Sports Tech in Jax: Behind the Technology of the PGA TOUR, Jaguars, and ATP Tour
Details
Jacksonville is home to some of the biggest names in professional sports, including the global headquarters of the ATP Tour and PGA TOUR, and of course, our own Jacksonville Jaguars. But behind the athletes, tournaments, and game-day experiences is an incredible amount of technology powering it all.
For our next Jax Tech event, we're going behind the scenes with technology leaders from three of Jacksonville's most recognizable sports organizations to explore how they're building, innovating, and transforming the technology behind professional sports.
From massive cloud transformations and AI-powered analytics to real-time tournament data, automated broadcasting, and the stadium of the future, we'll dive into the technology challenges and innovations happening right here in Jacksonville.
Whether you're a software engineer, tech leader, sports fan, or simply curious about how technology is changing the world of professional sports, this is a unique opportunity to hear directly from the people building it.
*** Featured Speakers
David Peterson
Director, Core Engineering – ATP Tour
What does it take to transform the technology behind a global sports organization while keeping the existing systems running at massive scale?
David will take us behind the scenes of the ATP Tour's ambitious digital transformation, where they're tackling just about everything at once. From a major migration to AWS and moving toward serverless and headless architectures, to doubling the engineering team and coordinating development across a global organization, all while supporting systems handling more than 4 billion requests per month.
He'll share insights into the technical and organizational challenges of modernizing at this scale, managing change while maintaining reliability, and how the ATP Tour is experimenting with AI, including agentic code reviews and other AI-driven development tools, as part of its broader transformation.
Expect some great real-world lessons on cloud architecture, engineering leadership, AI adoption, and what it takes to modernize complex systems without missing a beat.
David Provan
VP, Digital Architecture – PGA TOUR
Professional golf has become a showcase for some incredible technology, from real-time shot tracking and predictive analytics to AI-powered broadcasting and digital fan experiences.
David will share a look at the technology behind the PGA TOUR, including how they're transforming their cloud infrastructure to support live tournament operations, reducing the logistics and costs of traditional systems, and powering the massive amounts of real-time data generated through ShotLink and other technologies.
We'll also dive into some of the latest AI innovations, including agentic production systems that can power fully automated TV channels, Smart Trace technology that provides instant context for viewers, and how the TOUR is approaching AI governance and responsible adoption.
And of course, there's the data. From real-time scoring and player performance insights to match probabilities and AI-powered predictions, we'll explore how the PGA TOUR is turning enormous amounts of sports data into better experiences for players, broadcasters, and fans.
Chad Johnson
Chief Operating Officer – Jacksonville Jaguars
The Jacksonville Jaguars are preparing for one of the most exciting transformations in the team's history, with a major stadium renovation and a vision for the "Stadium of the Future." But what does that actually mean from a technology perspective?
Chad will take us behind the scenes of the technology and operations required to run an NFL franchise and a major sports venue, including some of the challenges fans may never think about, like stadium security, anti-drone protections, and the complex systems that support large-scale live events.
He'll also share a look at what's coming with Jacksonville's new stadium experience, from the technology being designed into the renovated facility to new approaches for fan engagement, operations, and the overall game-day experience.
It's a rare opportunity to hear directly from the Jaguars about how technology is shaping the future of professional football and what Jacksonville fans can look forward to in the years ahead.
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After the sessions, join us for our rooftop party with our Live DJ spinning beats and hanging out with great people. Bartenders from The Volstead (www.thevolsteadjax.com) will be joining us as usual to keep the afterparty lively.
As always, a HUGE thank you to our sponsors that make these events possible:
- SourceFuse (https://www.sourcefuse.com/) — Building digital ideas, processes, and products
- Harbor View Advisors (https://www.harborviewadvisors.com/) — Helping Jacksonville investors and founders connect and thrive, through sell-side and buy-side advisory and consulting
- ForSale by Plus (https://www.forsalebypl.us/) — Finding and selling homes in Jacksonville, and spinning DJ tunes on the MOSH rooftop
*** Schedule
5:30 – 6:30 PM – Networking Happy Hour
6:30 – 8:00 PM – Speaker Sessions + Q&A
8:00 – 10:00 PM – Food, conversations, networking, and rooftop DJ
*** About Jax Tech
Jax Tech brings together Jacksonville's tech community to highlight local innovation, share ideas, and connect with peers driving technology forward. Each quarterly event features a timely theme, local experts, and a social atmosphere designed to inspire collaboration.