Data rights and GeniusIQ agreement sealed between European Leagues Association and Genius Sports
In a groundbreaking move, Genius Sports has signed a significant agreement with the European Leagues Association (ELA), marking a "fundamental shift" in the rights model for football data. This agreement grants Genius Sports exclusive rights to distribute official betting data for 18 member leagues, covering over 8,000 matches per season across 46 professional football competitions in Europe [1][2][3].
As part of this multi-year deal, Genius Sports will deploy its AI-powered GeniusIQ platform in stadiums across these leagues. The GeniusIQ platform, already in use in prominent leagues like the Premier League and Danish Superliga, supports real-time performance analytics, officiating assistance, and fan engagement tools [1][3][4].
The partnership with ELA positions Genius Sports as the primary provider of sanctioned betting data for mid-tier and emerging European football markets. The agreement reflects an evolution in sports data rights, moving beyond traditional frameworks to leverage AI and advanced analytics for enhanced performance insights and improved officiating accuracy [1][2][4].
Steven Burton, Genius Sports' chief partnerships officer, expressed satisfaction with the agreement, stating it will provide significant value for their client sportsbooks. Alberto Colombo, the general secretary of the European Leagues, also expressed satisfaction, stating it aligns with the continued evolution of the association and soccer as a whole [5].
Genius Sports, a company that powers the global sports, betting, and media ecosystem with data, tech, and broadcasting solutions, will deliver next-generation, AI-powered solutions to European soccer leagues, deepening alignment, strengthening their competitive moat, and accelerating technological innovation [1][3][4].
This landmark deal with Genius Sports reflects the evolution of the sports data market and the increasing role of technology in commercial deals. The agreement fuels the modernization and commercialization of European football data by centralizing exclusive official data rights and integrating advanced AI solutions, benefiting leagues, sportsbooks, broadcasters, and fans alike [1][2][3][4].
The European Leagues Association ties together 40 leading professional soccer leagues, and GeniusIQ has already been adopted by several top-tier soccer leagues in Europe, including the Belgian Pro League, Ligová Fotbalová Asociace, Danish Superliga, Dutch Eredivisie, and Swiss Football League [2]. Genius Sports leaders reiterated their trust in a tech-powered future for sports entertainment when the NFL deal was announced [6].
References:
- SportsPro
- SBC News
- Sports Business Journal
- Forbes
- Yahoo Finance
- Reuters
Genius Sports, as the primary provider of sanctioned betting data, will deliver next-generation AI-powered solutions for diverse European football markets, enhancing the value for sportsbooks. This strategic partnership with the European Leagues Association, aiming to centralize exclusive official data rights and integrate advanced AI solutions, will modernize and commercialize soccer data across Europe.
