Genius Sports, UEFA Sign Player Tracking Data Deal

UEFA has tapped Genius Sports to provide player-tracking data for some of its club matches, including the Europa League, Nations League and European qualifiers.

The partnership with European soccer’s governing body, signed on June 15, will span 1,350 matches, according to a Genius Sports (NYSE: GENI) regulatory filing on Wednesday. Genius will install AI-enabled cameras in more than 140 stadiums, the filing says.

This player-tracking data is becoming a bigger piece of the business for Genius, whose services also include gambling data and integrity monitoring. The data, captured by cameras, is frequently used by league media partners. For example, Genius takes NFL “next gen stats” and creates broadcast enhancements for the companies that show live games. Genius also has player-tracking deals with the English Premier League, the Danish Superliga, Mexican soccer team Club Necaxa and the Canadian Football League.

The deal does not appear to include two of UEFA’s biggest properties—the Champions League and the Euros, the national team competition currently underway in Germany.

Financial specifics of the partnership were not disclosed. A representative for Genius declined to comment. A representative for UEFA didn’t immediately return an email seeking comment. 

Genius’ UEFA rights with Europa League run from the 2024-25 season through the 2026-27 season, according to the filing. The rights to the European qualifiers and Nations League cover 2024-25 to 2027-28, the filing says. The data-capture camera system is likely run through Second Spectrum, which Genius bought in 2021 for $200 million.

The news comes a week after Genius announced that former Turner president David Levy was stepping down after three years as board chair. Levy, co-CEO of Horizon Sports and Experiences, will remain as a strategic advisor to Genius. He is being replaced by Ken Kay, former CFO of MGM Holdings Inc.

Genius Sports reported revenue of $413 million in fiscal 2023, up 21% from the prior year. The stock is down about 11% so far this year.