News Article: Pens trying to gain the edge in the NHL by asking help from ... college students.

[Jaded-Fan]

Penguins seek startup ideas, hoping submissions will spark new technologies for games, fans
July 10, 2015 12:00 AM

By Deborah M. Todd / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Seven years after the Pittsburgh Penguins helped to transform a Carnegie Mellon University research project into a viable tech business, the professional hockey team is hoping for another score with local startups.

The Pens and the Pittsburgh Technology Council teamed up in June to issue a call to Pittsburgh’s techies to submit ideas for software, hardware, data analysis techniques or other products that can give them a technological edge over National Hockey League competitors.

The call, which ends today, requested brief videos or essays explaining the ideas and how they can benefit the Penguins. While the team is open to suggestions, according to senior director of technology Eric Watts, it has its heart set on ideas that relate to fan amenities and immersion, keepsakes, games, increased interaction, social media engagement, big data analysis, automation and other areas.

Mr. Watts wasn’t sure how many submissions the team received this year but said the last time they issued a similar call in 2008 they received “hundreds.â€

Once team officials decide which pitches are the best, those selected will present pitches in person to team officials for a shot at anything from beta testing to a strategic partnership or even outright work for hire with one of the most successful franchises in the National Hockey League.

http://www.post-gazette.com/busines...or-games-fans-NHL-hockey/stories/201507100151

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[Jjbuck]

Penguins are a marketing firm slightly based on professional hockey.

 

[SEALBound]

Bar napkin + crayon + "no more contracts like Kunitz/Dupuis/Scuderi" or "Get rid of Kunitz/Dupuis/Scuderi"

 

[Mr. T]

The youth movement has to start somewhere, I guess.

 

[Mr. T]

"Get rid of Kunitz/Dupuis/Scuderi"

Sincerely yours,
Brian D from Boston College

 

[Jaded-Fan]

And not to steal from baseball, but if we had pro hockey players stare at supermodel boobies I would totally watch more hockey.

 

[billybudd]

Seems like a good idea. Better idea would be to just copy off what some other team does (in terms of concessions/social media engagement), but I don't see what this hurts.

 

[Son Goku]

Teams losing interest I guess? When you can't ice the right product put up some glittery lights and $2 hot dogs

 

[ChrisKuuuunitz]

Not sure but scoring more goals could help. And maybe stop wearing ourselves out trying to make the playoffs.

 

[Boocock]

Ignore the "while the team..." part. The only thing these startups could offer would be real-time possession tracking (not SAT/Corsi/Whatevs). This is all about big data and automation off the ice - finding ways to improve the fan experience with new tech. Frankly, it's a great idea.

 

[madinsomniac]

Im going to enroll just so I can submit, " Play young cheap talent over old pricey bums." That will make fans happy...Ill submit it as an equation .... ((Talent*X)-$)>(Talent*X)-age-$$$). They can type it into a spreadsheet and be happy...

 

[Ugene Magic]

How about interaction with a player while on the bench by way of text during a break in the action. Ask them a real time question and post the question/answer on the jumbotron?

 

[Harv]

 

[tom_servo]

What the hell is that from, Harv?

 

[Whale Mingo]

Chicago and LA probably have the same issues and are trying something similar, right?

 

[Harv]

What the hell is that from, Harv?

Photo + shop.

 

[tom_servo]

I really believed there was a banner for Morehouse at Consol.

 

[plaidchuck]

Lol all hail Morehouse. War is peace. Freedom is slavery. Ignorance is strength.

 

[Waffle Fries]

Not sure why people are making fun of or ripping this. I think it's great. It's creating opportunities for college students while potentially helping the organization come up with creative new ideas. It's a win for everyone involved.

 

[BrunoPuntzJones]

Not sure why people are making fun of or ripping this. I think it's great. It's creating opportunities for college students while potentially helping the organization come up with creative new ideas. It's a win for everyone involved.

If none of these kids are pitching an app that screams "JUST WIN CUPS" 24/7, then it's just a bunch of pointless family friendly *********.

 

[Whale Mingo]

Not sure why people are making fun of or ripping this. I think it's great. It's creating opportunities for college students while potentially helping the organization come up with creative new ideas. It's a win for everyone involved.

See below

If none of these kids are pitching an app that screams "JUST WIN CUPS" 24/7, then it's just a bunch of pointless family friendly *********.

Seriously, so much this.

We don't need the Pens turning into the Pirates of the prior 20 years where you just find a way to get the lemmings to the games by giving them bobbleheads, fireworks and t-shirts. Screw all that. Just win in the playoffs with a roster that should be more than capable of it and all is fine.

They can keep the t-shirts.

 

[Waffle Fries]

See below



Seriously, so much this.

We don't need the Pens turning into the Pirates of the prior 20 years where you just find a way to get the lemmings to the games by giving them bobbleheads, fireworks and t-shirts. Screw all that. Just win in the playoffs with a roster that should be more than capable of it and all is fine.

They can keep the t-shirts.

He was being sarcastic. You just agreed with a post that was using hyperbole to mock your viewpoint.

NHL organizations are more than just the team on the ice. They're businesses. For some reason a good number of posters here fail to accept it and act like it's a bad thing. For a lot of families going to games together is a big deal because of the cost of tickets, there's absolutely nothing wrong with wanting to give them a good experience whether the team wins or loses.

On top of that, many innovative young adults are being given a great opportunity to be partnered with or hired by an NHL team. That's a dream job for a lot of people out there.

You and others are welcome to view the concept of simultaneously creating jobs and giving fans a good experience to be a negative thing, but I think you might need to gain some perspective.

 

[IcedCapp]

Not sure why people are making fun of or ripping this. I think it's great. It's creating opportunities for college students while potentially helping the organization come up with creative new ideas. It's a win for everyone involved.