Stadiums of the Future

About This Episode

On this episode of StarTalk Sports Edition, we’re exploring the stadiums of the future. Host Neil deGrasse Tyson and co-hosts Gary O’Reilly and Chuck Nice are investigating modern stadium design and technology being implemented in the world today. They’re joined by Benjamin Brillat, Chief Infrastructure Architect at IBM Sports, who’s been instrumental in building/designing the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. 

To start, we discuss how IBM has been enhancing fan experience since the Atlanta Olympics in 1996. You’ll learn how IBM is approaching technology in today’s rapidly evolving climate. Benjamin tells us how stadiums are future-proofing their infrastructure to adapt to new technologies that are yet to come. 

We discuss the upcoming Los Angeles Rams SoFi Stadium. Discover more about the transparent roof that will cover the field. We explore how the builders “earthquake-proofed” the stadium. You’ll hear about the record-breaking jumbotron that will eventually wrap around the entire stadium inside and out. 

We ponder the advancements in technology that would eliminate the need for stadiums. How close are we to having an augmented display to watch your team in your home stadium when they’re playing an away game? Could you ever have an artificially intelligent football game that people watch? Benjamin tells us about the technology that’s happening behind-the-scenes that the fans don’t see. 

Lastly, we turn our attention towards the bigger picture. You’ll hear why user experience is the first and foremost thing on Benjamin’s mind when developing ideas for new stadium experiences. We also ponder the rise of gambling in the United States and its possible impact on stadium experience. All that, plus, we discuss the trend of developing a stadium “campus” that encompasses many assets of entertainment to keep fans coming during off-days. 

 NOTE: StarTalk+ Patrons and All-Access subscribers can watch or listen to this entire episode commercial-free.