Paris Saint-Germain enjoys one of soccer’s best home match atmospheres, but club executives still had questions. Why? And how could it be even better?

By collaborating with crowd analytics provider CrowdIQ — who, at PSG’s suggestion, added audio inputs to its AI algorithms — the Ligue 1 power developed a methodology for assessing what factors drove lively experiences at Parc des Princes for its men’s and women’s teams. This new Atmosphere Index has helped PSG devise its matchday programming, sponsor activations and more.

“One of the business challenges that’s important for us is to maximize the match day experience for two real factors,” said PSG Chief Innovation & Digital Officer Jerry Newman, a former executive at Meta, Chelsea FC and The FA, the governing body for soccer in England. “The first is that a great experience in the stadium is great from a consumer perspective. And secondly, there’s a few academic papers that say, actually, the fan is the 12th man in many respects within sport, and if you can figure out a way in which you can improve the atmosphere, it could have an impact on the pitch.”

CrowdIQ’s high-resolution cameras, which also power FanCam, feed its computer vision algorithms to estimate not only fan demographics but also behavior, such as when they arrive at their seats and where they are looking. Its attention tracking product takes photos every second to understand if fans are watching the pitch, checking their phones or looking at stadium signage or videoboards.

PSG then exported its CRM and ticketing data. Opta event data was also added to understand the action happening on the field, such as goals, corner kicks or tackles.

Newman summarized the working definition of a good atmosphere as “a combination of attention, noise and time spent in seat.” Among the findings published in the new white paper:

— Fans reported 10% higher satisfaction for UEFA Champions League matches than for domestic Ligue 1 contests. (PSG won its first Champions League title this past year but has won 11 of the past 13 Ligue 1 trophies, including four straight).

— Attendees arrived about 25 minutes earlier for Champions League matches.

— A key emotional spike in fan interest and energy was noted about 15 minutes before kickoff.

— The Atmosphere Index was typically higher when fans arrived earlier.

“It’s been really helpful, from everything to how we present the match, to how we run promotions to get people into the stadiums, how we improve our F&B, how do we improve traffic into the stadium,” Newman said. “All with the ultimate goal of having the best atmosphere.”

Newman noted that driving revenue is not a primary goal of these efforts to further enhance crowd atmosphere, but it has an indirect impact. A better atmosphere might attract more sponsors and new fans, he said, and winning more matches is valuable from a brand and commercial perspective.

“The idea here is taking something subjective to objective, which in turn makes the crowd a better place to be, makes the game a better place to be, could increase team performance, but also could increase fan satisfaction, arrival times, which means more revenue for the team,” said Katherine Rowe, VP/Client Strategy & Insights for CrowdIQ, a 2023 honoree as one of SBJ’s Most Innovative Sports Tech Companies.

PSG pioneered the Atmosphere Index with CrowdIQ, but the AI firm is now working with other partners to modify the models to be applicable for different sports, different geographies, different venues. The Spurs are a longtime CrowdIQ user — and strategic partner of PSG since earlier this year — who have been collaborating on an NBA version of the index. The Titans will begin collecting fan data next season to inform a fan-centric design of their new Nissan Stadium.

“It’s going to be completely unique to every single partner and every single sport,” CrowdIQ CRO Rachel Goodger said. “What creates a good atmosphere in the NBA versus with PSG is very different, and what matters to those clubs is very different.”

MyPlay, the all-in-one automatic sports livestreaming platform, and One2All.tv, the interactive social streaming innovator, have revealed details of their new partnership.

“At MyPlay, we believe that every game deserves to be seen, analysed and celebrated. Thanks to this new alliance with One2All.tv, clubs, federations and fans will now gain access to an enriched ecosystem of tools that go beyond simple broadcasting – turning every match into a dynamic, social and connected experience,” said Itai Levy, CEO of MyPlay.

Through this partnership, MyPlay’s automated live sports capture seamlessly integrates with One2All.tv’s Virtual Living Room, enabling fans to invite friends, chat and interact as if they were sitting together in the stands – no matter where they are.

“Our mission has always been clear: democratise access to live sports and empower every club to grow,” explained Levy. “This partnership is a natural extension of that vision – providing our clients with more tools to connect with their audiences, attract new fans and open the door to new markets.”

“This partnership is a game changer,” said Eyal Natan, CEO, and Maarten van Oeveren, CP&CO, of One2all.tv. “We’re not just delivering sports – we’re building communities around them. Whether it’s youth football or local basketball, fans can now gather online like they would in the stands.

This collaboration also opens the door for iGaming operators as well as advertisers to tap into highly engaged micro-communities. With shared revenues flowing back to sports associations, everyone wins – from players and fans to platforms and federations.

With MyPlay’s leading-edge capture technology and One2All.tv’s community-driven platform, this partnership reinforces both companies’ shared values: innovation, accessibility, community, performance and growth.

The future of live sports isn’t just streaming – it’s social. And it starts now.

Just over a month ago, AGON by AOC retained its title as the number one gaming monitor brand in the world for the sixth year in a row, based on figures from the IDC Worldwide Quarterly Gaming Tracker. And now, the manufacturer is celebrating the 10th anniversary of the renowned Esports organization G2. The brand has been an official sponsor for the team since 2018, but G2 Esports’ history goes back even further than that.

AOC has been busy releasing plenty of new gaming monitors lately, including three new budget models and the AOC GAMING U27G4R, which becomes the brand’s first model with ‘Dual-Frame’ technology to boost your refresh rate at a lower resolution. And at upcoming IEM Cologne 2025, it will reveal two new esports monitors; the exact details remain to be seen.

Full press release

Amsterdam, 24 June 2025 – AGON by AOC – the world’s leading gaming monitor brand, proudly celebrates the 10^th anniversary of G2 Esports, marking seven years as the esports organisation’s official monitor partner in their rise to becoming one of Europe’s most successful esports teams.

Supporting a decade of dominance

Since the launch of G2 Esports in October 2015, the organisation has grown from ambitious newcomers to global esports titans. AGON by AOC joined this journey in January 2018, equipping G2’s Berlin training facility with cutting-edge AGON AG251FZ monitors featuring 240 Hz refresh rates – beginning a partnership that would help shape the future of competitive gaming displays.

“Throughout G2’s incredible decade, we’ve been privileged to support them for over seven years of that journey,” says César Acosta, Gaming Product Manager at AGON by AOC. “From their historic Mid-Season Invitational 2019 victory to their recent qualification for Mid-Season Invitational 2025 in Vancouver, we’ve witnessed their evolution from challengers to champions. Our partnership exemplifies our commitment to supporting gamers at every level – from beginners taking their first steps to elite athletes like G2 competing on the world stage.”

Milestones in partnership

The collaboration has produced memorable moments, including the November 2018 launch of the G2590PX/G2 Esports Signature Edition monitor – bringing G2’s iconic samurai aesthetics and professional-grade 144 Hz performance to esports fans worldwide at an affordable price. During these years, through direct feedback from G2’s players, AGON by AOC has developed displays like the AGON PRO AG254FG with a 360 Hz refresh rate and Nvidia Reflex Latency Analyzer, or recent models such as the AGON PRO AG246FK with an impressive 540 Hz refresh rate, continuously pushing the boundaries of competitive gaming technology. This journey of innovation continues with the AGON PRO AG276UZD, which brings QD-OLED technology with 240 Hz refresh rate and 0.03 ms GtG response time at 4K resolution, offering gamers who wish to combine exceptional performance with ultra-high resolution.

Looking forward

As G2 Esports enters their second decade, AGON by AOC continues to stand by their side. César Acosta adds: “We’re excited to see G2 at IEM Cologne this year, where we’ll be unveiling two new esports monitors featuring exceptional speed and clarity that will set new standards for competitive gaming. As G2 celebrates 10 years, we’re preparing to launch technology that will define the next decade of esports.”

To commemorate G2’s 10th anniversary and the partnership with AGON by AOC, a special video celebrating the partnership is released, showcasing the evolution of gaming witnessed by the G2 Esports team.

With G2 Esports preparing to compete at Mid-Season Invitational 2025 in Vancouver (for League of Legends) from 27 June to 12 July, both organisations look forward to continuing their successful partnership into the next decade of competitive gaming.

This week’s Portfolio Players features Jonathan Mariner, former Chief Financial Officer of Major League Baseball and one of the most influential financial voices in sports.

In Episode 9 of Portfolio Players, presented by E*TRADE from Morgan Stanley, Mariner unpacks how rising valuations are reshaping franchise ownership, why the media landscape could destabilize future team revenue, and how corporations are exerting greater influence inside front offices. He also explores the fractured state of college sports—from NIL uncertainty to conference realignment—and the mounting pressure to create a more unified governance model.

From Wall Street-backed team buys to long-term threats in college athletics, this episode examines how media, money, and management are shaping the next era of sports business.

Portfolio Players is Front Office Sports’s original series diving into the deals, capital, and power players redefining the business of sports. Subscribe now for insights from the decision-makers building the future of the game.