Month: September 2020

PRESS RELEASE: HOLLYWOOD PARK AND SAMSUNG PARTNER IN COMPREHENSIVE, MULTI-YEAR AGREEMENT DEDICATED TO ENHANCING THE FAN EXPERIENCE

Posted on by Andrew Lim

Samsung has been named the Official Mobile, TV and Display partner of Hollywood Park, a 298-acre sports and entertainment destination, inclusive of SoFi Stadium and a 6,000-seat performance venue. Samsung’s outdoor LED products were exclusively used to build SoFi Stadium’s 70,000 square-foot dual-sided, center-hung videoboard. Moreover, the videoboard is the first and only 4K end-to-end video production in a stadium. The agreement showcases Samsung’s commitment to enhancing the fan experience at live events through technology.

“Samsung is a company built on foundation of excellence, which is also a cornerstone of the Hollywood Park experience. Our display technology in SoFi Stadium and throughout the entire space will offer fans a truly immersive and state-of-the-art experience,” said Harry Patz, Senior Vice President and General Manager, Display Division, Samsung Electronics America. “Los Angeles is a vibrant city with a rich history, filled with passionate fans. It is a great honor to be a part of creating the city’s next landmark.”

Built for the future, the videoboard has the largest LED content playback system ever deployed. With nearly 80 million pixels spaced 8 millimeters from center to center, each panel can be uniquely or congruently programmed with statistics, live and/or animated content. The largest panel is about 40 feet or four stories tall; its smallest panel is nearly 20 feet or two stories tall. Further, its unique size and shape make it wider than the field of play and offer fans a spectacular view from anywhere in the stadium, enhancing the action taking place on the field.

“Our partnership with Samsung is an industry game-changer and has allowed us to create a unique and one-of-a-kind product that will impact the way our industry thinks about live event content,” said Jason Gannon, managing director, SoFi Stadium and Hollywood Park. “With our Samsung videoboard, we continue to elevate the experience for fan entertainment on game days and across events.”

Built into the videoboard is a state-of-the-art audio system with more than 260 individual speakers embedded into its frame. With more than seven miles of loudspeaker cable wound throughout, it is equal to 1,500 home theater systems.

To offer fans and guests a consistently dynamic experience, Samsung is excited to work with Hollywood Park to enhance, improve and develop display technology to innovate and improve the guest experience for years to come. This cutting-edge technology will set a new standard for the fan experience, with SoFi Stadium and Hollywood Park representing the future of sports and live entertainment.

“At Samsung, we are so proud of our partnership with Hollywood Park and excited to be a part of what will soon be a crown jewel for the city of Los Angeles,” says Mark Quiroz, Vice President of Marketing, Display Division, Samsung Electronics America. “From the unique use of display technology in the videoboard to the use of outdoor LED displays in the American Airlines Plaza, Samsung technology is changing the way fans experience game day.”

Beyond SoFi Stadium, Samsung’s LED display technology will be represented throughout Hollywood Park, reaching fans across the development’s residential, office and retail areas and through the Hollywood Park connected mobile app. Samsung Members will experience exclusive in-app features, including a dedicated Samsung Members section with benefits including exclusive content, offers and in-stadium discounts.

SoFi Stadium and Hollywood Park was represented by Legends Global Partnerships division, which sourced, negotiated and represented SoFi Stadium and Hollywood Park in securing this partnership.

PRESS RELEASE: GOOGLE, SOFI STADIUM AND HOLLYWOOD PARK SIGN MULTI-YEAR PARTNERSHIP

Posted on by Andrew Lim

Google Cloud is named exclusive cloud partner, providing core technologies for Los Angeles Rams, Los Angeles Chargers, and new SoFi Stadium

YouTube named official video streaming sponsor of the Rams, Chargers, SoFi Stadium, and Hollywood Park

As fans eagerly await the return of NFL football, Google and Hollywood Park today announced a multi-year partnership for Google Cloud to power SoFi Stadium and Hollywood Park’s digital innovation experiences—and YouTube to become the official video streaming sponsor of the Rams, Chargers, SoFi Stadium, and Hollywood Park, with more details to be announced later this year.

“Google is a world-class company, leading the way in technology,” said Jason Gannon, managing director, SoFi Stadium and Hollywood Park. “Their innovation and services are a critical component to deliver Stan Kroenke’s vision to create the ultimate sports and entertainment destination, SoFi Stadium and Hollywood Park.”

Google will drive both business operations and consumer experiences at the 298-acre sports and entertainment destination, which is being developed by Rams Owner/Chairman E. Stanley Kroenke. SoFi Stadium will host the Super Bowl in 2022, the Opening and Closing Ceremonies of the Olympics in 2028, and many other marquee events. Google Cloud technology will help transform the site into a premier entertainment destination in several key ways:

  • A “personal concierge” app, powered by Google Cloud and built by Deloitte, will help fans discover SoFi Stadium events; wayfind within the stadium; locate parking; optimize transportation for game day (including up-to-the-minute Google Maps routing); provide digital credentials for building, club, and suite entry; and present personalized offers for tickets, food, shopping, and more.
  • Cloud-based media workflow and optimization will power the largest video board in sports. Working with Google Cloud engineers and using the latest in cloud technologies, Hollywood Park will be able to efficiently store digital content, as well as prep, transfer, and present groundbreaking video on game day.
  • Advanced data analytics will track business performance and enable Hollywood Park to offer unique and personal recommendations to fans and guests. Using Google Cloud products such as Cloud Scheduler, App Engine, Dataflow, BigQuery, and more, Hollywood Park will be able to store and analyze data from multiple sources; create operational dashboards with real-time data; track key performance indicators after events; and better forecast attendance, revenue by product, and other important business metrics.
  • Modern collaboration tools from Google Cloud’s G Suite software—including Gmail for business, Docs, Drive, Calendar, and Meet—will help Hollywood Park employees work faster and smarter, and meet safely and securely from anywhere.
  • In the future, Google and SoFi Stadium will explore media streaming and high-speed wireless solutions to enable visitors to get replays, unique angles, and exclusive 4K coverage on their mobile phones while attending events at SoFi Stadium. In addition, SoFi Stadium will have the world’s first 4K/HDR live production capabilities within a sports facility.

“It’s an incredible honor to work with SoFi Stadium and Hollywood Park as they create an interactive, smart experience destination enjoyed by sports and entertainment fans, residents and shoppers alike,” said Rob Enslin, global president, Google Cloud. “This partnership shows the world what’s possible when you combine the power of data with the excitement of entertainment and sports, and we’re excited that Google Cloud will underpin the visitor experience.”

“We couldn’t have picked a better partner to manage our technology needs,” said Skarpi Hedinsson, chief technology officer, SoFi Stadium and Hollywood Park. “Incorporating Google’s solutions into critical areas of our business ensures we can usher in a new era of innovation in sports and entertainment, raising the bar on what the ultimate fan experience looks like globally.”

“A special thank you to our partner Legends, and their Global Partnerships group, which sourced, negotiated, and represented SoFi Stadium and Hollywood Park in securing this comprehensive technology and marketing partnership. They continue to work as best-in-class partners to bring innovation and unique brand engagements,” said Gannon.

PRESS RELEASE: LEGENDS NAMES VICTORIA HAWKSLEY, VICE PRESIDENT, INTERNATIONAL RETAIL

Posted on by Andrew Lim

Legends today announced the appointment of Victoria Hawksley to the new role of Vice President, International Retail, where she will oversee all merchandise operations and strategy for Legends’ rapidly expanding business. Working closely with Legends’ corporate headquarters in London, Hawksley will lead Legends’ comprehensive event retail and merchandising vertical solution, across e-commerce, in-venue retail, large scale live events, brick and mortar store operations, and custom merchandise. She will be responsible for developing innovative merchandising strategies for Legends’ roster of world-class clients, including the newly launched omnichannel retail program for Real Madrid.

An industry leader, Hawksley joins Legends after 14 years with Tottenham Hotspur Football Club, a fan-first organization known for its success both on and off the pitch. For Tottenham, she most recently served as the Head of Retail and Visitor Attractions. In this role, she was responsible for all retail operations for the club, including global e-commerce, The Tottenham Experience, all retail stores, buying and merchandising, and licensing efforts. She also led the development, launch, and operations for Tottenham Hotspur Stadium’s comprehensive visitor attractions at their much-acclaimed new stadium, including the Stadium Tour Experience, The Dare Skywalk, and The Tottenham Hotspur Archive.

“Legends has significantly grown our international footprint during the past few years, and we are fortunate to add Victoria to our leadership team in Europe as we continue to invest in our global merchandise vertical,” said Andrew Hampel, President Legends International. “She brings an incredible depth of knowledge and experience to Legends from her previous role and will be critical as we develop long term merchandising and retail strategies to support our roster of blue-chip partners on a global stage.”

“I’m excited to build upon all the recent momentum at Legends, as we think about the future of merchandising and how we can create innovative and customized programs and solutions for clients,” said Hawksley. “I see a huge opportunity to merge the expertise and capabilities of Legends Global Merchandise division, with the insights and local expertise that Legends has in markets across Europe and Asia, to develop customized strategies.”

Previously, Hawksley served as a General Manager at World Duty Free, leading the business at Terminal 4 London Heathrow Airport. She also worked for The John Lewis Partnership for seven years, from a Graduate trainee to a Merchandise Manager, before moving to Airport retailing.

Hawksley will be based out of Legends’ operations in Madrid.