Officials with
Orlando City and the Orlando Magic have a message for the tech community: Let’s see if we can collaborate.
Orlando City Soccer Club Chief Innovation Officer Renato Reis said most sports franchises today must consider themselves technology companies.
“Tech is not our primary business, but if you’re not integrating technology now, you’re already too late,” Reis said. “We all have to be tech companies nowadays.”
For Reis, it means development of virtual reality-based programs.
These products, once integrated, could put fans in the middle of the action on the pitch, perhaps embedding a way to see instant statistics by virtually interacting with players on the field.
“I have my eyes on disruptive technology,” Reis said, adding that virtual reality “is the next big thing for us.”
As the city’s two major sports franchises — Orlando City and the Orlando Magic — integrate technology into everyday operations, local companies could help build products for them.
This would provide muchneeded exposure to young companies.
Reis and the Magic’s Director of Innovation Jack Elkins had a simple message for the tech community Oct. 13 at the Innovate Orlando Conference: Come see them if they want to collaborate.
Orlando Tech Association Executive Director Diane Court said leveraging the presence of highvisibility organizations, such as the Magic and Orlando City soccer, could help small tech companies expand their own exposure.
“When large organizations with a home base here engage with the talent we have here, it stimulates job creation, and it also affirms the value they recognize in Orlando companies and talent,” she said.
“These are entities with national and international reach,” she said. “A company or individual working on successful projects with these organizations will be better positioned for other competitive opportunities.”
That’s what happened with Ascend Studios, a design shop that counts Universal Studios, Walt Disney World and Nike as clients.
CEO Josh Almeida first built displays for Hard Rock Hotel about six years ago.
That work led to follow-up meetings with other large clients that they ended up doing work for, Almeida said.
“As an Orlando-based company, we need to be working with Orlando-based companies,” he said. “We need to grow together and stop flying people in from California. We have a lot of talent here.”
As the company’s revenue grew, Almeida focused on local work more because he wagered that doing so would create nearby locations where the young company could show off its work.
“I would go to a happy hour, and people would want to see my work,” he said. “I had to tell them I didn’t have anything local.”
The company has since installed a full audio-video system with LED displays inside Darden’s headquarters on John Young Parkway near the Beachline Expressway.
Almeida said Elkins’ message has him hopeful the Magic would be open to working with smaller Orlando tech companies.
Elkins has led an Orlando Magic tech effort that has been considered one of the most-advanced in the NBA.
In 2015, the Magic installed more than 900 beacons at Amway Center but used a vendor from Silicon Valley. These beacons have been integrated into the team’s mobile app, meaning fans can get food delivered right to their seats. It’s the same app they can use to order tickets.
But Elkins said the team has been seeking ways to enhance its technology. That could open opportunities for local companies.
Reis said Orlando City has been working to let the city’s tech community know the team is open to collaboration.
“We have to make sure people are aware that we are willing to [test pilot programs for local tech companies],” he said. “If anyone here wants to collaborate, just come on over.”