For the second year in a row, N3XT Sports will be a category partner at the World Football Summit Industry Awards 2021 presenting the ¨Outstanding Innovation Initiative¨. Established in 2020, the category is directed at football clubs, federations, and leagues that have recently implemented an innovative initiative with a demonstrated new value generated.
From the applications received, the jury members will evaluate how innovation, technology, digital, or data strategy was applied in the initiative:
- Implementation of data and analytics strategy
- Digital transformation process to show added value to fans and followers
- Adoption of an innovation mechanism
- Holistic nature of the initiative
- Demonstrated results earned with longer-term growth planned
- If technology features prominently, and that there is a market for the technology
- The uniqueness of the initiative
- Scalability of the initiative
- Disruption potential of the initiative
This year’s jury members are Marc Bertomeu, Senior Manager, Innovation at Euroleague Basketball, Franco Segarra, Head of Innovation at Valencia CF and Arianna Criscione, Director of Women’s Football at N3XT Sports.
In last year’s edition, over 10 innovation initiatives from Bundesliga, FC Barcelona, Real Sociedad, LaLiga and other key organizations were reviewed and evaluated. Banco Santander was crowned the inaugural category winner followed by a joint initiative by Lega Serie A and Math&Sport and KNVB and SciSports.
We are looking forward to reviewing and evaluating this year’s applications and seeing the best innovation initiatives in the football industry. Stay tuned and check the World Football Summit website for more information.