The San Francisco Bay Area does sports differently. Our baseball teams are filled with “Freaks,” and one of our stadiums has a “Black Hole.” We show up to Half Moon Bay to watch surfers compete for their lives on 30-foot waves. Hardcore Giants fans watch games from canoes, our college football teams fight for “The Axe,” and we named our soccer team after a natural disaster. Our most popular foot race, Bay to Breakers, is more known for its costumed participants than it is for athleticism.
San Francisco also just built a stadium that TIME magazine calls “the most high-tech stadium anywhere in the world.” Levi’s Stadium, which will be used for the first time this season, can support up to 70,000 fans, and that means more than a seat to sit in. Along with Wi-Fi, fans will have access to replays, stats, and live updates during the game. They can also use a special app to find parking, locate the nearest bathroom, and order concessions right to their seat. For a stadium in the heart of The Silicon Valley, it only makes sense.
The Bay Area is also responsible for a few other sports trends. When the Oakland A’s were faced with shrinking budgets, they turned to a data-driven methodology called Sabermetrics to create their roster. By focusing on data, an underdog team was able to win 20 games in a row. It wasn’t long before the whole league took notice.
For more stories of how big thinking can trump big money, head to TIBCO NOW. This year’s theme is Enterprise Disrupt. Come see how the right perspective and the right technology can change your business.
