NFL Selects AWS as Official Cloud, Machine Learning Provider for Next Gen Stats

Amazon Web Services, Inc. said that the National Football League has selected AWS’s machine learning and data analytics services to boost the accuracy, speed, and insights provided by its Next Gen Stats platform, the NFL’s player-tracking system. In choosing AWS to power Next Gen Stats, the NFL aims to develop new ways of visualizing the action on the field, uncovering deeper insights into the action on the field, and expanding the fan experience by offering a broader range of advanced statistics. In addition, AWS will become an Official Technology Provider of the NFL.

Through the use of radio-frequency identification (RFID) tags in player equipment and the football, Next Gen Stats captures a variety of real-time location, speed, and acceleration data. The data is analyzed on AWS and used to contextualize movement on the field for fans to see on NFL Media properties, game broadcasts, third-party digital platforms, and in-venue displays. The data is also leveraged by NFL clubs post game as part of their football operations on a weekly basis. The system creates a variety of unique player and team stats for every game such as a receiver’s ability to get open and an offensive line’s ability to protect the quarterback. By leveraging AWS’s broad range of cloud-based machine learning capabilities, the NFL is looking to take its game-day stats to the next level so that fans and NFL Clubs can benefit from deeper insights.

“The NFL continues to look at technology to grow the sport of football to the millions of fans who engage with us throughout the year. Next Gen Stats is already revolutionizing the game of football by exposing a variety of advanced statistics that enhance our broadcasts and other operations,” said Matt Swensson, VP, Emerging Products and Technology at the NFL. “By powering Next Gen Stats with AWS, we’ll be able to kick off our 2018 season with even more impactful and meaningful content, uncovering deeper insights into the game of football than we’ve ever done before. We chose AWS because of its combination of advanced cloud offering, powerful machine learning capabilities, and experience operating at the scale we need.”

“With Amazon’s 20 years of experience using machine learning to delight customers, along with AWS’s broad analytics and machine learning capabilities, we continue to be the best choice for companies who want to use machine learning to solve meaningful customer problems,” said Mike Clayville, VP, Worldwide Commercial Sales at AWS. “The NFL will be able to create new features and capabilities for Next Gen Stats using AWS machine learning. We’re excited to help the NFL transform their customers’ experiences and provide the most flexible and powerful tools for machine learning as together we advance Next Gen Stats.”