NHL Partners with AWS (Amazon) for Cloud Infrastructure
NHL Powered by AWS
“Do you believe in miracles? Yes!” This was ABC sportscaster Al Michaels’ quote “heard ’round the world” after the U.S. National Team beat the Soviet National Team at the 1980 Lake Placid Winter Olympic Games to advance to the medal round. One of the greatest sports moments ever that lives in infamy among hockey fans is readily available for all of us to enjoy as many times as we want thanks to modern technology. Now the National Hockey League (NHL) is expanding their reach with technology as they announced a partnership with Amazon Web Services (AWS). AWS will become the official cloud storage partner of the league, making sure all historical moments like the Miracle on Ice are never forgotten.
The NHL will rely on AWS exclusively in the areas of artificial intelligence and machine learning as they look to automate video processing and content delivery in the cloud. AWS will also allow them to control the Puck and Player Tracking (PPT) System to better capture the details of gameplay. Hockey fans everywhere are in for a treat!
What is the PPT System?
The NHL has been working on developing the PPT system since 2013. Once it is installed in every team’s arena in the league, the innovative system will require several antennas in the rafters of the arenas, tracking sensors placed on every player in the game, and tracking sensors built into the hockey pucks. The hockey puck sensors can be tracked up to 2,000 times per second to yield a set of coordinates that can then turn into new results and analytics.
The Puck Stops Here! Learn how the NHL’s L.A. Kings use LTO Tape to build their archive.
How Will AWS Change the Game?
AWS’s state-of-the-art technology and services will provide us with capabilities to deliver analytics and insights that highlight the speed and skill of our game to drive deeper fan engagement. For example, a hockey fan in Russia could receive additional stats and camera angles for a major Russian player. For international audiences that could be huge. Eventually, personalized feeds could be possible for viewers who would be able to mix and match various audio and visual elements.
The NHL will also build a video platform on AWS to store video, data, and related applications into one central source that will enable easier search and retrieval of archival video footage. Live broadcasts will have instant access to NHL content and analytics for airing and licensing, ultimately enhancing broadcast experiences for every viewer. Also, Virtual Reality experiences, Augmented Reality-powered graphics, and live betting feeds are new services that can be added to video feeds.
As part of the partnership, Amazon Machine Learning Solutions will cooperate with the league to use its tech for in-game video and official NHL data. The plan is to convert the data into advanced game analytics and metrics to further engage fans. The ability for data to be collected, analyzed, and distributed as fast as possible was a key reason why the NHL has partnered with AWS.
The NHL plans to use AWS Elemental Media to develop and manage cloud-based HD and 4K video content that will provide a complete view of the game to NHL officials, coaches, players, and fans. When making a crucial game-time decision on a penalty call the referees will have multi-angle 4k video and analytics to help them make the correct call on the ice. According to Amazon Web Services, the system will encode, process, store, and transmit game footage from a series of camera angles to provide continuous video feeds that capture plays and events outside the field of view of traditional cameras.
The NHL and AWS plan to roll out the new game features slowly throughout the next coming seasons, making adjustments along the way to enhance the fan experience. As one of the oldest and toughest sports around, hockey will start to have a new sleeker look. Will all the data teams will be able to collect, we should expect a faster, stronger, more in-depth game. Do you believe in miracles? Hockey fans sure do!
