1 00:00:01,240 --> 00:00:04,200 Speaker 1: Hello, Welcome to the Bloomberg Business of Sports podcast. We 2 00:00:04,519 --> 00:00:06,480 Speaker 1: explore some of the big money issues in the world 3 00:00:06,480 --> 00:00:08,799 Speaker 1: of sports. I'm Michael Barr and I'm Damien SaaS Hour. 4 00:00:09,080 --> 00:00:15,000 Speaker 1: Oh my baseball is here, the young infancy stage of baseball, 5 00:00:15,200 --> 00:00:18,919 Speaker 1: newborn for the season with us to talk about all 6 00:00:18,960 --> 00:00:22,520 Speaker 1: the cool stuff in baseball is the Boston Red Sox 7 00:00:22,640 --> 00:00:27,440 Speaker 1: Chief Technology Officer Brian Shield. Brian, Welcome to the Bloomberg 8 00:00:27,480 --> 00:00:30,320 Speaker 1: Business of Sports. Yeah, thanks Michael. Thanks, Damian's gonna be 9 00:00:30,320 --> 00:00:33,560 Speaker 1: with you now. Now here comes stupid old man bar 10 00:00:34,280 --> 00:00:40,080 Speaker 1: What is your What is a chief Technology officer for 11 00:00:40,320 --> 00:00:42,440 Speaker 1: the Red Sox? What do you do? Yeah, so, I 12 00:00:42,479 --> 00:00:45,440 Speaker 1: spent a lot of my time obviously on everything that's 13 00:00:46,120 --> 00:00:50,360 Speaker 1: fan facing, obviously internal to the front office of the organization. 14 00:00:50,840 --> 00:00:53,120 Speaker 1: You know, we're closely with Baseball operations on a lot 15 00:00:53,120 --> 00:00:56,600 Speaker 1: of the technology that we deploy and in an operationally 16 00:00:56,680 --> 00:00:59,800 Speaker 1: we support you know, seven ballparks to make sure that 17 00:01:00,480 --> 00:01:04,120 Speaker 1: especially as technology becomes more pervasive, weather, it's analytics on 18 00:01:04,240 --> 00:01:07,560 Speaker 1: the forums. You know, we've got more than fifty you know, 19 00:01:07,720 --> 00:01:10,840 Speaker 1: cameras and analytics taken place across all these ballparks, so 20 00:01:11,319 --> 00:01:14,039 Speaker 1: you know, keeping track of all that information, all the data, 21 00:01:14,120 --> 00:01:16,039 Speaker 1: and all the analytics that kind of go along with it, 22 00:01:16,160 --> 00:01:19,160 Speaker 1: and uh in developing applications to help support the business 23 00:01:19,200 --> 00:01:21,800 Speaker 1: and our fans. And Brian, just to confirm those cameras 24 00:01:21,840 --> 00:01:24,280 Speaker 1: aren't used to steal signs for them from the New 25 00:01:24,360 --> 00:01:28,560 Speaker 1: York Yankees. Right, I'm just kidding. This is why we 26 00:01:28,560 --> 00:01:31,880 Speaker 1: can't have nice things. I mean, Brian, here's here's here's 27 00:01:31,920 --> 00:01:33,880 Speaker 1: the interesting question I have, right, I mean, even now 28 00:01:33,959 --> 00:01:36,360 Speaker 1: got sports betting. The NFL just yesterday announced they're going 29 00:01:36,400 --> 00:01:38,800 Speaker 1: to be allowing some of these you know kind of 30 00:01:38,800 --> 00:01:42,200 Speaker 1: sports betting, um, you know, vanduels, et cetera, to set 31 00:01:42,280 --> 00:01:44,680 Speaker 1: up inside the stadium. How do you think that's going 32 00:01:44,720 --> 00:01:47,280 Speaker 1: to change the fan experience if it ever comes to baseball? Yeah, 33 00:01:47,319 --> 00:01:48,760 Speaker 1: I think in time. I mean, you know, I think 34 00:01:48,800 --> 00:01:50,840 Speaker 1: all these things. I mean, the good news about the 35 00:01:50,880 --> 00:01:53,280 Speaker 1: relationship I think that clubs have with MLB is that, 36 00:01:53,640 --> 00:01:55,640 Speaker 1: you know, this has been We've had plenty time to 37 00:01:55,680 --> 00:01:58,080 Speaker 1: sort of, you know, discuss this sort of internally and 38 00:01:58,120 --> 00:02:00,280 Speaker 1: think about sort of you know, the ripple effect X. 39 00:02:00,360 --> 00:02:03,280 Speaker 1: I mean, there's some sports that are further along than baseball, 40 00:02:03,720 --> 00:02:06,320 Speaker 1: and so I think we'll certainly learn from them, you know, 41 00:02:06,400 --> 00:02:08,880 Speaker 1: and you know, and probably implement a little bit of 42 00:02:08,919 --> 00:02:11,440 Speaker 1: a Crall Walker run manner. But but I think it's 43 00:02:11,639 --> 00:02:13,959 Speaker 1: generally somewhat inevitable. I think it's just more a question 44 00:02:13,960 --> 00:02:18,160 Speaker 1: of timing and and and degree is some level everybody's 45 00:02:18,160 --> 00:02:21,400 Speaker 1: getting ready for the betting, and would be a whole 46 00:02:21,480 --> 00:02:24,959 Speaker 1: season looking at the games and they're going to see, Okay, 47 00:02:25,000 --> 00:02:27,280 Speaker 1: do I want to bet this spread or bet that spread? 48 00:02:27,600 --> 00:02:30,160 Speaker 1: And they're going to be probably using a lot of 49 00:02:30,200 --> 00:02:33,880 Speaker 1: your data involved in trying to come up with the decision. 50 00:02:34,360 --> 00:02:37,400 Speaker 1: Can you take us more on what sports betting has 51 00:02:37,480 --> 00:02:40,400 Speaker 1: meant for baseball? Yeah, I mean, I think you know 52 00:02:40,440 --> 00:02:42,360 Speaker 1: the one thing. I mean, you know, as you all know, 53 00:02:42,440 --> 00:02:44,639 Speaker 1: whether it's you know, just going back to things like moneyball, 54 00:02:44,680 --> 00:02:47,800 Speaker 1: I mean, you know, analytics and deep you know, levels 55 00:02:47,800 --> 00:02:51,079 Speaker 1: of data have been a party baseball for years, you know, 56 00:02:51,240 --> 00:02:54,120 Speaker 1: probably have since the inception. But but certainly, you know, 57 00:02:54,200 --> 00:02:57,600 Speaker 1: in certainly over the last ten to twenty years, they've 58 00:02:57,960 --> 00:03:00,600 Speaker 1: they've progressed in mist respects so that we much much 59 00:03:00,600 --> 00:03:03,600 Speaker 1: more granulator of data. I mean, MLB's obviously added a 60 00:03:03,600 --> 00:03:05,840 Speaker 1: lot of new technology, you know, for the last ten 61 00:03:05,919 --> 00:03:08,960 Speaker 1: years through products like stat casts and other things, and 62 00:03:09,440 --> 00:03:12,600 Speaker 1: it's been supplemented quite a bit with you know, organizations 63 00:03:12,639 --> 00:03:15,079 Speaker 1: like ours and many other clubs that add many of 64 00:03:15,120 --> 00:03:18,560 Speaker 1: those camera analytics that analyze pitches and keep track of 65 00:03:18,639 --> 00:03:21,600 Speaker 1: everything from you know, a thousand frames a second in 66 00:03:21,639 --> 00:03:24,440 Speaker 1: certain cases, so we know everything from all the mechanics 67 00:03:24,480 --> 00:03:27,160 Speaker 1: or hitters and batters and you know, a t goual 68 00:03:27,280 --> 00:03:28,799 Speaker 1: zero with the ball leaves a bat i'll you know 69 00:03:29,040 --> 00:03:30,640 Speaker 1: jump on the ball and the path to the ball, 70 00:03:30,639 --> 00:03:32,840 Speaker 1: and you know there's a you know, fling. You know, 71 00:03:32,840 --> 00:03:35,400 Speaker 1: when you watch like a you know obviously a Monday 72 00:03:35,520 --> 00:03:37,640 Speaker 1: night game or a Sunday night game, you know, you 73 00:03:37,680 --> 00:03:40,000 Speaker 1: really get a good appreciation or you know, all star 74 00:03:40,080 --> 00:03:41,840 Speaker 1: games like you know, for all the different analytics that 75 00:03:41,920 --> 00:03:44,000 Speaker 1: kind of exist. So I think all those will ultimately 76 00:03:44,000 --> 00:03:46,200 Speaker 1: come into play. The good thing is is that they 77 00:03:46,240 --> 00:03:49,200 Speaker 1: continue to get refined and get much more accurate. So um, 78 00:03:49,720 --> 00:03:51,680 Speaker 1: you know, there will certainly be a treasure trove of 79 00:03:51,800 --> 00:03:53,960 Speaker 1: data for people to kind of you know, dip into 80 00:03:53,960 --> 00:03:57,280 Speaker 1: to learn about these prophcesses. But it's you know, generally 81 00:03:57,280 --> 00:03:59,760 Speaker 1: publicly available at least most of that's available. Where are 82 00:03:59,760 --> 00:04:03,360 Speaker 1: we all our own proprietary data that wouldn't be part 83 00:04:03,400 --> 00:04:05,840 Speaker 1: of that discussion. So Brian, I know, I mean obviously, 84 00:04:05,960 --> 00:04:08,120 Speaker 1: you know, we could talk about did he have on players, 85 00:04:08,120 --> 00:04:10,400 Speaker 1: on coaches, on the game itself. But I mean we 86 00:04:10,440 --> 00:04:14,120 Speaker 1: also obviously have a lot of focus on consumer data, 87 00:04:14,200 --> 00:04:16,960 Speaker 1: you know, and what your audience, what your fans are doing. 88 00:04:17,320 --> 00:04:19,400 Speaker 1: And you know, from my perspective, you know, my question is, 89 00:04:19,600 --> 00:04:22,400 Speaker 1: you know, what type of data are you keeping on 90 00:04:22,400 --> 00:04:24,480 Speaker 1: your fans? What type of data do you find useful 91 00:04:24,880 --> 00:04:27,320 Speaker 1: when trying to you know, grow the Red Sox franchise 92 00:04:27,360 --> 00:04:29,839 Speaker 1: and grow and build your brand. Yeah, no, great questions. 93 00:04:29,880 --> 00:04:33,320 Speaker 1: So you know you're right the We're not unique. I mean, 94 00:04:33,440 --> 00:04:37,719 Speaker 1: all clubs are their data content, Like every organization has, 95 00:04:37,760 --> 00:04:41,200 Speaker 1: you know, hockey stick and in you know, understanding of 96 00:04:41,400 --> 00:04:43,680 Speaker 1: fan behavior and the kind of data that we sort 97 00:04:43,720 --> 00:04:46,400 Speaker 1: of collect as part of that has also done so again, 98 00:04:46,440 --> 00:04:48,240 Speaker 1: as I mentioned before, we have a very close relationship 99 00:04:48,240 --> 00:04:51,160 Speaker 1: with LBS, so we have this um you know obviously 100 00:04:51,440 --> 00:04:54,080 Speaker 1: not just between both our websites and mobile apps. And 101 00:04:54,440 --> 00:04:57,200 Speaker 1: because everything is effectively mobile now with one hundred percent 102 00:04:57,240 --> 00:05:00,000 Speaker 1: digital ticketing, you know, we know more about fan behaved, 103 00:05:00,279 --> 00:05:02,160 Speaker 1: which is a good thing, right, So we keep track 104 00:05:02,200 --> 00:05:05,440 Speaker 1: of everything from obviously everything there's no about ticketing and 105 00:05:05,640 --> 00:05:09,080 Speaker 1: primary markets and secondary markets and how people use their 106 00:05:09,080 --> 00:05:11,560 Speaker 1: tickets and you know, what time they get to games 107 00:05:11,600 --> 00:05:14,159 Speaker 1: and what gates they go into and all host of 108 00:05:14,200 --> 00:05:16,240 Speaker 1: things so that you know, over time that we can 109 00:05:16,320 --> 00:05:19,720 Speaker 1: hopefully create a better experience. As you guys know, I mean, 110 00:05:20,160 --> 00:05:22,280 Speaker 1: you guys obviously attend a lot of sporting events, but 111 00:05:22,480 --> 00:05:24,719 Speaker 1: you know, your average fan, you know, you've got different 112 00:05:24,760 --> 00:05:27,200 Speaker 1: you know, we've got different many different personas of fans, 113 00:05:27,279 --> 00:05:29,640 Speaker 1: and you know, a different ends of it. You've got 114 00:05:29,680 --> 00:05:31,520 Speaker 1: the family with a couple of kids who probably go 115 00:05:31,640 --> 00:05:33,560 Speaker 1: to one or two games a year, and you know, 116 00:05:33,600 --> 00:05:35,760 Speaker 1: coming to Fenway Park is like you know, going to 117 00:05:35,839 --> 00:05:40,040 Speaker 1: Disney World and so it's probably uniquely you know, probably 118 00:05:40,040 --> 00:05:43,480 Speaker 1: similarly confusing in me as and so you know, anything 119 00:05:43,480 --> 00:05:45,720 Speaker 1: that we can do to simplify that experience where we 120 00:05:45,720 --> 00:05:48,280 Speaker 1: can give them information about hey, you know, use our 121 00:05:48,320 --> 00:05:50,720 Speaker 1: app to kind of playing your parking, so you don't 122 00:05:50,800 --> 00:05:52,400 Speaker 1: you're not trying to do that on the fly, because 123 00:05:52,400 --> 00:05:54,479 Speaker 1: as you guys know, Fenway is not a you know, 124 00:05:54,560 --> 00:05:57,040 Speaker 1: parking friendly world so to speak, given being kind of 125 00:05:57,040 --> 00:05:59,960 Speaker 1: an urban environment, and or whether it's you know, well 126 00:06:00,120 --> 00:06:02,840 Speaker 1: food ordering or it's it's pre ordering depending upon kind 127 00:06:02,839 --> 00:06:05,839 Speaker 1: of where you're sitting, and you know, seat upgrades and 128 00:06:05,920 --> 00:06:08,320 Speaker 1: things about you know, we work with MLB on things 129 00:06:08,320 --> 00:06:11,280 Speaker 1: in the future about you know, wayfinding and other things. 130 00:06:11,279 --> 00:06:14,360 Speaker 1: So to me, it's all these fan amenities kind of 131 00:06:14,480 --> 00:06:17,080 Speaker 1: I hope will kind of add up to really sort 132 00:06:17,120 --> 00:06:20,520 Speaker 1: of making it a more seamless experience, you know, for 133 00:06:20,960 --> 00:06:23,559 Speaker 1: fans on both kind of ends of the frequent fans 134 00:06:23,560 --> 00:06:27,159 Speaker 1: and the season ticket holders to the occasional fan who's 135 00:06:27,520 --> 00:06:30,240 Speaker 1: trying to navigate their journey. You know, once or two 136 00:06:30,279 --> 00:06:34,120 Speaker 1: us here speaking from the good old Geezer days, when 137 00:06:34,120 --> 00:06:37,240 Speaker 1: I used to go to old Tiger Stadium and if 138 00:06:37,279 --> 00:06:40,960 Speaker 1: you wanted some special food you would get the hot 139 00:06:41,000 --> 00:06:44,120 Speaker 1: dog and he the person would say, yeah, mustard and 140 00:06:44,160 --> 00:06:46,760 Speaker 1: ketchups too. You're right. Maybe if you want some relish, okay, 141 00:06:46,800 --> 00:06:50,080 Speaker 1: here it is in a packet. Now everything has changed. 142 00:06:50,120 --> 00:06:54,279 Speaker 1: In fact, Aramark just announced and you guys are involved 143 00:06:54,440 --> 00:06:59,960 Speaker 1: with their food preparations. So many items that are involved 144 00:07:00,120 --> 00:07:03,040 Speaker 1: now that someone can go to the park and just 145 00:07:03,320 --> 00:07:07,000 Speaker 1: enjoy theirselves and pig out eating good food. Yeah, you know, 146 00:07:07,040 --> 00:07:10,000 Speaker 1: it's funny, you say that I was at a game. 147 00:07:10,040 --> 00:07:12,000 Speaker 1: I was at a hockey game last night, and I 148 00:07:12,040 --> 00:07:14,560 Speaker 1: was kind of wishing for some of that. You know. 149 00:07:14,600 --> 00:07:17,280 Speaker 1: I was walking around like a dog slice of pizza, 150 00:07:17,320 --> 00:07:20,160 Speaker 1: and I'm kind of like, man, you know, and you know, 151 00:07:20,280 --> 00:07:22,400 Speaker 1: if your appetite is a little broader than that, you know, 152 00:07:22,560 --> 00:07:24,480 Speaker 1: it's um, I think you'll be happy, you know, with 153 00:07:24,560 --> 00:07:27,080 Speaker 1: the way I think, you know, Airmark and the Red 154 00:07:27,120 --> 00:07:29,440 Speaker 1: Sox and other clubs are sort of providing much many 155 00:07:29,480 --> 00:07:31,760 Speaker 1: more services, you know. I remember one of the first 156 00:07:31,800 --> 00:07:33,880 Speaker 1: away games I went to is when the Red Sox 157 00:07:33,880 --> 00:07:36,320 Speaker 1: and eighty six were an Anaheim at the playoffs, and 158 00:07:36,400 --> 00:07:39,760 Speaker 1: I remember being like overwhelmed by the by the by 159 00:07:39,760 --> 00:07:42,440 Speaker 1: the volume and you know a variety of food that 160 00:07:42,520 --> 00:07:44,960 Speaker 1: was available at the park, and I thought, oh my gosh, 161 00:07:45,000 --> 00:07:46,520 Speaker 1: because you're right, I think back in the day it 162 00:07:46,560 --> 00:07:49,400 Speaker 1: was probably a hot dog and yeahs sitting under a 163 00:07:49,480 --> 00:07:52,320 Speaker 1: light bulb or something, you know. And so it's come 164 00:07:52,360 --> 00:07:54,160 Speaker 1: a long ways, and and you know, we have tools 165 00:07:54,160 --> 00:07:56,240 Speaker 1: that allow people to kind of you know, query those 166 00:07:56,280 --> 00:07:59,400 Speaker 1: things too, so they can hopefully bind things at they 167 00:07:59,440 --> 00:08:01,640 Speaker 1: like best to make it kind of a more more 168 00:08:01,680 --> 00:08:05,360 Speaker 1: compelling experience. Brian Baseball's dynamic and in your earle ye're 169 00:08:05,360 --> 00:08:07,960 Speaker 1: at the heart of that dynamism. And but what I 170 00:08:08,000 --> 00:08:10,280 Speaker 1: mean by that is, we had some rules changes in 171 00:08:10,320 --> 00:08:13,120 Speaker 1: the offseason. You know, no shift, you know the pitch count, 172 00:08:13,240 --> 00:08:14,560 Speaker 1: you know the size of the basis, I mean the 173 00:08:14,560 --> 00:08:18,640 Speaker 1: pitch count. Kenley Jansen had the worst third worst tempo 174 00:08:18,880 --> 00:08:21,520 Speaker 1: between pitches last year. So talk to me about the 175 00:08:21,680 --> 00:08:25,200 Speaker 1: interesting novel data requests you're receiving in response to these 176 00:08:25,240 --> 00:08:28,160 Speaker 1: rules changes. Yeah, I mean, the good news is, I'll 177 00:08:28,160 --> 00:08:30,400 Speaker 1: start with the positives. I guess the good news is 178 00:08:30,400 --> 00:08:34,000 Speaker 1: is that you know, spring training games are finishing twenty 179 00:08:34,000 --> 00:08:36,400 Speaker 1: and thirty minutes faster than last year, you know, So 180 00:08:36,880 --> 00:08:40,000 Speaker 1: I think there's reason for optimism. I mean, we learn 181 00:08:40,040 --> 00:08:42,320 Speaker 1: a lot from our minor league systems too, just to 182 00:08:42,360 --> 00:08:44,160 Speaker 1: kind of get a better glens of you know, what 183 00:08:44,200 --> 00:08:45,960 Speaker 1: it'll be like when we kind of apply those things, 184 00:08:46,000 --> 00:08:48,880 Speaker 1: you know, at the major league level, and you know, 185 00:08:48,920 --> 00:08:50,520 Speaker 1: and I think it's all very encouraging. I think it's 186 00:08:50,520 --> 00:08:52,760 Speaker 1: gonna be a really a better experience for fans. I 187 00:08:52,760 --> 00:08:55,599 Speaker 1: think it's gonna, as we saw in a couple of situations, 188 00:08:56,200 --> 00:08:57,959 Speaker 1: you know, there's gonna be a little kind of working 189 00:08:57,960 --> 00:08:59,960 Speaker 1: through some kinks. I think, you know, like we saw 190 00:09:00,000 --> 00:09:03,080 Speaker 1: on spring training in a couple incidences, you know them. 191 00:09:03,600 --> 00:09:05,079 Speaker 1: You know, I think on some level it's you know, 192 00:09:05,080 --> 00:09:07,960 Speaker 1: it'll be some elements like you know, like like football 193 00:09:08,000 --> 00:09:10,120 Speaker 1: sometimes when you're kind of trying to figure out like 194 00:09:10,160 --> 00:09:13,080 Speaker 1: the boundaries, who wants a catch? You know? Yeah, I mean, 195 00:09:13,280 --> 00:09:15,440 Speaker 1: I mean, Brian, you gotta believe right like teams like 196 00:09:15,480 --> 00:09:18,360 Speaker 1: yourselves are going to be really monitoring like pitch counts, 197 00:09:18,400 --> 00:09:21,160 Speaker 1: time between pitch counts, things of that nature. Now, because 198 00:09:21,200 --> 00:09:23,839 Speaker 1: I'm sure it's going to impact, you know, the way 199 00:09:23,880 --> 00:09:25,920 Speaker 1: the way the players play, right, I mean you might 200 00:09:26,040 --> 00:09:28,800 Speaker 1: you might have play, you know, and so I'm just curious, 201 00:09:28,880 --> 00:09:31,000 Speaker 1: you know, from your perspective, are you going to be 202 00:09:31,000 --> 00:09:33,839 Speaker 1: doing anything differently this year? Yeah? I don't have you know, 203 00:09:33,920 --> 00:09:37,120 Speaker 1: tremendous insight on that particular question, but we always kind 204 00:09:37,120 --> 00:09:39,880 Speaker 1: of measure that, you know, So that's really do us. 205 00:09:39,960 --> 00:09:42,280 Speaker 1: I think it's to your point though, it probably puts 206 00:09:42,320 --> 00:09:45,320 Speaker 1: a finer point on it because as you know, you know, 207 00:09:45,480 --> 00:09:48,880 Speaker 1: some pictures, you know, they're they're most comfortable if they 208 00:09:49,000 --> 00:09:50,720 Speaker 1: kind of you know, kind of take their time and 209 00:09:50,760 --> 00:09:52,839 Speaker 1: their patient and things like that you know, this is 210 00:09:52,840 --> 00:09:54,200 Speaker 1: going to kind of force them to a little bit 211 00:09:54,200 --> 00:09:55,720 Speaker 1: out of their comfort zone. So I think, you know, 212 00:09:55,760 --> 00:09:58,520 Speaker 1: for our organizations like ours, you know, all these variables 213 00:09:58,600 --> 00:10:00,920 Speaker 1: kind of going into like you dry, like how you 214 00:10:01,000 --> 00:10:02,839 Speaker 1: you know, how you train them up, like how you 215 00:10:03,320 --> 00:10:05,480 Speaker 1: coach them over these different skills. And you know, in 216 00:10:05,520 --> 00:10:09,800 Speaker 1: the challenge with any professional athlete, even any weekend warrior 217 00:10:09,840 --> 00:10:11,680 Speaker 1: when it comes to golf or something, is that you know, 218 00:10:11,679 --> 00:10:13,880 Speaker 1: you can only tweak so many things at the same time, right, 219 00:10:13,960 --> 00:10:16,120 Speaker 1: So it's I think, you know, and I think that 220 00:10:16,280 --> 00:10:18,840 Speaker 1: we've had time to realize this was coming. So I think, um, 221 00:10:19,320 --> 00:10:20,840 Speaker 1: you know, we saw a couple of years ago we 222 00:10:20,840 --> 00:10:23,640 Speaker 1: started introducing when it will be introduced sort of like 223 00:10:23,720 --> 00:10:27,160 Speaker 1: even players not leaving the batter's box, you know. I mean, 224 00:10:27,240 --> 00:10:29,680 Speaker 1: you know, we've had a few celebrated players here in 225 00:10:29,720 --> 00:10:33,480 Speaker 1: our own history who were who quite took their time 226 00:10:33,520 --> 00:10:36,080 Speaker 1: between pitches, you know, if they were hitters and stuff 227 00:10:36,120 --> 00:10:39,440 Speaker 1: and adjusting equipment as such. And uh. And I think 228 00:10:39,480 --> 00:10:41,880 Speaker 1: that frankly, has made it so much better because as 229 00:10:41,880 --> 00:10:43,880 Speaker 1: a fan, you know, I think we want to see 230 00:10:43,920 --> 00:10:45,560 Speaker 1: you know, we want to see offense, We want to 231 00:10:45,559 --> 00:10:47,400 Speaker 1: see excitement and we want the game to come move 232 00:10:47,440 --> 00:10:50,600 Speaker 1: at a you know, reasonable base, you know, so more 233 00:10:50,600 --> 00:10:52,560 Speaker 1: of that what I was just going to say, I mean, 234 00:10:52,559 --> 00:10:54,440 Speaker 1: we can't. We can't let you leave without asking you 235 00:10:54,480 --> 00:10:58,800 Speaker 1: about your big offseason acquisition Masataka Yoshida. Right. We also 236 00:10:58,920 --> 00:11:00,960 Speaker 1: the World Baseball Classic. We know who he is now, 237 00:11:01,040 --> 00:11:03,360 Speaker 1: five year, ninety million dollars looks like a steal now 238 00:11:03,360 --> 00:11:06,120 Speaker 1: when people were saying it was risky. Um. My question 239 00:11:06,160 --> 00:11:08,240 Speaker 1: for you is, you know, the Red Sox have always 240 00:11:08,240 --> 00:11:10,760 Speaker 1: been so active internationally and specifically when it comes to 241 00:11:10,840 --> 00:11:14,760 Speaker 1: Japanese prospects. What type of data are you guys, you know, 242 00:11:14,840 --> 00:11:16,960 Speaker 1: kind of looking over in order to get, you know, 243 00:11:17,000 --> 00:11:19,079 Speaker 1: a better handle on some of these players who have 244 00:11:19,160 --> 00:11:21,679 Speaker 1: yet to really show themselves in the majors. Well, we've 245 00:11:21,720 --> 00:11:24,040 Speaker 1: got We've always had a very diverse, you know scouting 246 00:11:24,120 --> 00:11:26,640 Speaker 1: organization with you know, more than one hundred and thirty 247 00:11:26,679 --> 00:11:29,960 Speaker 1: scouts you know, across the US in their national so 248 00:11:30,360 --> 00:11:34,000 Speaker 1: you know, we obviously apply very much the same metrics internationally. 249 00:11:34,120 --> 00:11:35,920 Speaker 1: I mean, if you think about how many you know, 250 00:11:36,040 --> 00:11:38,839 Speaker 1: players come from Central and South America and things like that, 251 00:11:38,920 --> 00:11:41,800 Speaker 1: so we're already you know, very well versed kind of 252 00:11:41,920 --> 00:11:44,959 Speaker 1: those things. I mean, you know, a Tony's obviously, you know, 253 00:11:45,120 --> 00:11:47,080 Speaker 1: I think given all of us sort of a reality 254 00:11:47,160 --> 00:11:50,319 Speaker 1: check about just the quality of baseball that's being played 255 00:11:50,320 --> 00:11:52,480 Speaker 1: over there, or certainly that certain individuals can you know, 256 00:11:52,679 --> 00:11:55,560 Speaker 1: enable or you know, provide. And so I think, you know, 257 00:11:56,080 --> 00:11:57,760 Speaker 1: we applied for a munch the same filters, and I 258 00:11:57,760 --> 00:12:00,959 Speaker 1: think that, you know, obviously, the organizas feels really really 259 00:12:01,040 --> 00:12:03,160 Speaker 1: high on him and he's a great job of the 260 00:12:03,200 --> 00:12:06,280 Speaker 1: World Baseball Classic, and so I think, you know, we're 261 00:12:06,320 --> 00:12:09,280 Speaker 1: very excited about you know what that means, hopefully for Boston, 262 00:12:09,800 --> 00:12:13,000 Speaker 1: worse for years to come. My father, God rest his soul. 263 00:12:13,040 --> 00:12:16,360 Speaker 1: He was in his nineties when he passed, and before 264 00:12:16,400 --> 00:12:19,480 Speaker 1: he passed, I was trying to explain to him, Hey, Pop, 265 00:12:19,840 --> 00:12:22,520 Speaker 1: you need to get Wi Fi. And he looked at 266 00:12:22,520 --> 00:12:25,240 Speaker 1: me and he said, what kind of voodoo hoot nanny 267 00:12:25,400 --> 00:12:29,120 Speaker 1: is that? And I'm like, I'm trying to explain this 268 00:12:29,320 --> 00:12:34,080 Speaker 1: to him. But you know, today's world is listen, It's 269 00:12:34,120 --> 00:12:37,079 Speaker 1: hard for me to think of a park without Wi Fi. 270 00:12:37,280 --> 00:12:41,760 Speaker 1: I'm sure Fenway has made so many upgrades in that 271 00:12:41,880 --> 00:12:46,319 Speaker 1: area and upgrades and beyond. Yeah, we were the first, 272 00:12:46,320 --> 00:12:49,600 Speaker 1: you know, organization to uh, you know, take advantage of 273 00:12:49,640 --> 00:12:53,280 Speaker 1: extreme networks, you know Wi Fi six environment. I saw 274 00:12:53,280 --> 00:12:55,719 Speaker 1: the Braves just announced the new Wi Fi six E, 275 00:12:56,280 --> 00:12:59,559 Speaker 1: the latest version of Wi Fi, and uh, it's it's 276 00:12:59,559 --> 00:13:01,840 Speaker 1: a you know, it's a big deal, right Like, it's 277 00:13:01,880 --> 00:13:04,200 Speaker 1: not just Wi Fi. It's kind of building that relationship 278 00:13:04,240 --> 00:13:08,000 Speaker 1: between you know, both Wi Fi and cellular service right 279 00:13:08,120 --> 00:13:11,160 Speaker 1: to to really kind of deliver a compelling experience. And 280 00:13:11,480 --> 00:13:13,920 Speaker 1: your other point about you know, whether it's all these 281 00:13:13,920 --> 00:13:17,120 Speaker 1: other phantomenities like whether it's mobile food ordering or other 282 00:13:17,320 --> 00:13:18,840 Speaker 1: you know, or how do I find different you know, 283 00:13:18,920 --> 00:13:20,760 Speaker 1: kinds of foods that might you know I might prefer, 284 00:13:20,960 --> 00:13:24,000 Speaker 1: or you know, digital ticketing and all the different you know, 285 00:13:24,040 --> 00:13:26,200 Speaker 1: other forms of amenities that we now rely on our 286 00:13:26,200 --> 00:13:29,080 Speaker 1: mobile apps to enable. Those things are all predicated on 287 00:13:29,200 --> 00:13:31,599 Speaker 1: having you know, high speed connectivity. So we've got a 288 00:13:31,600 --> 00:13:34,160 Speaker 1: great relationship with Verizon with five G, We've got a 289 00:13:34,160 --> 00:13:37,920 Speaker 1: great relationship with extreame networks, and you know, we monitor 290 00:13:38,000 --> 00:13:40,360 Speaker 1: really closely, you know, and you're never done. You know. 291 00:13:40,360 --> 00:13:43,400 Speaker 1: That's the other reality is, you know, you implement these 292 00:13:43,400 --> 00:13:46,160 Speaker 1: things and it's um, you know, it's kind of it's 293 00:13:46,200 --> 00:13:48,800 Speaker 1: a challenge to kind of refine and tune these things 294 00:13:48,800 --> 00:13:51,679 Speaker 1: so that you get in the best possible performance. And uh, 295 00:13:51,880 --> 00:13:53,160 Speaker 1: you know, for us, it's like, you know, whether you 296 00:13:53,160 --> 00:13:55,400 Speaker 1: want to take pictures and upload things to social media 297 00:13:55,520 --> 00:13:57,439 Speaker 1: or you want to you know, who knows in future 298 00:13:57,440 --> 00:13:59,640 Speaker 1: sports betting or things. You know. You know, we look 299 00:13:59,640 --> 00:14:01,920 Speaker 1: at all the analytics too, you know, and we know 300 00:14:02,080 --> 00:14:04,360 Speaker 1: how people kind of you know, use WiFi and things 301 00:14:04,400 --> 00:14:06,480 Speaker 1: like that. And you know, I was actually very surprised 302 00:14:06,559 --> 00:14:10,800 Speaker 1: looking at some numbers recently that just how many people 303 00:14:10,840 --> 00:14:13,120 Speaker 1: like you know, even bet on other sports while they're 304 00:14:13,120 --> 00:14:15,360 Speaker 1: sitting there watching a baseball game. You know, It's like 305 00:14:15,960 --> 00:14:18,280 Speaker 1: it's it's pretty remarkable, you know, whether that or it's 306 00:14:18,280 --> 00:14:21,280 Speaker 1: social media and things. And so we now fans use 307 00:14:21,440 --> 00:14:24,680 Speaker 1: the technology and uh, and we're continuing to provide services 308 00:14:24,720 --> 00:14:26,960 Speaker 1: to hopefully kind of tap into that. Ryan, I know 309 00:14:27,000 --> 00:14:29,200 Speaker 1: you're up in Boston, but if you were here with 310 00:14:29,240 --> 00:14:32,040 Speaker 1: me and mister Barr in New York City, you'd be 311 00:14:32,040 --> 00:14:34,640 Speaker 1: reading in the post about Nick's owner James Dolan and 312 00:14:34,680 --> 00:14:37,160 Speaker 1: the team spatial recognition technology and all the who and 313 00:14:37,200 --> 00:14:39,440 Speaker 1: haw that goes with that. You know, it seems it's 314 00:14:39,440 --> 00:14:41,080 Speaker 1: a little bit of a love hate relationship between the 315 00:14:41,080 --> 00:14:44,920 Speaker 1: fans and the teams that are collecting data on them. 316 00:14:44,960 --> 00:14:48,200 Speaker 1: How do you sell to fans that collecting such data 317 00:14:48,360 --> 00:14:51,160 Speaker 1: is actually going to help them enjoy games more and 318 00:14:51,200 --> 00:14:53,760 Speaker 1: improve the experience. Yeah, it's a really good question. I 319 00:14:53,800 --> 00:14:57,120 Speaker 1: mean special recognition in my mind, because we're very familiar 320 00:14:57,120 --> 00:14:59,760 Speaker 1: with the company. We did some testing with with wicket 321 00:14:59,840 --> 00:15:02,560 Speaker 1: is Well, and you know, we were really impressed. I 322 00:15:02,560 --> 00:15:05,280 Speaker 1: mean we were able to Now these are people who 323 00:15:05,280 --> 00:15:07,480 Speaker 1: have all opted in, right, so we don't do it 324 00:15:07,520 --> 00:15:11,200 Speaker 1: with average person. Person has to opt into this program. 325 00:15:11,680 --> 00:15:13,880 Speaker 1: But once they have opted in, you know, we can 326 00:15:13,880 --> 00:15:17,200 Speaker 1: see numbers of having up to like sixty people per minute, 327 00:15:17,680 --> 00:15:20,200 Speaker 1: you know, kind of passed through a turnstyle just based 328 00:15:20,200 --> 00:15:24,280 Speaker 1: on facial recognition. That's like really remarkable, and I think 329 00:15:24,320 --> 00:15:27,920 Speaker 1: what's going to happen in time. I think the efficiencies 330 00:15:27,960 --> 00:15:31,440 Speaker 1: will outweigh people sort of anxiety in some levels about 331 00:15:32,200 --> 00:15:34,320 Speaker 1: about sort of some of those things that's being maybe 332 00:15:34,360 --> 00:15:36,480 Speaker 1: collected or shared and things like that. There's a lot 333 00:15:36,520 --> 00:15:38,960 Speaker 1: of safeguards that go into this as well, and you know, 334 00:15:39,000 --> 00:15:41,360 Speaker 1: we kind of pause a little bit. MLBS obviously did 335 00:15:41,360 --> 00:15:44,680 Speaker 1: a big study and they're doing some piloting this year, 336 00:15:44,760 --> 00:15:46,960 Speaker 1: the Mets are kind of you know, testing something a 337 00:15:46,960 --> 00:15:49,520 Speaker 1: little bit different. And obviously we've sort of seen this 338 00:15:49,560 --> 00:15:51,400 Speaker 1: through football and the Brown to doing quite a bit 339 00:15:51,400 --> 00:15:54,080 Speaker 1: for a number of years, you know, so we're for us, 340 00:15:54,120 --> 00:15:58,640 Speaker 1: it's not as critical an item for us because a 341 00:15:58,640 --> 00:16:02,000 Speaker 1: little bit because venways us smaller ballpark in our lines 342 00:16:02,040 --> 00:16:05,440 Speaker 1: aren't usually huge quite like in the same way you 343 00:16:05,520 --> 00:16:08,040 Speaker 1: might find it some other ballparks where you know, it's 344 00:16:08,160 --> 00:16:10,240 Speaker 1: when giant parking lot surrounded by it's sort of a 345 00:16:10,320 --> 00:16:14,320 Speaker 1: number of different entrances. You know, it's not as pivotal, 346 00:16:14,320 --> 00:16:16,640 Speaker 1: we don't think. But in time, I mean, I know 347 00:16:16,680 --> 00:16:19,320 Speaker 1: Aarmark is testing with as well. So you know, people 348 00:16:19,360 --> 00:16:21,840 Speaker 1: at will time will be able to order alcoholic beverages 349 00:16:21,840 --> 00:16:23,520 Speaker 1: based on facial record, and sho'll be able to order 350 00:16:23,520 --> 00:16:25,880 Speaker 1: other things and stuff, and so I think it's sort 351 00:16:25,880 --> 00:16:28,880 Speaker 1: of inevitable in certain cases. But again for those people 352 00:16:28,880 --> 00:16:31,440 Speaker 1: that decide oppt in so I think it's it'll be 353 00:16:31,480 --> 00:16:33,440 Speaker 1: sort of, you know, a little all the cart for 354 00:16:33,520 --> 00:16:35,920 Speaker 1: folks to kind of decide whether these are features that 355 00:16:36,040 --> 00:16:39,320 Speaker 1: they want to take advantage of. Mister Dolan and many 356 00:16:39,360 --> 00:16:41,360 Speaker 1: other parks would hate me. I can just see who 357 00:16:41,440 --> 00:16:45,120 Speaker 1: broke this, Oh Bar's face. Thanks, thanks a lot. It's 358 00:16:45,120 --> 00:16:49,200 Speaker 1: all done, man. I would like to ask one thing 359 00:16:49,200 --> 00:16:54,800 Speaker 1: about the data that has to change because the bases 360 00:16:55,080 --> 00:17:00,480 Speaker 1: simply are larger now, you know, there's less distant for 361 00:17:00,600 --> 00:17:02,680 Speaker 1: the runner to get from point A to point B. 362 00:17:03,480 --> 00:17:08,119 Speaker 1: That has to change the data on runners stealing bases 363 00:17:08,560 --> 00:17:13,040 Speaker 1: or just simply running out to first base. Yeah, absolutely, 364 00:17:13,080 --> 00:17:14,760 Speaker 1: I mean hopefully you know, I think you know the 365 00:17:14,800 --> 00:17:17,400 Speaker 1: intent obviously, you know, as a lead continues to sort 366 00:17:17,440 --> 00:17:19,679 Speaker 1: of tweak and refine some of these different things. Is 367 00:17:19,720 --> 00:17:22,159 Speaker 1: that you know, as you know, sometimes you know, if 368 00:17:22,160 --> 00:17:24,520 Speaker 1: you follow baseball, some people say like, oh, these are 369 00:17:24,520 --> 00:17:27,040 Speaker 1: advantages to the pitcher or these are these are you know, 370 00:17:27,080 --> 00:17:29,080 Speaker 1: like look at a look at you know when people 371 00:17:29,080 --> 00:17:31,360 Speaker 1: do shifts, right, I mean obviously kind of cuts down 372 00:17:31,359 --> 00:17:33,359 Speaker 1: on a number of hits and runs and things and 373 00:17:33,480 --> 00:17:36,880 Speaker 1: changes people's you know, approached at the bat and when 374 00:17:36,880 --> 00:17:39,159 Speaker 1: they're at the plate. And I think you know what 375 00:17:39,160 --> 00:17:41,000 Speaker 1: it's going to do is it's hopefully going to reward 376 00:17:41,240 --> 00:17:44,080 Speaker 1: you know, speed on the base pass. And you know, 377 00:17:44,119 --> 00:17:47,560 Speaker 1: we already measure things things that historically were very qualitative, 378 00:17:47,720 --> 00:17:50,199 Speaker 1: like you know, he got a good lead, you know, 379 00:17:50,320 --> 00:17:52,960 Speaker 1: these things are all very quantitative now, you know, we 380 00:17:53,280 --> 00:17:55,040 Speaker 1: kind of know things like when the person gets a 381 00:17:55,160 --> 00:17:58,520 Speaker 1: lead more than you know, whatever nine feet that their 382 00:17:58,600 --> 00:18:01,800 Speaker 1: success rate is expon actually higher than slightly less than that, 383 00:18:01,880 --> 00:18:04,040 Speaker 1: and things like that. So people know there's there's a 384 00:18:04,119 --> 00:18:06,440 Speaker 1: lot of detail that goes into all these different things 385 00:18:06,480 --> 00:18:08,200 Speaker 1: that you and I growing up would have thought were 386 00:18:08,320 --> 00:18:12,720 Speaker 1: kind of somewhat qualitative things, you know, So it'll definitely 387 00:18:12,760 --> 00:18:15,120 Speaker 1: affect kind of I think, you know, when people choose 388 00:18:15,160 --> 00:18:17,480 Speaker 1: to steal, you know, hopefully it'll change kind of coaches 389 00:18:17,800 --> 00:18:19,520 Speaker 1: a little bit behavior when they get certain you know, 390 00:18:19,560 --> 00:18:22,959 Speaker 1: batters at bat and you know, base runners something. So, um, 391 00:18:23,600 --> 00:18:25,840 Speaker 1: I'm really excited about seeing kind of and looking at 392 00:18:25,880 --> 00:18:27,760 Speaker 1: the data on all this and see how it basically 393 00:18:27,800 --> 00:18:30,800 Speaker 1: kind of plays out with frankly, with so many rule 394 00:18:30,880 --> 00:18:32,879 Speaker 1: changes kind of happening at the same time. You know, 395 00:18:32,920 --> 00:18:34,680 Speaker 1: I think it's all positive. It's I think it's all 396 00:18:34,720 --> 00:18:37,320 Speaker 1: generally going in the right direction. It's um looking at 397 00:18:37,359 --> 00:18:41,040 Speaker 1: them in their magnitude hopefully just results in sortive you know, 398 00:18:41,119 --> 00:18:44,320 Speaker 1: better overall experience and hopefully less time so that folks 399 00:18:44,359 --> 00:18:46,040 Speaker 1: can you know, kind of enjoy the rest of their day. 400 00:18:46,040 --> 00:18:50,760 Speaker 1: As well file Brian Shield, Red Sox Chief Technology Officer, 401 00:18:51,000 --> 00:18:54,000 Speaker 1: under super due because it was so kind to join 402 00:18:54,160 --> 00:18:57,359 Speaker 1: us how on the Bloomberg Business of Sports. Thank you again, Brian. 403 00:18:57,480 --> 00:18:59,960 Speaker 1: We really do appreciate it. You know, it's great John, 404 00:19:00,119 --> 00:19:02,120 Speaker 1: you guys, thank you very much and it'll be a great, 405 00:19:02,480 --> 00:19:07,120 Speaker 1: great season. This has been the Bloomberg Business of Sports podcast. 406 00:19:07,119 --> 00:19:09,080 Speaker 1: Will we explore some of the big money issues in 407 00:19:09,119 --> 00:19:11,080 Speaker 1: the world of sports at Michael bar You can follow 408 00:19:11,080 --> 00:19:13,359 Speaker 1: me on Twitter at Big Bar Sports and I'm Damien Saster. 409 00:19:13,400 --> 00:19:15,320 Speaker 1: You can follow me on Twitter at d sass Hour. 410 00:19:15,480 --> 00:19:19,360 Speaker 1: Hey guess what. You can download our podcast every Monday, 411 00:19:19,440 --> 00:19:24,200 Speaker 1: Wednesday and Thursday. Download them wherever you get your podcast.