This company's advanced technology is revolutionizing the fan experience

There's nothing like the emotion and energy of a live event, but today's sports fans and concertgoers want and expect more - from social media interactivity to real-time data. So team owners and facility operators at sports arenas, racetracks, and concert venues are betting on innovation to deliver the best fan experience possible.

Increasingly, many in the industry are turning to Panasonic.

Panasonic's engineering and technology expertise fuels the company's growing success in the sports and entertainment sector, particularly through its connected displays that engage, inform, educate, and entertain fans of all ages.

According to Doug Moss, senior vice president of sales and marketing of Panasonic Enterprise Solutions Co., the company specializes in creating made-to-order technology solutions "covering everything from 'glass to screen.'" This includes cameras capturing the action on the field, LED video boards broadcasting content, and everything in between.

Here are four venues that have made huge investments in creating the ultimate in-game fan experience. They each chose Panasonic to install and maintain high-end video boards to impress fans and sponsors.

Indianapolis Motor Speedway: Smart screens drive the fan experience

Home to the Indy 500, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway (IMS) is the biggest sporting venue in the world - so large, its infield can fit the White House, Yankee Stadium, Churchill Downs, Rose Bowl Stadium, Liberty Island, Roman Colosseum, Taj Mahal, and Vatican City, with room to spare.

The challenge for IMS was delivering real-time content to 400,000 fans attending motorsport's premier racing event, which features cars exceeding speeds of 200 miles-per-hour on a 2.5-mile oval for 500 laps.

As part of its "Project 100" renovation initiative, IMS selected Panasonic to build a network of next generation video boards throughout the infield and in front of the grandstands of the iconic track. In February 2015, Panasonic began installing a series of networked LED video boards, more than doubling the size of the previous ones, to provide 98% of the spectators an unimpeded view of at least one of the newly-installed screens.

Panasonic engineers also incorporated 10mm pixel count technology in nearly half the displays, giving those video boards the tightest pixel pitch of any display in motorsports. As a result, fans can enjoy boards that are larger, brighter, smarter, and even capable of delivering real-time content in 281 trillion color combinations.

A state-of-the-art control room furnished with Panasonic broadcast equipment allows programmers to deliver content in various formats, such as animation, multi-screen images, social media feeds, replays, and 3D graphics. A software program culls information from hundreds of data points (speed, RPMs, tire pressure, car throttle, oil readings, lap counter, and leader positions), keeping fans up-to-date and offering behind-the-scenes views at drivers' operating performances.

Lincoln Financial Field: Scoring with the NFL's highest resolution boards

When the Philadelphia Eagles decided to invest in a multimillion-dollar project to modernize their 70,000-seat football stadium, the team lined up with Panasonic.

The goal? Convert "The Linc" into a high-definition facility, featuring greater levels of connectivity and larger video boards with higher resolution and unparalleled imaging clarity.

Panasonic's solution involved installing more than 24,000 square feet of high-definition LED video boards - more than tripling the previous area of the boards - and incorporating 10mm Surface Mount Device (SMD) LED technology into both end zone video boards, which made the massive digital displays the highest resolution SMD video boards in the entire National Football League.

Panasonic also provided more than 2,500 linear feet of ribbon fascia boards for both the upper and lower decks, in addition to installing more than 1,500 Panasonic HD TVs in the club suites, concourses, and concession areas so fans could stay connected to the game from anywhere in the stadium.

A Panasonic-supplied graphics head-end system integrates the 39 individual LED boards installed throughout the stadium into a single network, giving control room operators more versatility related to programming and synchronizing content.

For advertisers, higher connectivity and system integration mean a more dynamic, engaging digital platform to reach consumers, increase brand visibility, and generate revenue.

Sports teams want to create in-stadium experiences that fans can't get at home - even with today's 4K TVs. Using the latest in-stadium proximity and intelligent screen technologies, Panasonic delivers contextually relevant and personalized experiences.

Looking ahead, mobile technology will play a major role in the fan experience. "The fan's mobile phone will become an extension of the stadium's screen infrastructure, enabling a new wave of imaginative applications," says Jeffrey Siegel, VP, marketing, for Panasonic Enterprise Solutions Co. "The future in-stadium experience is going to get nearly as exciting as the game itself."

Churchill Downs: The world's first outdoor 4K display

Churchill Downs - the site of the Kentucky Derby, the largest and most famous horse racing event of the year - partnered with Panasonic to tackle a persistent viewing obstacle. The racetrack's low-to-the-ground positioning of its video board prevented thousands of avid horse racing fans in the legendary 26-acre infield from watching "the most exciting two minutes in sports."

Panasonic tackled this challenge by delivering an unprecedented fan experience: the installation of the world's largest 4K ultra high-definition LED video board, making Churchill Downs the first outdoor sports facility in the world to feature a 4K large-screen display. The mammoth digital screen stands 171-feet wide by 90-feet tall and is strategically situated 80 feet above the ground, offering clear viewing angles from anywhere within the venue.

Weighing 1.2 million pounds and built to withstand wind speeds up to 90 mph, the screen can display more than 9 million lines of resolution, giving operators an array of creative production capabilities such as image close-ups, betting odds, instant replays, and multiple split screen views.

In creating a superior fan viewing experience, Panasonic turned Churchill Downs into a must-see sports and entertainment destination.

L.A. LIVE: Reimagining community-based entertainment

L.A. LIVE is a vibrant entertainment complex in the South Park District of downtown Los Angeles. The area is anchored by a multi-purpose indoor arena - Staples Center - and also encompasses live music venues, Regal Cinemas, Marriott and Ritz-Carlton hotels, and restaurants. It's also home to the Grammys, music's largest awards ceremony.

Already a popular and crowded hub of entertainment, dining, and shopping, L.A. LIVE tasked Panasonic with further elevating the consumer experience by using the latest technology to inform, connect, and engage visitors.

Panasonic delivered a multi-faceted technology plan, installing various indoor and outdoor digital displays. The customized displays met specific needs and were fully integrated to provide seamless continuity of the entire L.A. LIVE experience. Further, engineers ensured all outdoor displays were bird-proof, weatherproof, and able to project clear images in direct sunlight without impeding the views of hotel guests.

Advanced LED video boards on Regal Cinemas' facade offer sharper contrast and richer colors, producing higher quality images from closer distances. Better sidewalk viewing angles to read up-close content means messaging and promotions reach more people and attract greater attention.

Large-scale integration of other Panasonic products and services - projectors, monitors, hospitality solutions, point-of-sale systems - and the opportunity to deliver sustainable solutions and battery technology in the future, make L.A. LIVE a living model on how technology combined with a vision creates a world-class destination for concertgoers, shoppers, tourists, and sports fans alike.

Learn more about how Panasonic is changing sports and entertainment experiences.

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