Genius Sports acquires Second Spectrum
May 10, 2021
Genius Sports, the official data, technology and commercial partner that powers the ecosystem connecting sports, betting and media, has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Second Spectrum, a provider of data tracking and visualisation solutions.
The aggregate purchase price for the acquisition is $200 million, subject to customary adjustments. The purchase price will be paid at closing in cash and shares of Genius Sports common stock. Consummation of the transaction is subject to customary closing conditions and expected to take place in the second quarter of 2021. The business is expected to be profitable post-integration and additional details and quantification on synergies will provided in Genius Sports upcoming Q1 earnings call.
Second Spectrum was founded in 2013 and has become a fully integrated sports AI provider, offering tracking, analytics and data visualisation services. Second Spectrum’s innovative technology allows clients to automatically index action on the court, pitch or field within seconds.
Second Spectrum will bring a complementary client base, building on Genius Sports’ official data partnerships with over 400 sports organisations, including the NFL, MLB, EPL and NCAA. Second Spectrum is the official tracking provider of the EPL, NBA, and MLS, using advanced AI capabilities and computer vision technology to capture precise ball and player location-based data. In addition to these relationships, Second Spectrum has partnerships with ESPN, BT Sport, and Bally Sports to offer augmented reality features for select soccer and basketball games. The business has also formed partnerships with leading sports franchises, including The Los Angeles Clippers, to provide new content and revolutionize the fan viewing experience.
“Genius is committed to capturing and distributing the fastest, most accurate and secure official sports data. This acquisition supports our long-term strategic vision of utilizing AI tracking, enhanced data insights and transformative technology to revolutionise the sports data landscape for the fans, our customers and sports and media partners,” said Genius Sports CEO Mark Locke. “Adding additional fan engagement technology to our already diverse and cutting-edge portfolio of products and services will create compelling, unique content, that will transform user experiences and create additional revenue streams for our customers. We are delighted to welcome Rajiv and his team to the Genius Sports family.”
“We are thrilled to join the Genius Sports family,” added Second Spectrum CEO Rajiv Maheswaran. “Mark and his incredible team have built the fastest growing sports data platform on the planet by better serving sports leagues, fans and their partners by leveraging technology in novel and compelling ways. Second Spectrum’s mission to be at the forefront of innovation in the sports ecosystem in combination with the scale and drive of Genius Sports will rapidly accelerate how content is created and experienced and bring significant value for our partners and clients.“