Golf Tour Selects Data Partner
February 5, 2019
The European Tour has announced a new partnership with IMG ARENA to become the exclusive worldwide distributor of official scoring data to media organisations and international regulated sports betting and gaming markets in a long-term arrangement.
IMG ARENA is developing a real-time, shot-by-shot data collection system which will be installed at all European Tour events, with these new insights available to fans via European Tour platforms and global broadcasters.
AIMG Arena will live stream two selected par-3 holes per week for syndication to data rights clients in selected territories.
Rufus Hack, Chief Content Officer of the European Tour, said: “This partnership with IMG ARENA will provide an enhanced statistical offering from our tournaments through real-time, shot-by-shot data.”
“It will help us to grow our fan base and increase engagement through improved data and insights for fans across all our platforms. Licensing the data for regulated sports betting markets will allow fans around the world the opportunity to engage with our product in a different way.
“IMG ARENA will work closely with our robust integrity programme, and our investment in this area will combine the latest thinking and world-class technology to both disseminate official scoring data to betting markets and protect our tournaments from the threat corruption.”
Max Wright, Senior VP and Head of Commercial at IMG ARENA, said: “More than a year in the making, this partnership will deliver one of the most sophisticated sports data products ever created. Our state-of-the-art, live scoring capture system will deliver a wealth of data and power a range of exciting new live betting markets.
“There is a huge opportunity for golf to become a global leader in sports betting. IMG Arena is at the forefront of the efforts to deliver this, with the European Tour a significant and complementary addition to our portfolio.”