Within the past year or so, Dolphins owner Stephen Ross purchased Kangaroo TV, an in-stadium device aimed at providing fans with a hand-held tool for watching game video and other highlights and data as directed by the user.
Ross has offered 5,000 units of the rebranded FanVision product to each NFL team. According to Eric Fisher of SportsBusiness Journal, only 12 teams have taken Ross up on the offer. (Per Fisher, the teams include the Cardinals, Bears, Broncos, Seahawks, and Jets. The other seven aren’t mentioned.)
Though Fisher’s article focuses primarily on plans to make the FanVision programming available via smart phones that fans bring into the stadium, the idea that only 12 of 32 teams have accepted 5,000 free units makes us wonder whether teams genuinely are interested in doing whatever they have to do to enhance the in-stadium experience.
FanVision?
This is football. The last thing I want to see is other fatass football fans.
Usually only a handful of parties are involved with the launch of a new product. If it goes well I’m sure other teams will jump on board.
The smart phones idea seems better though, people would take better care of their own property.
Would be tough to deal with fans constantly breaking the FanVision devices and pursuing replacement charges/fees. Seems something suited for the suites and press boxes.
LMFAO!
Joe’s gotta be a Jets fan… right?
Gee I wonder why teams wouldn’t want a stadium full of silent fans staring at their Fan Vision units instead of screaming their arses off? 5000 free gadgets to play with are 5000 fewer screaming crazies. If you want to watch a game on TV/PC etc or keep track of your stoopid fantasy team then STAY HOME!
The Redskins are in as well. They sent out the Fanvision sign-up info to club level ticket holders today.
This says nothing about the expected quality of the on-field product. Really.
Florio shamelessly says:
“the idea that only 12 of 32 teams have accepted 5,000 free units makes us wonder whether teams genuinely are interested in doing whatever they have to do to enhance the in-stadium experience.”
Coming soon: A sponsored post by FanVision. Leave it to Florio to try to sell 5,000 “free” units of something that obviously isn’t free.
Lets see. You’re at the game. You just paid, say $500 bucks for a couple of tickets, parking, a beer or two and some nachos. And you sit there like a dope, watching replays of the game on a three inch square screen, when you can watch them on two story high fanovision screens in the end zones? Stephen Ross is a short sighted, rich dope who has more money than brains. He bought a company that makes a product that nobody wants or needs.
Who cares? People go to a game to see their team. Anyone can catch up on the other games during the week w/the over-saturated reruns on ESPN & NFL Network. Fans go to games to watch them. Period. Not keep up with every other team. I think this device would actually take away from the game day experience.
Seattle just traded the Dolphins a LB & QB for one of these and an undrafted WR.
I go to a game to watch what is happening on the field, and the multi million dollar jumbo tron. I also go to drink beer and eat nachos. I leave my phone in the car, because I do not want to worry about what is going to happen to it when I am yelling or jumping up and down or the fact it could fall and get lost or get wet, etc. Why am I going to hold another electronic device that I am sure I will have to pay for if any of that happens?
stoopid or slighty stupid? ducko
You idiot Florio.
Its not that they don’t want to “do whatever they need to do to enhance the fans experience” The other 20 teams don’t want to do it because they don’t want the fans watching a better game on their hand helds while they are supposed to be lending support as the 12th man. As much as I would love to keep up with my fantasy football while at the game, I don’t blame sensible owners a bit for not wanting these things in there stadium.
sfbla says:
August 31, 2010 10:56 PM
Gee I wonder why teams wouldn’t want a stadium full of silent fans staring at their Fan Vision units instead of screaming their arses off? 5000 free gadgets to play with are 5000 fewer screaming crazies. If you want to watch a game on TV/PC etc or keep track of your stoopid fantasy team then STAY HOME
___________________________________
I would scream my ass off, then watch the replay.
Then scream my ass off. Then watch the replay.
Repeat.
Why not just release some sort of app for iPhone/android.
nascar has a similar product and its frickin rad…but thats cuz at nascar u cant see anything…i.e. no jumbotron/replay etc.
not sure how usefull this would be with a 3000 square foot hd tv directly overhead…
p.s. someone should test Wes Welker for HGH.
People at home throw remotes when things are going their teams way. The only casualty is the T.V. or in Michael Vick’s case a dog or two. Now can you imagine what would happen at a game.
Its no coincidence that the 5 teams mentioned have also failed to put a quality product on the FIELD worth watching for the majority of the last 50 years. No wonder they want to give fans the opportunity to watch some actual entertainment.
Here’s hoping this idea dies a quick, expensive death
Stay home? That’s what they are trying to avoid… I can see all my ‘Fins games (from S.D.) for the price of one family admission to a Chargers’ game (DirecTV). 1080p is better than plaza seating any day and I the only beer I wear is my own.
It’s perfect for the whine and cheese crowd in MIA!
Football games there are more about being seen then seeing the game!
I’m anxiously awaiting the moment when the stadium suddenly erupts in excitement…. during a TV timeout.
The Pats already have a mobile phone app that provides similar functionality. You have to be in the stadium (currently club or suite level only) to use it. I tried it, it was OK but a little distracting.
“the idea that only 12 of 32 teams have accepted 5,000 free units makes us wonder whether teams genuinely are interested in doing whatever they have to do to enhance the in-stadium experience.”????
Do you have ANY clue Florio?
Hand thousands of fans at the Browns/Detroit game a hand held that they can watch the Pats/Colts game on instead and keep track of there fantasy football…and you just lost your 12th man and home field advantage. I am surprised even 12 teams have agreed to this. Go to the game to watch the game and support your team.
ps – It honestly amazes me that you can make statements like the last one in this article and still have a job in sports journalism. You must
They are trying to make the stadium experience a little more exciting.
Supposedly watching it at home is getting a little too good! lol!!!!
You can drink all you want, eat all you want, see the play happen right in front of you and you don’t even have to find parking! lol!!!
However, a true fan must attend one game and one road game in support of their team.
Fan vision in St Louis will only help the rams lose more games
One of the most ridiculous ideas they have had – Florio like s it because he has interest in all the teams. When my team is playing I could care less about the other games unless it is week 16 and it has playoff implications
JoeSixPack says:
August 31, 2010 10:30 PM
FanVision?
This is football. The last thing I want to see is other fatass football fans.
You sir, are an idiot.
My wife and I attended a jaguars-Dolphins game in Miami in December 2006. They were offering these things for a daily rental to people attending the game. The techno-geek in me thought, at first, that this was a great idea. But once I thought about it, it seemed…well, stupid, for the same reason a lot of people here have stated.
Aren’t you there to watch a live NFL game? And wouldn’t flipping among the channels of the other eight or ten games distract you from the live game that you shelled out all that money to watch? No to mention the ten or fifteen bucks it cost to rent the viewer for the day, plus the hassle of signing your life away as collateral in case you broke the damn thing.
For Dolphins Season Tickets holders, they get to use them free. At least for this year.