Some blind and low-vision fans will have unprecedented access to the Super Bowl thanks to a tactile device that tracks the ball, vibrates on key plays, and provides real-time audio.
The NFL teamed up with OneCourt and Ticketmaster to pilot this game-enhancing experience 15 times during the regular season at games hosted by the Seattle Seahawks, Jacksonville Jaguars, San Francisco 49ers, Atlanta Falcons, and Minnesota Vikings. About 10 blind and low-vision fans will have an opportunity to use the same technology at the Super Bowl in Santa Clara, California, where Seattle will play the New England Patriots on Feb. 8.
With their hands on the device, fans will feel the location of the ball and hear live updates throughout the game.
Scott Thornhill, the executive director of the American Council of the Blind, is among those eagerly anticipating the experience. Diagnosed with retinitis pigmentosa at age 8 and later losing his sight, Thornhill shared his excitement with The Associated Press.
“It will allow me to engage and enjoy the game as close as possible as people who can see,” Thornhill said. “As someone who grew up playing sports before I lost my vision, I’m getting a big part of my life back that I’ve been missing. To attend a game and not have to wait for someone to tell me what happened, it’s hard to even describe how much that means to me. It’s a game-changer.”
Clark Roberts, a Seahawks fan who lost his sight at age 24 due to retinitis pigmentosa, experienced the device firsthand during Seattle’s home game against Indianapolis on Dec. 14.
“The device does two wonderful things,” Roberts said. “It vibrates in different ways for different plays, and through headphones, I was able to hear Seattle’s amazing announcer, Steve Raible. Real-time audio is the real beauty of the device because usually when I’m listening to a game, there can be a delay of up to a minute or more, and that can be challenging to constantly ask family and friends what happened. Can you imagine how this can open up everything, not just football?”
OneCourt is actively working to expand the use of its technology. The company has partnered with NBA and Major League Baseball teams to provide its devices at games and is in talks to make them available in the NHL and other sports organizations worldwide.
Founded in 2023 by Jerred Mace after witnessing a blind person attending a soccer match, the Seattle-based startup uses NFL tracking data from Genius Sports and translates it into unique vibrations for plays such as tackles and touchdowns. This data is generated from cameras and chips embedded in balls, jerseys, and other locations. The same technology powers the NFL’s NextGen Stats, which are used for health and player safety, statistics, and gambling.
“OneCourt’s progress is a testament to the maturity of the product and our company,” said co-founder Antyush Bollini. “We have gone from delivering this to a handful of teams over the last year or two to having it at the largest event in American sports. The Super Bowl is such an amazing event, and now blind and low-vision fans can use our technology in a way they deserve.”
Ticketmaster’s funding for the NFL pilot helped underwrite the device, making it available to fans free of charge, according to senior client development director Scott Aller.
“This is a very, very big social impact win,” Aller said. “We hope that we can make an investment like this in every single one of our markets.”
Prompted by requests from some teams to improve access for all fans, the NFL spent several months piloting the program and ultimately decided to debut the device at the Super Bowl.
“It’s not lost on us that we have blind to low-vision fans, and we want to do right by them,” said Belynda Gardner, senior director of diversity, equity, and inclusion for the NFL. Gardner expressed optimism about the pilot and the technology’s potential.
“We’re reviewing what we learned and evaluating how it can be implemented going forward,” she said. “There aren’t any definitive next steps yet, but we will use the offseason to determine where this technology fits in the NFL’s suite of offerings.”
Thomas Rice, a blind Jaguars fan, described his seamless experience with the OneCourt device at a Jacksonville game.
“I picked up the tablet at guest services at EverBank Stadium,” Rice said. “After settling into my seat, I felt and heard football in a new way.”
He added, “When Trevor Lawrence threw a touchdown pass to Brian Thomas Jr., I felt the ball travel through the air. When Travis Etienne ran the ball, I could feel it happen along the sideline. It was like giving me my own pair of eyes.”
https://abc7news.com/post/super-bowl-60-blind-fans-experience-big-game-tactile-device-tracks-ball/18503559/