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Impact of Sport on Data Centres Big Data In Sport: Keeping Up With Power Pressures


With all eyes on a packed sporting summer centred around the 2018 FIFA World Cup, Riello UPS General Manager Leo Craig explores the impact big data is having on and off the pitch. The coming weeks provide plenty to whet the


appetite for all of us in the sports stadia sector. Millions of fans will travel to the World Cup in Russia, while billions more will tune in on TV or online. On top of that we’ve got all the usual staples


of the summer sporting calendar. A packed programme of international cricket, The Open golf championship, the British Grand Prix, top quality horse racing, and Wimbledon tennis fortnight. But whatever the sport and whatever


the level it’s played at, big data produced by interconnected devices is having an increasingly influential role on and off the pitch. Whether it’s analysts using statistics to aid


the player recruitment process, physiotherapists utilising performance data to devise personalised training programmes, or marketing teams monitoring social media to boost the overall fan experience, the Internet of Things (IoT) touches every aspect of every sport. But all this data is worthless without


accompanying analysis. Secure storage and processing is essential. In 21st century sport where big data plays an


ever more important role, choosing the best data centre infrastructure is almost as crucial to a club’s success as signing a new multi- million pound star striker. Just as crucial is the accompanying power protection provided by a reliable uninterruptible power supply (UPS) unit to ensure the electricity keeps flowing.


Big Data’s Expanding Influence


Athletes at all levels wear Electronic Performance and Tracking System (EPTS) devices fitted with technologies such as GPS and accelerometers. These trackers measure 1,000+ data points per second, recording speed, heart-rate, distance covered, and other key stats. As a result, modern players get personalised training schedules that tailor workloads to reduce the risk of injury. In football, analysts collect details on 2,000 ‘events’ such as shots on target. A 90-minute


match generates 1.5 million data sets, valuable information that influences tactical gameplans. Cloud computing-based data platforms such as Prozone are now fundamental parts of the player recruitment process and attempts to unearth the next ‘hidden gem’. Ball-tracking sensors and thermal imaging


technology have been used in cricket for years to help umpires make tricky decisions. The ‘Hawk-Eye’ ball-tracking system is now a fixture in sports as diverse as tennis, Gaelic football, volleyball, and snooker too. While goal line technology is well-embedded in the Premier League and will be on-hand in Russia to aid officials during the World Cup. In golf, swing sensors, ‘virtual caddies’ and


laser-based range finders are used at all levels of play. Coaching tools like TrackMan, which uses HD cameras and microwaves reflecting from a moving golf club, allow players to review their swing instantly on a tablet or smartphone. Unsurprisingly the high-tech world of


Formula One is one of the keenest proponents of big data. Cars driven by the likes of Lewis Hamilton incorporate around 200 sensors tracking everything from tyre temperatures and engine revs, through to g-forces and the driver’s heartbeat. A team’s two cars can produce upwards of 35


billion data points over a typical race weekend. And in a sport where every millisecond counts, real-time analysis of this telemetry is critical. Most F1 teams will have a hybrid set-up, with


data centres housed back at the team factory complemented by micro data centres full of servers and UPS units that are transported to each circuit. Over the course of a grand prix, more than 400 gigabytes of data is exchanged between the track and factory HQ for each team.


Off The Pitch Data Demands


Of course, there’s demand for data away from the sporting action too. Club marketing teams pour over social media traffic to optimise the fan ‘experience’. Many sports teams are now global brands using sophisticated CRM software to sell everything from match-day tickets and hospitality packages, through


to the latest kits and other merchandise. If the systems used to store and process this


sort of information go offline it could cost clubs millions. That’s why a dependable UPS plays such a crucial role in minimising the risk of IT downtime. Other electrical-related disasters in the


sports arena obviously need to be mitigated too – a mid-match floodlight failure would cause significant disruption and embarrassment, as well as posing a serious security risk. So too would any fault to the electronic turnstiles and access gates installed at modern sports facilities.


Pivotal Power Protection


Such vast volumes of data require significant storage, power, and processing. Security and data protection is paramount too. Imagine the consequences of a team’s precious fact-files falling into their rivals’ hands. IT systems need to have the necessary


encryption, firewalls, and secure connections to minimise the threat of data loss. A reliable UPS unit is also essential to provide ongoing critical power protection – with teams needing instant, ongoing access to data, any disruption to the electrical supply could prove costly. Most stadia managers will work alongside a


technology partner as this reduces the need to build their own costly infrastructure. Using cloud-based storage and processing offers similar advantages, while also providing the flexibility to scale their capacity needs. For instance a team will need less data storage during the off-season. For some sports and clubs, cloud-based


provision won’t be enough. The power of edge computing means managing their own micro data centres at the stadium or training ground might become necessary. Or a hybrid structure may be more effective, where teams take advantage of cloud-based data processing capabilities even with data they host on-site. Embracing the game-changing power of big


data can give teams that crucial edge, whether that’s out in the arena or success off the pitch. But to fully reap these rewards facilities managers require reliable data storage and suitable critical power protection in place to minimise the risk of disruption from any energy-related failures.


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