Zebra Inks Multi-year Extension with Reese’s Senior Bowl to Provide Player and Ball Tracking

Rhea-AI Summary

Zebra Technologies (NASDAQ: ZBRA) has announced an extended partnership with the Reese’s Senior Bowl through 2024, continuing to provide RFID player and ball tracking technology. This technology will deliver key performance insights during practices and the game, enhancing NFL talent evaluations. New for 2022, Zebra will present several player performance awards and will support game week credentialing alongside Stark RFID. More than 130 players will be tracked, collecting metrics like speed and distance. The 73rd Senior Bowl is scheduled for February 5, 2022.

Positive

• Extended partnership with Reese’s Senior Bowl through 2024 enhances visibility.
• New player performance awards introduced, increasing brand recognition.
• Use of RFID technology to track player metrics supports NFL talent evaluation.

Negative

• None.

Zebra Technologies (NASDAQ: ZBRA), an innovator at the front line of business with solutions and partners that deliver a performance edge, today announced a partnership extension through 2024 with the Reese’s Senior Bowl. As part of the exclusive partnership, the company will continue providing its RFID player and ball tracking technology to deliver important player performance insights for the practices leading up to the game and the game itself.

A new element of the exclusive partnership in 2022 will be Zebra’s presentation of several offensive and defensive player performance awards across categories such as fastest player, most distance traveled, most max accelerations, longest pass, highest velocity pass, highest spin rate pass, highest punt and more. Additionally, Zebra and its PartnerConnect Registered Reseller, Stark RFID will provide credentialing and related services support for all game week attendees including players, coaching staffs, game support staff, and media in the Stark RFID Accreditation Center.

“Zebra Technologies is thrilled to continue its relationship with the Reese’s Senior Bowl to provide the data and performance metrics necessary for NFL coaches, scouts and general managers to evaluate prospective NFL talent,” said John Pollard, Vice President, Business Development of Zebra Sports, Zebra Technologies. “In addition to providing the Senior Bowl with best-in-class player tracking technology, we are looking forward to offering additional services such as credentialing and other game week enhancements to further improve the experience for fans and attendees.”

To enable the data collection, Zebra attaches RFID tags to players’ shoulder pads to transmit real-time location data to gather metrics such as player speed, distance traveled, orientation and acceleration. During the Senior Bowl, Zebra will track more than 130 players, generating daily metrics such as total distance traveled during each practice session and the game and the top speed they reach among other achievements.

Specialized RFID-tagged footballs will also capture compelling passing and kicking information for all quarterbacks, kickers, and punters. This ball data will include velocity, rotation, distance, and height. Zebra software will be used to compile and analyze daily summary reports from all practice sessions and the Senior Bowl game which will be distributed to NFL teams’ scouting and coaching staffs to use in their player evaluation processes leading up the NFL Combine and the NFL Draft. Data collected for each practice and game will also be made available to broadcast and media partners along with the players upon request.

“The Reese’s Senior Bowl takes great pride in providing NFL decision-makers with an unparalleled scouting experience and that includes giving them reliable on-field tracking data,” said Jim Nagy, Executive Director, Reese’s Senior Bowl. “We are pleased to extend our partnership with Zebra Technologies to continue to benefit from its proven invaluable sports tracking technology.”

The 73^rd annual Reese’s Senior Bowl will kick off at 1:30 p.m. eastern time on Feb. 5, 2022, at Hancock Whitney Stadium on the campus of the University of South Alabama in Mobile, Alabama. It will air live on NFL Network.

Zebra is entering its eighth year as the Official On-Field Player-Tracking Provider for the NFL. During the 2020-21 NFL season, Zebra’s RFID solution enabled a real-time digital view to track the movement of 2,880 players plus all the officials on the field of play. As a global leader in location solutions, Zebra provides tracking technology for enterprises of all sizes in a wide range of markets including healthcare, retail, manufacturing and transportation and logistics to deliver a performance edge to the front line of business.

ABOUT ZEBRA TECHNOLOGIES

Zebra (NASDAQ: ZBRA) empowers the front line in retail/ecommerce, manufacturing, transportation and logistics, healthcare, public sector and other industries to achieve a performance edge. With more than 10,000 partners across 100 countries, Zebra delivers industry-tailored, end-to-end solutions to enable every asset and worker to be visible, connected and fully optimized. The company’s market-leading solutions elevate the shopping experience, track and manage inventory as well as improve supply chain efficiency and patient care. In 2020, Zebra made Forbes Global 2000 list for the second consecutive year and was listed among Fast Company’s Best Companies for Innovators. For more information, visit www.zebra.com or sign up for news alerts. Participate in Zebra’s Your Edge blog, follow the company on LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook, and check out our Story Hub: Zebra Perspectives.

ABOUT REESE’S SENIOR BOWL

The Reese’s Senior Bowl is widely regarded as the preeminent college football all-star game and the first stage in the NFL Draft process. It is also the only all-star game coached by complete NFL staffs. More than 700 NFL personnel, including key decision-makers from all 32 teams, and over 500 media members from around the country are credentialed year after year. This past year, the game produced 106 total picks, representing 41% of the entire NFL draft, including 36 in the first three rounds.

Practices for the 73rd annual game this Feb. 5, 2022 will be aired on NFL Network and ESPN with game coverage exclusively on the NFL Network. For more information about the game and weekly events, visit http://www.seniorbowl.com or follow the Reese’s Senior Bowl (@seniorbowl) and Executive Director Jim Nagy (@JimNagy_SB) on Twitter with the hashtag #TheDraftStartsInMOBILE.

ZEBRA and the stylized Zebra head are trademarks of Zebra Technologies Corp., registered in many jurisdictions worldwide. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. ©2021 Zebra Technologies Corp. and/or its affiliates.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210720005179/en/

FAQ

What is Zebra Technologies' partnership with the Reese’s Senior Bowl?

Zebra Technologies is extending its partnership with the Reese’s Senior Bowl through 2024, providing RFID tracking technology for player performance insights.

What new features are introduced in the 2022 Senior Bowl partnership?

In 2022, Zebra will present various player performance awards and offer credentialing services during game week.

What metrics will Zebra track during the Senior Bowl?

Zebra will track over 130 players, gathering metrics such as speed, distance traveled, and more through RFID technology.

When is the 73rd Senior Bowl scheduled?

The 73rd Senior Bowl will take place on February 5, 2022, at Hancock Whitney Stadium.

How does Zebra's technology benefit NFL teams?

Zebra's technology provides real-time data that assists NFL coaches and scouts in evaluating prospective talent.