UEFA has partnered with Genius Sports to provide player-tracking data for various club matches, including the Europa League, Nations League, and European qualifiers. According to a filing from Genius Sports, the partnership will cover 1,350 matches and involve installing AI-enabled cameras in more than 140 stadiums.
This player-tracking data has become an important aspect of Genius Sports’ business, which also includes gambling data and integrity monitoring. The data captured by cameras is often used by league media partners to enhance the viewing experience for fans. For example, Genius creates broadcast enhancements using NFL “next gen stats” for companies broadcasting live games. Genius also has player-tracking deals with the English Premier League, the Danish Superliga, Mexican team Club Necaxa, and the Canadian Football League.
The deal does not include some of UEFA’s biggest properties, such as the Champions League and the Euros. Financial details of the partnership were not disclosed, and representatives for both Genius and UEFA declined to comment on the partnership. The partnership includes rights for the Europa League from the 2024-25 season through the 2026-27 season, as well as rights for the European qualifiers and Nations League from 2024-25 to 2027-28.
The data-capture camera system used in the partnership is likely linked to Second Spectrum, which Genius acquired in 2021 for $200 million. This announcement follows the news that former Turner president David Levy is stepping down as board chair after three years. Levy will remain as a strategic advisor to Genius, with Ken Kay, former CFO of MGM Holdings Inc., taking over as the new board chair. Genius Sports reported revenue of $413 million in fiscal 2023, representing a 21% increase from the prior year. The stock is down about 11% year-to-date.