Who is "Genius Sports" and why have then been given partnership in the CFL?

theaardvark · March 17, 2022, 03:58:41 PM

https://calgarysun.com/sports/football/cfl/what-is-genius-sports-randy-ambrosie-opens-up-about-cfls-new-partner

The partnership itself. It?s worth noting the CFL could have simply paid Genius for its services. Instead, the league created a new arm called CFL Ventures that will share commercial revenue. Genius was given equity in that part of the league?s business. ?We moved a good portion of our commercial assets named CFL Ventures. Our broadcast rights, our sponsorship revenues all go into that bucket and Genius is a partner in that business,? Ambrosie said. ?Through the lens of a partner, they want us to use all of their technology because the more we can grow that business, the more successful that partnership will be.?

What the heck? The league puts most of its liquidity into a bucket and lets Genius swim in it? What % equity do they have? What guarantees of "investment of technology" will the CFL get back? Will that tech increase revenues to the point that the Genius portion is covered by the growth? What is the time frame for this to become revenue positive? Do we have a guarantee that it will, and if it does not, we can buy Genius back out for $1?

I am shocked and disturbed, especially with the news that Genius wants 4 downs (no doubt it fits their tech better, and they couldn't give two craps about what three downs mean to Canadians).

BLUEBOMBER · March 18, 2022, 02:11:11 AM

CFL has a huge problem marketing itself to younger fans and lacks the ability and funds to do a better job.

In markets like Vancouver, Toronto and Montreal, even soccer is becoming more popular.

Sec227 · March 18, 2022, 01:35:42 PM

Quote from: BLUEBOMBER on March 18, 2022, 02:11:11 AM
CFL has a huge problem marketing itself to younger fans and lacks the ability and funds to do a better job.

In markets like Vancouver, Toronto and Montreal, even soccer is becoming more popular.

Why are these guys going to share "commercial revenue"? Maybe split some more revenue with the plyers in the next CBA. Attract some more talent. Need to better align with USports, the future of the sport is there. AND , some younger fans.

theaardvark · September 02, 2023, 10:18:52 PM

So, NOTHING has happened so far in this arrangement that we fans can use.

https://press.cfl.ca/cfl-and-genius-sports-unveil-cutting-edge-official-data-and-technology-ecosystem#

Why?

I just emailed

lbarrett@cfl.ca

and

chris.dougan@geniussports.com

No, I don't think my little email will get them to do anything, but every voice can make a difference...

pjrocksmb · September 03, 2023, 06:35:32 AM

Someone should get fired for this and I don't know who it is

TecnoGenius · September 06, 2023, 09:09:40 AM

Quote from: pjrocksmb on September 03, 2023, 06:35:32 AM
Someone should get fired for this and I don't know who it is

If you can't find the peon to fire, then the buck stops with the top guy. That's Ambrosie.

In any event, if you're the CFL, wouldn't you have written deliverables into your Genius contract?? If they were to provide a working web stats system, then that should have been a deliverable and this failure should cost them a large monetary penalty, to come directly out of their expected 10% cut.

Throw Long Bannatyne · September 06, 2023, 05:41:05 PM

Quote from: TecnoGenius on September 06, 2023, 09:09:40 AM
If you can't find the peon to fire, then the buck stops with the top guy. That's Ambrosie.

In any event, if you're the CFL, wouldn't you have written deliverables into your Genius contract?? If they were to provide a working web stats system, then that should have been a deliverable and this failure should cost them a large monetary penalty, to come directly out of their expected 10% cut.

A quick gander at the the gametracker for this past weekend reveals no stats. recorded, I sure hope there's some screaming going on at this point in the season, but I doubt "Genius" even answers their phones.

Throw Long Bannatyne · September 08, 2023, 06:56:13 PM

Stats. are back up! Although only 2023 is listed, they look much the same as they did previously.

https://www.cfl.ca/stats/

peg_city · September 08, 2023, 07:04:43 PM

Quote from: Throw Long Bannatyne on September 08, 2023, 06:56:13 PM
Stats. are back up! Although only 2023 is listed, they look much the same as they did previously.

https://www.cfl.ca/stats/

hallelujah

DCM · September 09, 2023, 01:01:13 AM

Oliveira 280 yards up on second place is just wild to me. Go get another hundo+ tomorrow.

TecnoGenius · September 09, 2023, 01:53:54 AM

Quote from: DCM on September 09, 2023, 01:01:13 AM
Oliveira 280 yards up on second place is just wild to me. Go get another hundo+ tomorrow.

Definitely a hundo. Because it'll be the hoggies who are most fired up for revenge. They'll be bulldozing SSK defenders all night like they are ants, clearing a nice path for Brady. And Brady will go into his bully-ball mode and not give up on any play.

ModAdmin · September 10, 2023, 06:06:47 PM

Still problems as can be seen here...

https://www.cfl.ca/league-leaders/

bunker · September 10, 2023, 09:20:56 PM

Stats are still an embarrassment. Listing same players multiple times, if their totals from the previous game were high enough to make the list. Just terrible. Don't put them out til you've fixed all the bugs. I can't believe a professional league and an apparently professional company are so inept.

3rdand1.5 · September 11, 2023, 12:22:45 AM

2/3 of the season and the stats are a joke....c'mon man!

TecnoGenius · September 11, 2023, 05:37:33 AM

Quote from: bunker on September 10, 2023, 09:20:56 PM
Stats are still an embarrassment. Listing same players multiple times, if their totals from the previous game were high enough to make the list. Just terrible. Don't put them out til you've fixed all the bugs. I can't believe a professional league and an apparently professional company are so inept.

The current computer programming model is to release early and often, with bugs and all. Get it out there and get early feedback. If you see a bug, find the contact/report button and tell them. I love end user bug reports, because most of the time we have no idea they are there.

But yes, the debacle that is Genius Sports and CFL stats is inexcusable this late in the season.

bunker · September 11, 2023, 11:12:38 AM

Quote from: TecnoGenius on September 11, 2023, 05:37:33 AM
The current computer programming model is to release early and often, with bugs and all. Get it out there and get early feedback. If you see a bug, find the contact/report button and tell them. I love end user bug reports, because most of the time we have no idea they are there.

But yes, the debacle that is Genius Sports and CFL stats is inexcusable this late in the season.

If they need me to tell them that the same player should not appear as a league leader in a category multiple times then they are in big trouble.

TBURGESS · September 11, 2023, 02:09:01 PM

As a programmer, I would have been fired for moving fast and breaking things or for releasing things that weren't perfect. Now this is the way.

squonk · September 11, 2023, 02:33:48 PM

Quote from: TBURGESS on September 11, 2023, 02:09:01 PM
releasing things that weren't perfect.

Tht's actually pretty funny. Spent 40 years in IT and one of the best and most honest lines I ever heard was from a highly regarded "distinguished" software engineer...

"It takes a long time but, eventually the hardware breaks and eventually the software works"

theaardvark · September 11, 2023, 04:48:40 PM

Alpha test products should never make it out of the lab, Beta should be limited to a small number of power users who can test it to breaking point. These guys aren't even at Alpha when releasing...

I remember my software development days, I would do some system design work, give it to the programmers, they'd whip up an alpha version, I'd break it nine ways from centre, they'd fix it, give it back, I'd find a few more flaws that they would never expect, fix those, and then distribute to a few of our most savvy and capable users so they could put volume through the update, and when they couldn't break it, it went out in the next update.

Coders today just seem to make crap up and put it out there for use.