Category Archives: Tech of Sports

From the shoes we wear on our feet to the high definition televisions in our living room, wearable devices, the sports universe is a breeding ground for technology. Writer and Photographer Rick Limpert will examine this each week on The Tech of Sports – With guests which include athletes, inventors and journalists that cover the intersection of sports and technology.

Marc Becker, Sales and Marketing Director at Higgins Hotel, New Orleans

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Sports travel is an important part of the economy in the great city of New Orleans. Rick talks about that and more with Marc Becker, Sales and Marketing Director at the Higgins Hotel and Conference Center in Downtown New Orleans.

The highly acclaimed Higgins Hotel New Orleans, Curio Collection by Hilton, rated #1 on TripAdvisor of 177 hotels in New Orleans, has announced its “Park and Stay” package for the fall travel season.

Ideally located in the heart of the city’s vibrant Arts & Warehouse District featuring more than 25 art galleries, a variety of museums, and visionary chefs, the hotel is conveniently situated across the street from The National WWII Museum, TripAdvisor’s top-rated tourist destination in New Orleans and #2 in the U.S. Recognized as the “Official Hotel of The National WWII Museum,” The Higgins opened in early 2020 with a conference center, exceptional dining options and a distinct 1940s theme.

The Higgins is a Curio branded hotel by Hilton that provides experiences for the curious traveler. Some are well known. Some are local legends. But each hotel in the Curio Collection is a masterpiece that reflects the best of its surroundings. Best of all, Hilton Honors points are awarded for each eligible stay.
With New Orleans moving into Phase III of its “open for business” protocol, travelers are again able to enjoy all that makes vacationing in this historic destination so appealing. Plus, the Higgins’ fall season “Park & Stay” travel offer provides guests with an easy to book room rate inclusive of parking at the hotel’s adjacent garage. The attractive rate makes a simple combo buy for those arriving by car and saves guests upwards of $39 in parking fees common to downtown hotels in the city.

To book the offer, visit higginshotelnola.com, and in the reservation window use the booking code RPPSG1 or click on “Park & Stay” when making the reservation. Rates as low as $119 can be found through September.

The Higgins Hotel has remained open throughout the COVID pandemic, proudly welcoming guests and first responders alike with specific safety protocols for more intense sanitizing actions and the personalized services a Curio branded hotel is known for. From a nostalgic hotel experience sure to intrigue and delight, to dining and entertainment options at your fingertips, the Higgins Hotel represents home away from home, including guest rooms that offer striking 1940’s style décor.

The most popular dining option is the hotel’s Rosie’s on the Roof Restaurant, offering outside deck seating, with penthouse-style views out over the city skyline and of the new Canopy of Peace at the adjacent National WWII Museum. Service is also Covid centric, with no-touch ordering and socially spaced dining.
The Higgins recently instituted the Hilton “CleanStay” program, where guests are offered no-touch check in, no-visit hotel room stays, and a rigorous daily cleaning of all public areas and touchpoints within each guestroom. The Hilton CleanStay program provides a standard list of new cleaning protocols and products, anchored by brand leader Lysol.

Also for foodies, the Higgins is introducing a special dining opportunity with French Chef Virgile Brandel of Higgins Hotels Café Normandie and Rosie’s on the Roof. The Suite Dining with a French Chef experience will allow guests to enjoy a carefully curated gourmet meal in a Presidential Suite on the penthouse level of the Higgins Hotel featuring views of downtown New Orleans. Imagine taking in the amazing views of this historic destination while enjoying some of the finest cuisine found in the Big Easy.

Guests can also choose to enjoy the Higgins Hotel Fish & Dine option, where you can bring the fresh catch from your charter fishing excursions, and Chef Virgile Brandel will prepare it for your dining delight – broiled, sautéed, or fried, with added sides, salad and desert for up to 10 guests. Didn’t catch enough fish? No worries. Chef Brandel will supplement your catch while you savor cocktails at Rosie’s on the Roof, Higgins Hotel’s view bar. Then, enjoy your dinner with friends casually served in a semi-private socially distanced environment of Café Normandie.

With New Orleans moving into Phase III of its “open for business” protocol, travelers are again able to enjoy all that makes vacationing in this historic destination so appealing. To find out more about the Suite Dining or Fish & Dine options, visit www.higginshotelnola.com/new-orleans-restaurants.

Scott Hansen, NFL RedZone

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Rick joined in an NFL Network conference call with Scott Hansen back at the start of the football season.

Are you a fan of Red Zone on Sundays?

Scott brings you live football coverage for 7 hours straight, changing the way you watch football.

Every touchdown from every game, every Sunday afternoon during the NFL regular season.

When a team reaches the 20-yard line, (i.e. the “red zone”) NFL RedZone cuts to the local broadcast of that game. NFL RedZone also takes fans back to watch any turnovers, game-changing plays and scoring plays outside of the designated red zone, so they can see all the incredible action Sunday afternoon games have to offer.

NFL RedZone can show up to 8 games at a time, using the NFL RedZone Octobox screen, making it the perfect Fantasy football companion – NFL fans can follow all the action and improve their fantasy football roster. Join host Scott Hanson for live coverage of all the best NFL action from across the country.

NFL RedZone’s host, Scott Hanson

Scott Hanson is the host of NFL RedZone. In addition to his responsibilities for NFL RedZone, Hanson is also a host for NFL Network’s on-location coverage of NFL events such as Super Bowl, NFL Scouting Combine, NFL Draft, free agency and more.

Hanson joined NFL Media in 2006 as a national reporter covering all 32 teams. He transitioned into studio hosting in 2008, and was named the host of NFL RedZone during its inaugural season in 2009. Produced by NFL Network, NFL RedZone whips around every NFL game on Sunday afternoons delivering the touchdowns and most exciting moments live and in high definition. NFL RedZone and Hanson are widely praised by the fans and media.

Tony Horton, Fitness Innovator, Founder of Power Life

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Rick is joined by Tony Horton this week on “Tech of Sports.”

Fitness Icon and Expert Personal Trainer to Tom Petty, Billy Idol, Bruce Springsteen and Stevie Nicks, Tony Horton, believes that real and lasting change can happen when we commit to health as a lifestyle. Exercise, whole foods, and the right mindset is the formula that leads to a vibrant, productive and full life for anyone who focuses on being the best they can be—and even in his 60s, Horton is proving it’s possible to maintain maximum health at any age. Now, Tony after making a remarkable comeback from an autoimmune disease, Tony is bringing his mission to the world in a new way, with the release of Power Life: workout supplements designed for people who are looking to maintain their health as they get older. With a focus on whole-body health, Power Life tackles digestion from multiple angles, giving muscles well-deserved relief, and supporting whole-body health with every scoop. Featuring a 3-part approach that focuses on a healthy base line, protein and recovery, these products provide the nutrition that 90% of Americans are not getting in their diet. As founder and developer of Power Life, Tony Horton has dedicated his career to helping others reach their full potential, in fitness, and in life.

Now, at 61 years old, he embodies the idea of active aging, and his mission is to shatter the concept that people have to slow down because of their age. Tony Horton is also the creator of P90X2®, P90X3®, and Ten Minute Trainer®, and most recently his 22-Minute military inspired workout, 22 Minute Hard Corps®.

His Foundation Four was created for anyone who wants to be more focused, energized, and present every day. This formula can be especially helpful for those who regularly struggle with digestive discomfort and low energy, since it’s full of digestive-supporters and revitalizing minerals. Simply mix one scoop of Foundation Four into a 4-6 oz glass of water or add it to a morning smoothie. To maximize benefits, you can drink Foundation Four in the morning to take on the day with fewer digestive issues, and more energy.

Rick has a great talk with Tony about all he has going on and as a former trainer of Sean Connery, he might even give us his best Connery impersonation.

Mark Quiroz, Vice President of Marketing, Display Division, Samsung Electronics America

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A new stadium for the Los Angeles NFL teams brings a bunch of new technology to sports fans.

Rick talks to Mark Quiroz, Samsung’s Vice President of Marketing, Display Division this week on “Tech of Sports.”

Samsung’s outdoor LED products were exclusively used to build SoFi Stadium’s 70,000 square-foot dual-sided, center-hung videoboard – the first and only 4K end-to-end video production in a stadium. The agreement showcases Samsung’s commitment to enhancing the fan experience at live events through technology.

Beyond SoFi Stadium, Samsung’s LED display technology will be represented throughout Hollywood Park, reaching fans across the development’s residential, office and retail areas and through the Hollywood Park connected mobile app. Samsung mobile users will experience exclusive in-app features, including a dedicated Samsung Members section with benefits including exclusive content, offers and in-stadium discounts.

Samsung was named the Official Mobile, TV and Display partner of Hollywood Park, a 298-acre sports and entertainment destination, inclusive of SoFi Stadium and a 6,000-seat performance venue. Samsung’s outdoor LED products were exclusively used to build SoFi Stadium’s 70,000 square-foot dual-sided, center-hung videoboard. Moreover, the videoboard is the first and only 4K end-to-end video production in a stadium. The agreement showcases Samsung’s commitment to enhancing the fan experience at live events through technology.

To offer fans and guests a consistently dynamic experience, Samsung was excited to work with Hollywood Park to enhance, improve and develop display technology to innovate and improve the guest experience for years to come. This cutting-edge technology will set a new standard for the fan experience, with SoFi Stadium and Hollywood Park representing the future of sports and live entertainment.

“At Samsung, we are so proud of our partnership with Hollywood Park and excited to be a part of what will soon be a crown jewel for the city of Los Angeles,” says Quiroz, Samsung Electronics America. “From the unique use of display technology in the videoboard to the use of outdoor LED displays in the American Airlines Plaza, Samsung technology is changing the way fans experience game day.”

Thanks to Mark for coming on and sharing his insights.

Jordyn Barratt, Skateboarder, US Olympic Hopeful

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Rick talks to skateboarder, Jordyn Barratt about the Tokyo Olympics, and how she is training under new restrictions, staying focused and staying sharp! She has a great sponsor along for the ride in Clif Bar.

The 2020 Olympics was set to be the first games to include skateboarding and where 21-year-old Barratt was ready to fulfill a lifelong dream. She competed in her first professional competition in 2017 and was the first woman to compete in the extreme sports circuit. But while disappointed about the delay of the games due to the pandemic Jordyn, like other Americans is taking this time to improve her energy and focus on the 2021 games.

According to a new survey, 89% of Americans say it has been hard to focus this year. With the extra stress, close to half (47%) of Americans report having less energy than usual in the past few months. Because of the events in 2020, 64% of Americans say they will be taking new or greater action in their own mental and physical health. Clif can help you stay on course and stay focused.

Jordyn discusses how she is training for the 2021 Olympics, the addition of skateboarding to the games, provide inspiration tips to young women skateboarders, and share how she keeps her energy and focus during this unprecedented time.

Matt Hassett, CEO and Founder of Loftie

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Rick has an interesting talk with Matt Hassett, CEO and founder of Loftie, this week. Matt and his team are releasing the Loftie Alarm Clock.

Yes, an alarm clock is still relevant in this age of smartphones and tablets.

Matt is the founder and CEO of Loftie, a New York based company dedicated to creating better tech-life balance for people everywhere. Matt began working on the project that eventually became Loftie at the design firm IDEO where he was an Entrepreneur in Residence. Before founding Loftie, Matt worked in communications, policy, and program design at the Center for NYC Neighborhoods, Morgan Stanley’s Global Sustainable Finance group, and the City of New York. Matt is a graduate of Brown University and the Harvard Kennedy School.

Loftie is a recently launched wellness company that has revolutionized the outdated alarm clock and created a sleep/wake system based on science that decreases screen time, giving you a healthier tech life balance and ultimately overall improved mental health. The founding team at Loftie are leading a movement to take back the bedroom with a smart device that doesn’t depend on a smartphone.

The Loftie Alarm Clock

Unlike other alarm clocks or sleep devices, Loftie doesn’t need a smartphone to operate so it won’t connect to email, apps or social media, therefore removing the anxiety those apps bring along. That’s one step in the tech life balance, but Loftie offers so much more. Matt and his team have gone through rounds of IDEO method testing gathering information on people’s nighttime routine and sleep habits. Based on their findings they were able to determine what is missing in other alarm clocks and build Loftie to match customer desires. Features like a dimmable display, nightlight, two-phase alarm, and custom content playable right on the device, including guided meditations, sound baths, breathwork exercises, sleep playlists, plus a variety of relaxing sounds, all of which are built into the Loftie Alarm Clock.

See more at: https://byloftie.com