HOK.
About the 2023 Sports Technology Awards
The Sports Technology Awards are the world’s leading celebration of tech-led innovation in sport, dubbed ‘The Oscars of Sports Technology’. Recognized as the leading, international mark of excellence, The Sports Technology Awards celebrates tech-led innovation in sports, globally. Founded in 2013, The Awards evolve each year to reflect the important factors influencing every facet of sports.
The cycle of each year’s awards start when entries open in September. Our judges, over 50 industry experts, review all the entries, with the shortlist of successful brands announced in February. The Awards ceremony is then staged each year in May. The 2023 Sports Technology Awards Ceremony will take place on 18th May at 583 Park Ave., Manhattan, New York.