Sports tech panel: Which tech trends are shaping the future of sports?

“The way athletes train, the way a coach prepares, even the way the fans view the game is dramatically different, all because of technological advancement.” -NFL Hall of Famer Curtis Martin

“It is certainly an exciting time to be in sports tech.” – Sports lawyer/Forbes, Inc contributor Darren Heitner

As long as there have been humans, there have been sports, though we’ve come a long way from sticks and rocks. In the sports arena, the future is now: Sports technology is evolving fast, already in stadiums providing mind-blowing experiences for athletes, spectators, and even home viewers.

That’s why the sports tech industry is producing some of the hottest investment opportunities today, ranging from performance enhancers and wearables (IntelliGym, Fitbit) to improving fans’ sports-viewing experience (Replay Technologies) and diagnosis & treatment of sports brain injuries (ElMindA).

OurCrowd recently hosted a live conversation with NFL Hall of Fame running back Curtis Martin, and Darren Heitner, Sports lawyer and Inc. magazine/Forbes contributor, each bringing their unique viewpoint as we explore what’s next in sports tech. The conversation was moderated by OurCrowd’s sports tech lead and BizDev rep, Jeremy Pressman.

Here are some of our favorite quotes from the conversation (full conversation below):

Fan exposure: “The gap between the fan and the athlete has diminished which gives a more personal fan experience.” ~ Curtis Martin.

Home vs stadium: “With the idea that more people will be staying home, the content providers need to keep enhancing the product that reaches the consumer. Perhaps that is through developing a virtual reality experience.” ~ Darren Heitner.

Game-changing tech: “Replay Technologies is unique in that they are one of the few companies that have the ability to enhance both, the in-stadium and at-home viewing experience.” ~ Curtis Martin.

Medical advancements: “I had a career ending injury 10 years ago, with the medical advances of today, I may have been able to continue playing.” ~ Curtis Martin.

Athletes as investors: “These days, athletes seem to want to be a part of the products and services they enjoy, and are not afraid to put their money where their mouths are.” ~ Darren Heitner.

Pros beyond sports: “Professional athletes are coming to the realization that there’s a lot of life left after their playing careers are over.” ~ Curtis Martin.