IMG Arena, the sports betting data arm of sports media giant IMG, has completed the acquisition data collection, audio-visual production and tracking technology specialist FlightScope Services.
Financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed, but IMG Arena did confirm that FlightScope, which focuses on golf and tennis, will be fully incorporated into its business.
IMG Arena said it will invest both funds and resources to introduce FlightScope’s technology into other sports in its portfolio, including football, basketball, volleyball and major US sports.
In addition, IMG Arena will use FlightScope’s technology to introduce additional products and services to federations and rights-holders under the new pillar of IMG Arena Rightsholder Solutions.
Based out of Gliwice, Poland, FlightScope will continue to be led by Jacek Gronek and Wojtek Szumilas. Gronek will join the IMG Arena leadership team as vice president of Rightsholder Services, while Szumilas will now serve as head of technology.
FlightScope’s approximately 160 employees will also be retained under the terms of the acquisition deal.
“The integration of FlightScope Services technology is a fundamental part of our growth strategy and provides the foundation for the launch of our new Rightsholder Solutions,” IMG Arena managing director Freddie Longe said.
“The acquisition allows IMG ARENA to enrich our innovation in fan engagement via the development of data and audio-visual content, while creating new content and commercial opportunities for federations and rights holders across our portfolio.”
Gronek added: “FlightScope Services joining the IMG ARENA business is a natural union born out of synergies in product, customer base and, most importantly, culture and vision.
“It will enable us to leverage our knowledge, strengths and resources to deliver an enhanced range of best-in-class services and technologies across multiple sports.”
IMG Arena has worked with FlightScope since 2013, jointly developing a data collection system to record the data on golf’s European Tour.
