Across industries, enterprises are embracing data, artificial intelligence and automation as catalysts for transformation. Effective data management can turn information into the lifeblood of a business, driving growth across operations.

That potential holds just as true for sports franchises, which are turning to technology and data partnerships to drive innovation and enhance fan experiences. However, true innovation often starts not with technology, but with how customers use it, according to Gabie Boko (pictured, right), chief marketing officer at NetApp Inc.

NetApp’s Gabie Boko and the San Francisco 49ers’ Costa Kladianos talk with theCUBE about how intelligent data infrastructure is powering next-gen fan experiences.

“We’re really, really passionate about bringing our technology into the 49ers and seeing what they need to do with it, so that then we can then go tell a really good story,” Boko said. “I think that’s what Silicon Valley is really all about – making something personal, making passion come alive.”

Boko and Costa Kladianos (pictured, left), head of technology of the San Francisco 49ers, spoke with theCUBE’s Christophe Bertrand at the NetApp Insight 2025 event, during an exclusive broadcast on theCUBE, SiliconANGLE Media’s livestreaming studio. They discussed how effective data management is transforming fan experiences and driving business value in sports. (* Disclosure below.)

Effective data management is key to the fan experience

Fans today expect more from the game experience. With features like the world’s largest video boards, the 49ers are aiming to create something beyond what fans can get at home, essentially turning every seat into a first-rate experience, according to Kladianos.

“To be able to do that, we have to take the data, we have to be able to action on it […] and we have to analyze it and then be able to deliver to our fans,” Kladianos said. “You can’t do that with any old system. We have to make sure that we have the latest technologies, innovation, the storage to do that, the intelligent storage to do that.”

From parking to ticketing, every part of the stadium experience is designed to be seamless and stress-free, according to Kladianos. AI and data help anticipate fan needs, keeping the focus on the game or concert – not the logistics behind them.

“We’re at, right now, an incredible time in technology where AI is really changing what we do, changing how we think, and it’s how do we leverage that?” Kladianos said. “We don’t want to do it for intelligence’s sake. We want to have business value.”

Here’s the complete video interview, part of SiliconANGLE’s and theCUBE’s coverage of the NetApp Insight 2025 event:

(* Disclosure: TheCUBE is a paid media partner for the NetApp Insight event. Neither NetApp, the sponsor of theCUBE’s event coverage, nor other sponsors have editorial control over content on theCUBE or SiliconANGLE.)

Photo: SiliconANGLE