Boston, Mass., April 16, 2024 – As the 128th Boston Marathon unfolded on Monday, SMT (SportsMEDIA Technology), the leading innovator in real-time data delivery and graphics solutions for the sports and entertainment industries, provided innovative solutions that enhanced the experience for spectators, athletes and media alike.
The Boston Marathon, an Abbott World Marathon Major and one of New England’s most eagerly anticipated sporting events, draws over 500,000 spectators. From the starting line in Hopkinton to the iconic finish on Boylston Street, elite athletes vie for over $850,000 in prize money.
Besides providing the best view of Boylston Street for broadcast partners WCVB and ESPN, the Boston Marathon photo bridge showcased countdown clocks, wave clocks, race divisions, fan engagement and sponsor content. Prior to 2018, a single banner with a sponsor logo hung above the finish line throughout the entire week of race festivities, until SMT modernized the historic race by introducing a digital 52-by-4 foot finish line photo bridge.
Since then, SMT has gone on to add services including:
- Finish Line Display: Adjacent to the finish line, this display featured live race footage, sponsor content loops and up-to-date leaderboards and event information, ensuring spectators remained engaged and informed.
- Media Center Video Wall: Located in the Fairmont Copley Square Hotel Grand Ballroom, this LED display provided media outlets with a quad-split feed of the race, offering comprehensive coverage of the men’s and women’s and wheelchair divisions.
- VIP Hospitality Displays: LCD displays at the Boston Public Library VIP hospitality area showcased live footage, race data, and sponsor information, enhancing the experience for distinguished guests.
- Streaming services for Boston Athletic Association’s Facebook page with live feeds from the Saturday Mile races
- On the broadcast side, SMT provided the local ABC affiliate and ESPN with the ticker, pointer graphics that identify runners, and the timing graphics.
“At SMT, we are proud to partner with the Boston Marathon to deliver real-time on-site content and streaming services,” said Steven de Haseth, Director of Business Development, SMT. “Through our displays and streaming services, spectators, the media and even athletes stay dialed in to every moment of the historic race with immediate access to live leaderboards, runner stats and event information, enriching the overall experience.”