SEATTLE (AP) — Microsoft has fired an employee who interrupted a speech by CEO Satya Nadella to protest the company’s work supplying the Israeli military with technology used for the war in Gaza.

CAUAYAN CITY — A wide range of activities, including talks on the application of artificial intelligence (AI) in disaster management, smart cities and communities, and in mobility and smart transportation, has been the focus in the three-day 3rd International Smart City Exposition and Networking Engagement (iScene) at the Isabela Convention Center in this city.

The event started on Thursday, May 22 and will end on Saturday, May 24.

WATER QUALITY MONITORING TOOL An exhibitor explains the prototype of their research and development project dubbed as a Lorawan-based pond water quality control and monitoring system for shrimp farms in one of the exhibits at the start of the three-day 3rd International Smart City Exposition and Networking Engagement (iScene) at the Isabela Convention Center in Cauayan City on May 22, 2025. PHOTO BY VINCE JACOB VISAYA

The conference serves as a platform to discuss details and commitment for possible transfer of technologies and commercialization, aside from having exhibits on artificial intelligence, robotics, among other innovations such as startup and cutting-edge advancements in water management, textiles, smart agriculture, and circular economy.

Among those showcased in the exhibits are the electromobility research and development which aims to achieve greening of the transport industry, the Lorawan-based pond water quality control and monitoring system for shrimp farms, the heat-assisted temperature control and monitoring system for hatchery management of milkfish, agricultural-robot-Tomasino innovation system, S&T-based approach for sustainable management of reservoirs and river basins.

Also being exhibited are forest products research and development e-library, smart water control infrastructure for effective irrigation management, GIS-based decision support tool, and integrated flood and water resources management in Asean basins for sustainable development.

The Department of Science and Technology (DOST), in partnership with the local government unit of Cauayan City and Isabela State University (ISU), focused on the theme “Empowering Smart and Sustainable Communities through Government-Academe-Industry Collaboration” for the event.

Mayor Ceasar Dy Jr. said the city, which has been designated as the first smart city in the Philippines, has implemented various digital solutions to improve network and services such as the installment of free Wi-Fi in its 65 barangay.

“We have been the first Smart City, and we focus on innovations to help other local government units to adopt smart technologies and eventually we got partners at the international level,” he added.

Among the side events include Philippine Smart and Sustainable Cities Awards, the Mobile Command and Control Vehicle (Moccov) Operations Olympics, E-Sports tournament, and the Hackathon.

“The conference has been aiming to transform communities through active citizen-engagement, and to further promote the Smarter Philippines mission,” said Undersecretary Sancho Mabborang during the event.

“For the past two years, the iScene has become an opportunity to bring together government agencies, academe, industry players, and international partners for collaboration and knowledge-sharing to achieve smart, resilient, and sustainable communities,” he added.

The DOST Regional Office 2 also inked memoranda of partnerships with various government agencies, and academic institutions such as the Department of Human Settlement and Urban Development (DHSUD) Region 2, Commission on Higher Education (CHED), Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI), Isabela State University (ISU), King Mongkut’s Institute of Technology Ladkrabang (KMITL) in Thailand and the Cauayan City local government unit.

In Japan, sports have long been tied to ritual, community, and tradition—from sumo stables to packed J.League stadiums. Today’s fans expect much more than just attending a match. They demand participation, interaction, access, backend glimpses, and real-time insights into the event. Digitalization of the sports industry is changing the traditional ways of defining fan engagement.  

 Due to technology, not only the broadcasting of games, but also how players, teams, and even other spectators interact, is experiencing a shift. The smartphone, social media, and even the internet have turned into hubs of spending spare time, and the sports industry is investing in immersive apps that take the audience as close to the action as possible.

Interactive Viewing and Second-Screen Experiences

The rise of second-screen culture—where fans engage with content on phones or tablets while watching a game—has dramatically reshaped live sports. Broadcasters and clubs are now enhancing match feeds with live stats, polls, and fan chats. This multilayered experience is designed to deepen emotional connection while extending the time fans spend interacting with their brand. Innovations related to sports betting online, integrated into match-day dashboards, often mirror the same real-time responsiveness expected by modern viewers.

Japan has begun integrating fan voting during live contests, augmented reality replays, and changing commentary audio streams for companion apps within its professional baseball and soccer leagues. For example, NHK and DAZN Japan offer multi-angle viewing and a strategy breakdown offering. Transforming from a passive observer to an active participant is most remarkable in the case of sports technology.

Key Technologies Driving Engagement

As platforms and franchises strive to maintain engagement amidst growing competition, they are adopting new technology. Perpetual engagement and fandom retention are not, and never have been, new concepts. Remember that as we go over the list.

Important developing technologies altering fan interaction:

• Augmented Reality (AR): Used in stadiums and mobile apps to display stats or player animations
• Virtual Reality (VR): Allows users to “attend” matches through headsets from the comfort of their home.
• NFTs and Digital Collectibles: Grant fans one-of-a-kind assets that are bonded to their favorite teams
• Gamification: Encourages sustained engagement by embedding trivia, forecasts, and other forms of challenges into apps
• AI-Powered Chatbots: give fans instant messaging updates and tailored information using chat applications

Focusing on Japan’s metropolitan areas, where users depend on mobile devices for information and leisure, these tools are extremely pertinent. The combination of entertainment with gaming, as well as sports, is a reasonable progression.

The Role of Social Platforms and User-Generated Content

On TikTok and X (previously Twitter), the content created by ‘normal’ users is being compared to gameday highlights, reactions, and analyses provided by official accounts as they draw similar amounts of attention. In response to this, Japanese teams have changed their policy to simple creation response via a branded hashtag, retweets, and even contests for branded viral content.  

Notable esports leagues based in Tokyo offer regular fan shoutouts and also allow active followers to vote on various aspects of the games like team kits and some rules of engagement. These forms of participation, however minimal, support a never-ending exchange between the fans and the organizers. This phenomenon has shifted to be essential to modern fan loyalty.  

The effect of gamified design is more noticeable because of online casino slots. Trivia games with ‘spin to win’ mechanics or locked content are commonplace within mobile apps, gaining popularity among beginners which keeps them engaged long after the game is over. These systems encourage a seamless and addictive pattern idealized for daily competition among friends to gain the upper hand, similar to mobile games.

Case Study: J.League’s Fan-Centric Innovations

The J.League has led in connecting with fans digitally across Asia. In 2023 it joined forces with Yahoo Japan and Rakuten to implement a new system where fans can choose “Player of the Match” in real-time during the matches. Votes affect social media activity, discounts on merchandise, and several other engagements including meet-and-greets.

In a separate pilot program, fans wearing smartbands were able to receive haptic feedback synced with game events—buzzes and vibrations that mirrored a goal, a red card, or a substitution. The aim was to make fans feel connected to the action even if they weren’t physically in the stadium.

This model aligns with Japan’s larger smart city ambitions, where personalized digital experiences are integrated across services, from sports to public transit.

Fan Data and Personalized Experiences

All of the novel forms of engagement are collecting unprecedented volumes of information regarding fan behaviors. Currently, AI systems are evaluating this information to generate custom content proposals, bespoke merchandise recommendations, or adjust application features to the user’s behavioral routines. In Japan, where the culture emphasizes meticulousness, data-driven engagement is fostered and deeply effective.  

Used by teams in Tokyo, SmartVenue and FanWise possess agile analytic features that segment fans into various activity levels, purchase history brackets, and content preferences. Teams can then deliver targeted notifications, such as birthday discounts, favorite player stats, or live alerts for local games.

As a result, each individual feels appreciated. Now it’s not about the largest crowd, but the most active crowd. It’s not about having the biggest crowd anymore—it’s about having the most engaged one.

Table: Evolution of Fan Engagement Technology

What’s Next for Japanese Sports Fans?

The growth of esports in Japan, along with its participation in international tournaments, signals a tech-enabled evolution in fan engagement. Once complete, 5G networks and AI technologies will deliver even more features to fans, including real-time immersion and interactivity.

In-stadium facial recognition systems could streamline access and concessions, while virtual commentators may adjust their style at home based on identified fan preferences. This is not science fiction; it is in progress through joint ventures between Japan’s sports federations and private innovators.

Shifts in culture are also changing the way sports and entertainment are consumed. Fans will engage with the brand far less through the game, but rather through their lives Woven with the digital matrix of existence.

What happens when one of the most talked-about names in sports tech brings its latest innovations to the heart of Manhattan? On April 18th, XbotGo answered that question with an exclusive live event at 135 Madison Avenue in New York City — unveiling major software upgrades to its flagship product, the XbotGo Chameleon, and offering a rare, hands-on look into the future of automated sports content creation.

The four-hour event drew athletes, coaches, tech creators, youth program directors, and even high school students, all curious to see how XbotGo democratizes high-end sports filming. It wasn’t just a product demo — it was a showcase of how AI and sports are merging to empower teams and individuals in ways that were previously out of reach.

A Leap Forward in AI Sports Capture

At the core of the event was the debut of XbotGo’s newest software upgrade — a feature-packed update that takes the already impressive Chameleon system to the next level. The upgrade introduced faster player tracking, improved jersey number recognition, real-time scoreboard overlays via ScoreSync, and upgraded video editing AI that turns raw footage into social-ready content in minutes.

Basketball teams especially benefited from a new sport-specific algorithm that refines how the camera follows plays and isolates key moments. Attendees watched in real time as the system tracked players with 95% accuracy, panned smoothly across the court, and immediately tagged jersey numbers to auto-generate personalized highlights.

For teams lacking the resources to hire full-time videographers or editors, the implications were clear: this technology levels the playing field.

Behind the Scenes with the Visionaries

XbotGo Founder and CEO David opened the event with a keynote outlining the company’s journey—from early Kickstarter roots to national expansion—and the role customer feedback has played in shaping every update. He emphasized the mission behind the tech: giving more athletes and teams the power to control their own media presence, improve their performance, and share their stories with the world.

In a Q&A session, David fielded questions from athletes, coaches, and even content creators curious about integration with Apple Watch, the newly enhanced FollowMe Mode, and upcoming support for portrait video — a key request for TikTok and Instagram content.

Stories from the Field

Throughout the afternoon, guests heard from actual users who brought the Chameleon into their training sessions, scrimmages, and tournaments. One youth basketball coach explained how he used the jersey tracking to build highlight reels for every player on his team—footage they later used in college recruitment outreach. A parent showed off a video of her daughter’s soccer goal captured in full 4K from a game she filmed solo, without touching the camera once.

These personal stories reinforced what the specs already showed: this isn’t just gear for elite athletes — it’s built for real people, real games, and real growth.

Immersive Demos, Exclusive Swag, and Community Vibes

XbotGo engineers guided small groups through interactive demos where guests tested the 120° field of view, 360° panoramic tracking, and T4 Tripod’s towering 13-foot height adjustment. Paired with Bluetooth remote control and Apple Watch syncing, the system proved how easy it was to go from setup to capture in under one minute.

Everyone left with limited-edition XbotGo merch, including a branded hoodie, cap, and microfiber towel. But more than the swag, the lasting impression was one of connection — between players and tech, creators and tools, and a growing community that wants to take game-day media into its own hands.

What’s Next for XbotGo

With more updates scheduled for late 2025, including portrait capture mode, multi-angle syncing, and AI commentary overlays, the NYC event was more than a celebration — it was a preview of a movement. XbotGo is positioning itself not only as a product brand but as an infrastructure for the future of sports storytelling.

Whether you’re a coach breaking down tape, a parent capturing milestone moments, or a creator building your sports channel, XbotGo Chameleon promises to turn your smartphone into a production studio — and your game into the show it deserves to be.

Learn more about the technology, watch sample footage, or order your system here.

Critically, Connolly leads the Disney team negotiating a license renewal with YouTube. Connolly has intimate knowledge of Disney’s other distribution deals, the financial details concerning Disney’s content being licensed to YouTube, and Disney’s negotiation strategies, both in general and in particular with respect to YouTube. It would be extremely prejudicial to Disney for Connolly to breach the contract which he negotiated just a few months ago and switch teams when Disney is working on a new licensing deal with the company that is trying to poach him.

SFC assumes management of 15 facilities in 11 states through agreement with Rink Management Services

CLEARWATER, Fla., May 22, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — The Sports Facilities Companies (SFC), the nation’s leading manager of sports, recreation, and event venues, has expanded its ice rink portfolio by assuming management of 13 ice rinks across 11 states, plus two additional community centers. The facilities, previously operated by Rink Management Services (RMS), will now benefit from SFC’s expertise in operations, programming, and community engagement. Through the agreement, RMS operational leadership and staff will transition into the SFC network, enhancing its capacity to manage and elevate ice rinks nationwide.

“SFC continues to expand our presence as a leader in ice rink management, and this is an exciting step in that journey,” said Jason Clement, CEO of The Sports Facilities Companies. “RMS has built a strong footprint in the industry, and by integrating their experience with our proven approach to operations and community service, we are enhancing our ability to deliver exceptional outcomes for athletes, guests, and the communities we serve.”

Under the leadership of President Tom Hillgrove, RMS will maintain a small portfolio of leased agreements while SFC assumes management of the acquired facilities. Moving forward, the two companies will collaborate on strategic opportunities.

“We are excited to see these facilities transition to SFC, a company with a proven track record of success in community-focused facility management,” Hillgrove said. “RMS will continue to operate independently with our leased agreements while working alongside SFC to further strengthen the ice rink industry.”

SFC’s expanded portfolio of ice facilities and community centers now includes the following facilities:

• Bryant Park Winter Village Ice Rink – New York, N.Y.
   
• Lloyd Center Ice Rink – Portland, Ore.
   
• Metro Park Toledo Glass City Ice & Roller – Toledo, Ohio
   
• Wichita Ice Center – Wichita, Kan.
   
• Parks Mall at Arlington – Arlington, Texas
   
• Ice Skate USA Memorial City – Houston, Texas
   
• Ice in Paradise – Goleta, Calif.
   
• Breslow Ice Hockey Center – Lincoln, Neb.
   
• Waconia Ice Arena – Waconia, Minn.
   
• Industry City Ice Rink – New York, N.Y.
   
• Elevance Health Rink at Bicentennial Plaza – Indianapolis, Ind.
   
• Washington Harbour Ice Rink – Washington, D.C.
   
• McCormick Tribune Ice Rink – Chicago, Ill.

As part of the deal, SFC will also take over management of multiple non-ice facilities, including the Romulus Athletic Center in Romulus, Michigan, and the Safari Island Community Center in Waconia, Minnesota.

“We are thrilled to bring these facilities into the SFC family and continue our momentum as a leader in ice rink management,” said Kelly Kryukov, senior vice president of ice venue operations at The Sports Facilities Companies. “Ice rinks serve as vital community hubs—whether it’s for youth hockey, figure skating, or public skating sessions. Our focus is on elevating these venues by enhancing programming, improving operational efficiency, and ensuring they remain accessible and welcoming spaces for all athletes and families.”

With this expansion, SFC now manages 20 ice rinks nationwide including two large multi-sport venues featuring ice surfaces and two rinks in New York City. For more information about ice rink operations at The Sports Facilities Companies, visit icerinks.com.

About The Sports Facilities Companies

The Sports Facilities Companies (SFC) is the nation’s leading resource for the management and development of sports, recreation, wellness, and events facilities. As a turn-key solution for community leaders and developers alike, SFC services span the gamut of sports and recreation needs from sports tourism & recreation master planning, program planning, and feasibility through professional facility management services. With over 90 managed venues and approximately 4,000 team members, represented by the SF Network, SFC welcomes nearly 30 million guest visits and produces almost $1 billion in economic impact each year. To learn more, please visit SportsFacilities.com and theSFnetwork.com.

Press Contact:

Ashley Whittaker
7274743845
http://sportsfacilities.com

SOURCE The Sports Facilities Companies