- T-Mobile has been official wireless partner of MLB for a decade
- Real-time data visualisation and pitch detection made possible
- Minnesota Twins hope to engage fans with AR
US mobile operator T-Mobile is rolling out a series of 5G-powered features to fans at the Major League Baseball (MLB) All-Star Game and Home Run Derby, including augmented reality (AR) data visualisation, an enhanced mobile app and new camera angles.
The company is in its tenth year as official wireless partner of MLB, while this year’s mid-season classic is taking place at T-Mobile Park in Seattle, where permanent 5G upgrades have been installed.
MLB Next mobile app users at T-Mobile Park in Seattle will be able to overlay 3D graphics onto the field of play. These will show elements such as ball distance and launch angle, as well as an interactive strike zone so fans in the stands and those watching at home can see where pitches are being thrown.
T-Mobile will also use Mixhalo to ensure users can listen to a high quality, low latency audio feed of ESPN and Fox’s television broadcast, with 5G technology eliminating the majority of the lag.
The 5G network will also power high-definition (HD) drone cameras at the Home Run Derby, offering television viewers a more expansive view of players warming up, and cameras on catcher’s mask, offering an entirely new perspective for an event which rivals the All-Star Game itself in popularity.
While T-Mobile subscribers will inevitably benefit from dedicated 5G network infrastructure at the eponymous ballpark, the application is available to non-customers as well.
T-Mobile is also building a private 5G network to power an Automated Balls and Strikes (ABS) system that will be trialled at the All-Star Futures Game, a showcase for top minor league prospects. Private 5G networks use dedicated spectrum and specifications to guarantee a certain standard of reliability, performance, and security.
This private 5G network will transmit ball and strike data to the ABS system so pitch locations can be verified swiftly and securely, relaying challenged calls to fans and players as quickly as possible.
“Our partnership with MLB is breaking new ground in how fans and players experience baseball, and it’s all made possible by our leading 5G network,” said Mike Katz, president of marketing, innovation and experience at T-Mobile.
“The ABS system and MLB Next app demonstrate the power and possibilities of 5G innovation and its ability to transform the game – and there’s no better ballpark for this to come to life than at T-Mobile Park in our hometown.”
Separately, the Minnesota Twins have extended their own AR trial at Target Field, offering fans the ability to see live visualusations of official MLB statistics from Sportradar. Fans can customise their phone to see real-time metrics and historical data overlaid directly on the field.
“We are thrilled to introduce our fans to this next-level experience that will resonate with avid and casual fans alike,” said Chris Iles, senior director of innovation and growth at the Minnesota Twins.
“These broadcast-style data visualisations served in real-time, and customised to where fans are in Target Field, have the potential to significantly enhance the way fans enjoy Twins games while bridging generations of baseball fans.”
The pilot programme is being held with ARound, which also works with the National Football League’s (NFL) Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium, the National Basketball Association’s (NBA) Cleveland Cavaliers at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse, and the MLB’s Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium.
