This is the first episode in a series of 5 focused on #Innovation and hosted by Leanne Bats, a former All Blacks and FC Barcelona executive now leading innovation for a regional sports trust in New Zealand. 

On today’s episode of the Sports Pundit Innovation Podcast, I’m joined by Lucy Trang Nguyen, Business Development Director for Emerging Technologies at Accedo, and one of the key voices shaping the future of immersive sports experiences.

Lucy has been leading the launch of the XR Sports Alliance, a powerful new collective founded by Accedo, Qualcomm and HBS, working to bring extended reality - or XR - from proof-of-concept into real-world fan experiences. Lucy and her team are helping sports organisations rethink what’s possible when fans aren’t limited by a 2D screen.

In this conversation, we unpack the promise of XR - what it actually is, how it could change both the at-home and in-venue experience, and why rights holders, broadcasters, and sponsors should start paying close attention. We also explore what makes XR storytelling different, the commercial and legal challenges of immersive content, and what needs to happen next to make it scalable.

Timestamps

02:00 Lucy's Career Journey and Early AR Experiences

10:00 The XR Sports Alliance: Formation and Mission

14:00 The Current State and Future of XR in Sports

27:00 In-Venue Experiences and the Potential of XR

30:00 Streaming Innovations for Euro 2024

34:00 Modular Viewing Experiences and Sponsorship Integration

38:00 Challenges and Learnings in XR Sports Alliance

50:00 Future of XR in Sports and Entertainment

Additional Links

Connect with Lucy on LinkedIn - Here

Connect with Leanne on LinkedIn - Here