Sport & Entertainment Event Blog

Google owned YouTube over the past couple years has made a significant investment into live sporting events and entertaintainment. They signed their first major sports rights deal in 2010 with the Indian Premier League and have continued to talk with sport leagues and sporting events all over the world. They are also launching 100 new channels which will include some channels dedicated to sports programming.

It makes sense for sports that have a global audience like tennis, soccer, basketball, wrestling, hockey and action sports. Sports like fencing, bandminton and cycling that have trouble gaining air time on the major networks can look to YouTube. There will be more and and more sports programming coming to the internet, but will it ever compete with media companies like ESPN, FOX, NBC and Turner for major sporting events rights like the World Cup or SuperBowl? It doesn’t seem to be the focus now.

The positives about the internet and live sporting events for fans is that it can be watched from anywhere and you can interact with other fans. The negatives are slow broadband speeds and picture quality.  Fans would  rather watch on their big screen HD TV’s. That could change if Google TV and Apple TV develop to the point were there is no distinction between internet and TV.

Sporting events are also watched live or very close to the date of the event compared to a TV show where you can DVR it and watch it weeks later. That bodes well for the sporting events on the internet because fans may be more likely to tune in at a certain time to watch. You can check out YouTube live sports streaming and find something every week.

 In August 2011, Sequence completed a skatepark that is mobile and can be set-up at different events. The park has enough features to be used for an amateur contest, demo or for an open skate (jam session). You can bring the excitement of street skateboarding happening at local parks and city streets to most indoor and outdoor events. Great for creating engagement.

The park has bank and launch ramps, a hubba with grind rail and a mini with attached ramps to keep a continuous flow. Added features include wedges, fun box, spine, jersey barriers and ollie bar. The minimum footprint is 110′ x 70′ . The park is warehoused in Indianapolis, Indiana. For more information call 888-756-3552.

This past weekend we concluded the month of May with the IPL 500 Festival Parade. Our largest event of the year. An estimated three hundred thousand spectators came out to see the annual Parade the Saturday before the Indy 500. We assist in managing Parade route logistics along the two mile downtown course for the 500 Festival. One of our priorities on Parade day is setting up the TV zone where local CBS affiliate WISH-TV and cable channel Versus, produce tape delayed broadcasts of the Parade shown in the evening (WISH-TV 8:00pm & Versus 5:00pm). The TV zone is also the site of the opening production which featured country music star, Kellie Pickler. The TV Zone is one city block. To create a better visual shot for TV, the street is painted black and checkered carpet is placed on both sides of the street extended out from both curbs by Superior Carpet. Grandstands are placed on both sides of the street by Nussli USA and two aluminum walls stretching over 450′ on each side are used as a crowd barrier and for decoration. For a backdrop, we use a 500 Festival logo window sign on the glass of the building across from the TV cameras, a giant banner to cover an alley in the TV zone and an enormous american flag positioned between two Indianapolis Fire Department aerial trucks to help cover a parking lot. The City of Indianapolis, Indianapolis Power and Light, Indianapolis Downtown Inc. all assist in moving, street lights, light poles and informational street signs to allow TV cameras a clear shot. It takes about an hour and a half to get all Parade units through the TV zone and then it is time to take everything down.

Breakfast at the Brickyard

Sequence provided event support for the annual 500 Festival Breakfast at the Brickyard presented by Proliance Energy. The sellout crowd of over 900 came to see the 500 Festival Queen Coronation and racing legends Rick Mears, Johnny Rutherford and Mario Andretti interviewed by the voice of  the IMS Radio Network, Mike King.

Riley Hoffman was crowned 500 Festival Queen. Special guests included Mari Hulman George, Chairman of the Board of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway (IMS), Jeff Belskus, CEO of IMS, Randy Bernard, CEO of the Indy Racing League and Indianapolis Mayor Gregory A. Ballard.

Alex Tagliani (Sam Schmidt Racing) took the pole for the 100th anniversary of the Indianapolis 500 mile race.