{"id":27030,"date":"2024-11-06T10:06:19","date_gmt":"2024-11-06T17:06:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/es.sorenson.com\/?p=27030"},"modified":"2024-12-09T14:40:01","modified_gmt":"2024-12-09T21:40:01","slug":"accessibility-in-sports-building-economic-power-and-innovation-for-enterprise","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/es.sorenson.com\/en\/blog\/si\/accessibility-in-sports-building-economic-power-and-innovation-for-enterprise\/","title":{"rendered":"Accessibility in Sports: Building Economic Power and Innovation for Enterprise\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"27030\" class=\"elementor elementor-27030\" data-elementor-post-type=\"post\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-9a5f7c9 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"9a5f7c9\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;jet_parallax_layout_list&quot;:[]}\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-990636d elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"990636d\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h1 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Accessibility in Sports: Building Economic Power and Innovation for Enterprise <\/h1>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d5af4be elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"d5af4be\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"600\" src=\"https:\/\/es.sorenson.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/accessibility-in-sports-1-web-1920x1440-1-1024x768.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-27041\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/es.sorenson.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/accessibility-in-sports-1-web-1920x1440-1-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/es.sorenson.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/accessibility-in-sports-1-web-1920x1440-1-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/es.sorenson.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/accessibility-in-sports-1-web-1920x1440-1-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/es.sorenson.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/accessibility-in-sports-1-web-1920x1440-1-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/es.sorenson.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/accessibility-in-sports-1-web-1920x1440-1.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-8a39f03 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"8a39f03\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>The love of sports transcends cultures and countries. Chances are you know a sports fanatic, or you are one yourself. The collective experience of enjoying a sporting event is palpable, and we revel in the athletic competition and the spectacle.\u00a0 \u00a0<\/p><p>However, the universal love of sports doesn\u2019t equate to universal design. Attending and enjoying sporting events comes with challenges for diverse sports lovers. Take, for instance, deaf and hard-of-hearing communities and multilingual audiences where language barriers blunt the full joy of watching sports, leading to an exclusive environment rather than an inclusive one.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p><p>Given the incredible diversity that sporting events attract, providing accessibility in sports can create the ultimate inclusive experience for sports fans, increasing the potential for audience expansion and attendance.\u00a0<\/p><p>We\u2019ll look at the benefits of inclusivity in sports, both for fans and the sports industry, and address:\u00a0\u00a0<\/p><ul><li>the <a href=\"#revenue\">revenue potential<\/a> for improved accessibility at sporting events\u00a0<\/li><li>the current <a href=\"#gap\">accessibility gaps<\/a> in sports\u00a0\u00a0<\/li><li>the <a href=\"#benefits\">benefits<\/a> of making sporting events more accessible\u00a0<\/li><\/ul><p>The goal of language accessibility for sports and sports entertainment is to increase business and boost the enjoyment of these events for the global audience. The ability to fully enjoy the spectacle that plays out before us amps up the thrill and energy of the experience.\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-72255e9 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"72255e9\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" id=\"gap\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">Current state of language accessibility in sports\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134245418&quot;:true,&quot;134245529&quot;:true,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:360,&quot;335559739&quot;:80,&quot;335559740&quot;:279}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/h2><p><span data-contrast=\"none\">It\u2019s been more than 40 years since the first closed captioning during a live sports event on New Year\u2019s Day 1981, when the Georgia Bulldogs and Notre Dame played at the New Orleans Superdome. Yet even today, accessibility for diverse sports audiences remains a novelty \u2014 exciting and well-received \u2014 rather than the standard.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:279}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><ul><li>Deaf rappers Sean Forbes and Warren Snipe made history at the 2022 Super Bowl as the first deaf halftime show performers in the game\u2019s history.\u00a0\u00a0<\/li><li>In 2023, Justina Miles, a hard-of-hearing American Sign Language (ASL) performer, gained positive attention after her ASL performance for Rihanna\u2019s Super Bowl halftime show.\u00a0<span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:279}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li><\/ul><p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">However, the world\u2019s largest international sporting events offer a glimpse at the inclusivity that\u2019s possible with language accessibility:<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559685&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:279}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span data-contrast=\"none\"><a href=\"https:\/\/publications.fifa.com\/en\/annual-report-2022\/tournaments-and-events\/fifa-world-cup-quatar-2022\/fifa-world-cup-qatar-2022-in-numbers\/\">At FIFA World Cup 2022 in Qatar<\/a>, most<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> of the one million attendees came from Saudi Arabia, India, U.S., UK, and Mexico.<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0However, <\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">translation services for sports fans from around the world meant volunteers didn\u2019t need to speak multiple languages, and broadcasters could provide commentary in multiple languages through real-time translation services.\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> The use of translation technology and real-time interpreting and translation services achieved the goal of making the game accessible and enjoyable for diverse fans.\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:279}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">For the 2024 Olympic Games, athletes from more than 200 countries competed in Paris with an estimated three billion people watching from around the world. Organizers translated all signage and provided live interpreting at the Games as well as captions and\/or subtitles for broadcasts.\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:279}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><h3 aria-level=\"2\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">Sports Viewership\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134245418&quot;:true,&quot;134245529&quot;:true,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:160,&quot;335559739&quot;:80,&quot;335559740&quot;:279}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/h3><p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">An undeniable aspect of language accessibility for these events is demand. Global sporting events attract billions of fans around the world. Here\u2019s a brief <a href=\"https:\/\/online.jwu.edu\/blog\/the-worlds-most-watched-sporting-event-unveiling-the-global-phenomenon\/\">rundown of the number of viewers or attendees for international competitions<\/a><\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">:\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:279}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><ul><li><span data-contrast=\"auto\">2022 FIFA World Cup: 1.5 billion\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:279}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li><li><span data-contrast=\"auto\">2023 Tour de France: 42.5 million French viewers\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:279}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.statista.com\/statistics\/1386733\/womens-world-cup-total-tv-viewership\/\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">2023 Women\u2019s World Cup: 2 billion (a record)\u00a0<\/span><\/a><\/li><li><span data-contrast=\"auto\">2020 Tokyo Summer Olympics: 3 billion<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:279}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li><li><span data-contrast=\"auto\">2022 Beijing Winter Olympics: 2 billion\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:279}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li><\/ul><p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Improved technology has both increased sports viewership through real-time availability and contributed to making sports more accessible for the diverse audiences watching around the world.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:279}\">\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:279}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><h3 aria-level=\"2\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">Language accessibility at U.S. sporting events<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134245418&quot;:true,&quot;134245529&quot;:true,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:160,&quot;335559739&quot;:80,&quot;335559740&quot;:279}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/h3><p><span data-contrast=\"none\">Though more sports venues have become proactive in integrating accessibility for Deaf and hard-of-hearing live sports attendees, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.athleticbusiness.com\/facilities\/article\/15682925\/espn-survey-many-pro-sports-venues-fail-to-accomodate-fans-with-nonapparent-disabilities\">a national ESPN study<\/a> <\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">shows that organizations have lots of room for improvement to accommodate sports fans with \u201cinvisible\u201d disabilities (which includes Deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals) who come to the games expecting a thrilling and seamless experience.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:279}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span data-contrast=\"none\">ESPN conducted a survey of 136 sports teams (NFL, NBA, WNBA, MLB and NHL) and received responses from 120 teams. <a href=\"https:\/\/invisibledisabilities.org\/what-is-an-invisible-disability\/\">The top concerns of fans with invisible disabilities<\/a>\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">in<\/span> <span data-contrast=\"none\">this study include:<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:279}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><ul><li><span data-contrast=\"none\">Dedicated accessible entrances\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:260,&quot;335559739&quot;:260,&quot;335559740&quot;:279}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li><li><span data-contrast=\"none\">Drop-off zones\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:260,&quot;335559739&quot;:260,&quot;335559740&quot;:279}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li><li><span data-contrast=\"none\">Elevator access\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:260,&quot;335559739&quot;:260,&quot;335559740&quot;:279}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li><li><span data-contrast=\"none\">Printed menus\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:260,&quot;335559739&quot;:260,&quot;335559740&quot;:279}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li><li><span data-contrast=\"none\">Training for stadium staff<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:260,&quot;335559739&quot;:260,&quot;335559740&quot;:279}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li><\/ul><p><span data-contrast=\"none\">Less than half of the teams said they provide dedicated entrances for people with disabilities. About the same number said they provide printed menus that customers can point to.\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:279}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">That\u2019s not to say that venues aren\u2019t moving the needle at all on accessibility. Many upgrades that improve the experience for fans with disabilities are part of innovations that benefit everyone at the event.\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:279}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><h3 aria-level=\"2\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">Smart stadiums elevating accessibility in sports<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134245418&quot;:true,&quot;134245529&quot;:true,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:160,&quot;335559739&quot;:80,&quot;335559740&quot;:279}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/h3><p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Take \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/www.sportsvenue-technology.com\/articles\/smart-stadiums-connectivity-and-iot-solutions-for-fan-engagement\">smart stadiums\u201d<\/a> for example<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">.\u00a0 <\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">This digital age innovation emphasizes connectivity with 5G and Wi-fi and optimizes fan engagement through assistive tools and beacon technology. With ticketing, concession sales, and seat assistance right on their mobile devices, language barriers pose less of a hurdle for fans to navigate their game day experience.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:279}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span data-contrast=\"none\">Smart stadiums are not explicitly for the benefit of sports attendees with disabilities, and many of the intelligent features are beneficial for fans and stadium staff alike:\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:279}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><ul><li><span data-contrast=\"none\">Faster and more personalized purchases\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:279}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li><li><span data-contrast=\"none\">Responsive to changes throughout the stadium grounds (parking, concession stands, weather)\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:279}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li><li><span data-contrast=\"none\">Monitor bathroom traffic\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:279}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li><li><span data-contrast=\"none\">Wi-fi availability<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:279}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li><li><span data-contrast=\"none\">Mobile app that enables attendees to interact personally with stadium staff\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:279}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li><li><span data-contrast=\"none\">Ability to enjoy the game wherever fans are\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:279}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li><\/ul><p><span data-contrast=\"none\">These, and other features, improve profitability and the fan experience by saving time and boosting sales.\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:279}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span data-contrast=\"none\">Additionally, reliable connectivity throughout the venue enables fans to use internet-based assistive technology like <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/es.sorenson.com\/enterprise\/sorenson-forum\/\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">speech-to-text captioning and translation<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"none\"> apps or <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/es.sorenson.com\/si\/sorenson-express\/\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">on-demand interpreting services<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"none\">.\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:279}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a1ed6f3 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"a1ed6f3\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"600\" src=\"https:\/\/es.sorenson.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/hero-accessibility-in-sports-web-1920x1440-1-1024x768.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-27045\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/es.sorenson.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/hero-accessibility-in-sports-web-1920x1440-1-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/es.sorenson.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/hero-accessibility-in-sports-web-1920x1440-1-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/es.sorenson.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/hero-accessibility-in-sports-web-1920x1440-1-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/es.sorenson.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/hero-accessibility-in-sports-web-1920x1440-1-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/es.sorenson.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/hero-accessibility-in-sports-web-1920x1440-1.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4b781b9 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"4b781b9\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 aria-level=\"2\">Accessibility for Deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals\u00a0\u00a0<\/h2><p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.usopen.org\/en_US\/visit\/guests_with_disabilities.html\">Wider availability of tools like sign language interpreting, closed captioning<\/a>, and assistive listening devices (ALDs) at some sports arenas\u00a0are a big step in improving information and language access for Deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals attending sports events. They are improving language accessibility for Deaf and hard-of-hearing attendees with sign language interpreting, closed captioning, assistive listening devices (ALDs), and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sportsvenue-technology.com\/articles\/smart-stadiums-connectivity-and-iot-solutions-for-fan-engagement\">upgrading their sports venues to \u201csmart stadiums.<\/a>\u201d\u00a0Smart stadiums optimize fan engagement through assistive tools, 5G and Wi-fi connectivity, and beacon technology.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p><p>Slowly but surely, these kinds of considerations for deaf fans are permeating major league sports. Just this year, the National Hockey League debuted \u201cNHL in ASL\u201d for the Stanley Cup Finals, a broadcast of the games with complete commentary in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nhl.com\/news\/nhl-in-asl-producing-unique-cup-final-broadcasts\">ASL with Deaf broadcasters for Deaf and hard-of-hearing fans watching at home<\/a>. The broadcast also includes visual features to depict fan noise at the game so viewers can see when the crowd goes wild.\u00a0<\/p><p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncoa.org\/adviser\/hearing-aids\/hearing-loss-statistics\/\">Experts expect the rate of hearing loss to double by the year 2060<\/a>. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.marketwatch.com\/story\/the-sports-with-the-oldest-and-youngest-tv-audiences-2017-06-30\">With the average age of a baseball fan being 57<\/a>, stadiums ought to take heed of these changing demographics and lean into accessibility for a growing demographic.\u00a0<\/p><h3 aria-level=\"2\">Multilingual accessibility\u00a0<\/h3><p>Multilingual accessibility in sports is a complex issue: while linguistically diverse fans don\u2019t have the same legal protections that people with disabilities do to compel the sports industry to adapt, they have something else in their favor: numbers. The U.S. Census Bureau\u2019s 2023 American Community Survey reports more than 22% of people living in the U.S. speak a language other than English.\u00a0<\/p><p>And it\u2019s not only fans bringing linguistic diversity to sports. Twenty eight percent (28%) of MLB players are non-U.S. born. <a href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/mlb-international-players-dominican-venezuela-mexico-japan-9485f38ab1051efd276ac07712d1cbe1\">Most of those players are from the Dominican Republic, followed by Venezuela, Cuba, Puerto Rico, and Mexico<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p><p>In 2015, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.unitedlanguagegroup.com\/learn\/interpretation-in-major-league-baseball\">Major League Baseball (MLB)<\/a> instituted a rule requiring each of its 30 teams to have at <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cbssports.com\/mlb\/news\/mlb-requiring-every-team-to-have-full-time-spanish-interpreters-in-2016\/\">least two full-time Spanish-language interpreters<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p><p>The Los Angeles Dodgers go a step further to cater to its Hispanic fans with a Spanish version of its <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mlb.com\/news\/sportsnet-la-announces-spanish-language-dodger-game-programming\/c-115922818\">website and broadcasts of its games in Spanish (live radio and TV)<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p><p>Major sporting events (Super Bowl, World Series), global competitions (Olympics, FIFA World Cup), and US sports venues (MetLife, Levi\u2019s) offer on-site multilingual interpreting services. The international diversity of players and fans obliges stadiums to adopt these inclusive language practices.\u00a0<\/p><h3 aria-level=\"2\">Examples of venues offering language accessibility in sports\u00a0\u00a0<\/h3><p>Several major sports arenas in the U.S. provide accessibility services for Deaf, hard-of-hearing, and multilingual fans. Here are some successful examples of language accessibility in sports.\u00a0<\/p><h4>Mercedes-Benz Stadium\u00a0\u00a0<\/h4><p>This Atlanta, GA stadium provides:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p><ul><li>assistive listening devices\u00a0\u00a0<\/li><li>closed captioning handheld devices you can check out from guest services. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mercedesbenzstadium.com\/guidelines\">Closed captioning is viewable on all boards within the stadium<\/a>.<\/li><li data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"5\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\uf0b7&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;multilevel&quot;}\" aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-aria-posinset=\"3\" data-aria-level=\"1\">Obtain accessible seats by contacting Ticketmaster\u00a0\u00a0<\/li><\/ul><h4 aria-level=\"3\">Madison Square Garden\u00a0\u00a0<\/h4><p>This New York stadium provides comprehensive accessibility services:\u00a0\u00a0<\/p><ul><li>assistive listening devices\u00a0<\/li><li>open and closed captions\u00a0<\/li><\/ul><p>For hockey and basketball games, open and closed captions are available on a ribbon board for sports commentary.\u00a0<\/p><h3 aria-level=\"4\">What\u2019s the difference between open captions and closed captions?\u00a0\u00a0<\/h3><p>Open captions are burned into the video and are always visible. They cannot be turned off. You can turn closed captions on or off.\u00a0<\/p><p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.msg.com\/madison-square-garden\/accessibility-services\/\">Sign language interpreting or closed captions are available for other sports events<\/a> for fans who request them with two weeks\u2019 notice.<\/p><h4 aria-level=\"3\">Crypto.com Arena\u00a0\u00a0<\/h4><p>Formerly the Staples Center, this Los Angeles stadium follows ADA mandates for effective communication:\u00a0\u00a0<\/p><ul><li>Closed captions for all events\u00a0\u00a0<\/li><li>Assistive listening devices for access to all information at sports events, including announcements\u00a0\u00a0<\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cryptoarena.com\/accessibility\">You must request sign language interpreters<\/a>\u00a0<\/li><\/ul><h4 aria-level=\"3\">AT&amp;T Stadium\u00a0\u00a0<\/h4><p>This Arlington, TX, sports venue provides:\u00a0\u00a0<\/p><ul><li>assistive listening devices\u00a0<\/li><li>handheld captioning devices that provide real-time captions for all public announcements\u00a0\u00a0<\/li><li>choose English or Spanish as your preferred language for audio\u00a0<\/li><li>sign language interpreters available for select concerts with 30 days\u2019 advance notice.\u00a0<\/li><li>Casino.com recognizes <a href=\"https:\/\/www.casino.com\/ca\/accessible-venue-index\/\">AT&amp;T Stadium as the country&#8217;s most accessible sports stadium<\/a>.<\/li><\/ul><h4 aria-level=\"3\">Fenway Park\u00a0\u00a0<\/h4><p>Home to the Boston Red Sox, this historic ballpark offers:\u00a0\u00a0<\/p><ul><li>assistive listening devices\u00a0\u00a0<\/li><li>closed captioning on all three main video boards and ribbon boards\u00a0\u00a0<\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mlb.com\/redsox\/ballpark\/disability-access-guide\">sign language interpreters for pre-game events<\/a><\/li><\/ul>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1e74ec0 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"1e74ec0\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" id=\"benefits\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 aria-level=\"1\">Benefits of Language Accessibility in Sports<\/h2><p>Although accessibility planning is not part of every sports venue\u2019s operations, there are benefits to making accessibility in sports standard for diverse attendees:<\/p><ul><li>Higher attendance: Accessibility features help stadiums attract a broader audience. When Deaf, hard-of-hearing, and multilingual fans come away with a positive experience, they help spread the word about the thrilling experience they had at a game, which gets more people interested.<\/li><li>Greater participation: Accessibility can boost fan excitement during live games and help everyone cheer and celebrate game wins and boo the losses together. Ever see \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/2016\/08\/15\/488285360\/the-physics-and-psychology-of-the-wave-at-sporting-events\">the wave<\/a>\u201d at sports events?<\/li><li>Positive brand reputation: Stadiums that prioritize accessibility demonstrate inclusivity, encouraging fans to return to relive the same fan experience.<\/li><li>Robust communication: Captioning, sign language interpreting and spoken language interpreting, and translation services contribute to positive experiences and effective communication for fans and staff.<\/li><li>Increased revenue: A larger fan base, sponsorships, concession and merchandise sales, and accessible online platforms all contribute to higher revenue.<\/li><\/ul><h4 id=\"revenue\" aria-level=\"2\">Financial Incentives<\/h4><p>The sports industry is wildly profitable. A 2023 study from <a href=\"https:\/\/www.statista.com\/topics\/11374\/sporting-events-in-the-united-states\/%22%20\/l%20%22topicOverview\">Statista<\/a> showed tickets for major sporting events yielded more than 14 billion dollars in 2022, with that number on track to reach 15 billion in 2024. Even with more fans watching their favorite pro sports at home, experts expect the demand for live sporting event tickets to exceed two billion by 2028.Including diverse fans can bring increased attendance at stadiums, considering \u2014 as we mentioned above \u2014 <a href=\"https:\/\/reciteme.com\/news\/multillingual-sports-website\/\">there are more than 22 million people in the U.S. alone who speak languages other than English, not to mention international visitors<\/a>.\u00a0And more than a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/ncbddd\/disabilityandhealth\/infographic-disability-impacts-all.html\">quarter of American adults have a disability<\/a>. If sports venues committed to offering those fans the same quality of experience as other fans, how much more likely do you think they\u2019d be to buy tickets? Add in concessions and merchandise sales on top of that.<\/p><p>With the advent of AI tools for real-time captioning and translation and the adoption of universal design, sports attendance will only increase when Deaf, hard-of-hearing, and multilingual fans learn there are language services that directly cater to their communication needs.<\/p><p>The benefits for diverse sports fans are clear, but language accessibility can also <a href=\"https:\/\/es.sorenson.com\/blog\/si\/business-incentives-to-boost-esg-score-with-accessibility\/\">benefit sports venues and athletic organizations through increased partnerships and sponsorships<\/a>.<\/p><p aria-level=\"1\">Case study: 2024 US Open Tennis Championships<\/p><p>Sorenson sponsored the 2024 US Open, and a multilingual Sorenson team attended the tournament with two Sorenson products \u2014 Sorenson Forum and Sorenson Express \u2014 to facilitate communication with staff and fellow fans. How did it go? We asked them about the experience.<\/p><p>An Unexpected Experience for Deaf Fans<\/p><ul><li>The US Open website states, \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/www.usopen.org\/en_US\/visit\/guests_with_disabilities.html\">The US Open is fully accessible for guests with disabilities<\/a>.\u201d Our team said many of the accessibility services appear to focus on patrons with physical disabilities and less so on sensory disabilities. Without the invaluable support of Sorenson Express for on-demand ASL interpreting and Sorenson Forum for live captioning, our Deaf team members noted that language accessibility at the tournament would have been a challenge: On the first day, the team visited guest services to request captioning. Unfortunately, there seemed to be a misunderstanding as the stadium staff believed that captions should be available once they found their seats.<\/li><li>When the captioning was not available, the team returned to guest services. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nidcd.nih.gov\/health\/assistive-devices-people-hearing-voice-speech-or-language-disorders\">The staff then offered assistive listening devices<\/a>. Despite the team explaining they were Deaf and unable to use the devices, the staff struggled to understand the device\u2019s limitations.<\/li><li>\u201cThey were really pushing me to try it,\u201d says Jessie Adner, Sorenson Director of Design Consulting. \u201cI was saying over and over again that I can\u2019t hear. I use sign language interpreters.\u201d<\/li><\/ul><p>Finally, the stadium staff understood and they put the device away. \u201cI could see their wheels turning,\u201d Ms. Adner says. \u201cI gave them my business card and told them I\u2019d be happy to consult with them.\u201d<\/p><ul><li>When they were seated in the stadium, the Sorenson team happily used the captions on the video board, but said captions cut in and out throughout the game and primarily focused on the referee speaking rather than announcements, the players, the coaches, or introductions.<\/li><li>Then they had an idea. They connected a small radio that was available for hearing patrons to a smartphone with the Sorenson Express app to get an ASL interpreter on demand to interpret the game.<\/li><\/ul><p>Something as simple as interpreting available in a mobile app fulfilled the basic desire to enjoy the game along with other fans.<\/p><p>\u201cPeople can cheer for their favorite players or talk with the person sitting next to them,\u201d Ms. Adner says. \u201cWe were really emphasizing the game day experience that Deaf people often lack.\u201d<\/p><p>Ms. Adner says she\u2019d love to go back to the US Open next year. \u201cIt was so fun with my colleagues, with the food and the experience, and just being in the same area as all of the players,\u201d Ms. Adner says. \u201cI\u2019m addicted to tennis now.\u201d<\/p><p>This year\u2019s US Open did have a sign language interpreter for the national anthem as the result of deaf fans\u2019 recommendations in 2023.<\/p><h3 aria-level=\"2\">Using Sorenson Forum for Seamless Communication<\/h3><p>The U.S. Open attracts not only athletes from around the world, but also fans spanning languages and cultures. A highlight of the game experience for the Sorenson team was being able to talk to those diverse fans using Sorenson Forum\u2019s on-demand translation and spoken language interpreting.<\/p><p>\u201cWe had the opportunity to use Sorenson Forum with foreign language speakers,\u201d says Sorenson Director of Corporate Events Britnee Hursin. \u201cWe were able to have a conversation which was really cool.\u201d<\/p><p>A Spanish-speaking Sorenson team member carried on a full conversation with a Chinese couple who spoke Mandarin, using Sorenson Forum to translate in real time between their respective languages.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-83206d1 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"83206d1\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"600\" src=\"https:\/\/es.sorenson.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/accessibility-in-sports-web-1920x1440-1-1024x768.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-27043\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/es.sorenson.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/accessibility-in-sports-web-1920x1440-1-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/es.sorenson.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/accessibility-in-sports-web-1920x1440-1-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/es.sorenson.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/accessibility-in-sports-web-1920x1440-1-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/es.sorenson.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/accessibility-in-sports-web-1920x1440-1-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/es.sorenson.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/accessibility-in-sports-web-1920x1440-1.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7486263 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"7486263\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">The Last Word<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134245418&quot;:true,&quot;134245529&quot;:true,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:360,&quot;335559739&quot;:80,&quot;335559740&quot;:279}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/h3><p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">The Sorenson team said they saw for themselves a significant accessibility gap in sports, even at events that aim to provide accessibility for diverse fans.\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:279}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">The team emphasized that captions benefit not only Deaf and hard-of-hearing audiences but also multilingual speakers, provided they can access captions in their preferred language. They met many non-English speaking fans and say multilingual captioning would make the sporting events \u201cinclusive for a broader audience,\u201d rather than just a tool for deaf communities.\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:279}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u201cWe\u2019re not just accepting [the] status quo,\u201d Ms. Hursin says. \u201cWe want to work in partnership with them [the US Open].\u201d\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:279}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><h3><span data-contrast=\"none\">A Vision for Accessibility in Sports<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:279}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/h3><p><span data-contrast=\"none\">The vision for sports is accessible. By integrating language accessibility, the sports entertainment industry can offer multilingual, Deaf and hard-of-hearing fans a prime seat for the thrill and camaraderie of sporting events <\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u2014 and watch inclusion pay off<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:279}\">\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:279}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span data-contrast=\"none\">Catering to a multilingual audience reaps economic benefits through increased attendance: higher ticket and merchandise sales (including concessions).\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:279}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span data-contrast=\"none\">Language accessibility benefits also extend to staff, players, and officials through clear communication with customers and teammates.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:279}\">\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:279}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span data-contrast=\"none\">We encourage sports venues and organizations to prioritize accessibility in their operations. Reach out to accessibility professionals, invest in staff training and technology, and, most of all, listen to audience feedback.\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:279}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span data-contrast=\"none\">Ready to start implementing language accessibility for your sports events? Request a meeting with Sorenson\u2019s consultant team today to discuss your needs to make your <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/es.sorenson.com\/si\/conferences\/\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">sports events accessible and inclusive.<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:279}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Accessibility in Sports: Building Economic Power and Innovation for Enterprise The love of sports transcends cultures and countries. Chances are you know a sports fanatic, or you are one yourself. The collective experience of enjoying a sporting event is palpable, and we revel in the athletic competition and the spectacle.\u00a0 \u00a0 However, the universal love [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":32,"featured_media":27041,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jet_sm_ready_style":"","_jet_sm_style":"","_jet_sm_controls_values":"","_jet_sm_fonts_collection":"","_jet_sm_fonts_links":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[214],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-27030","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-si"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/es.sorenson.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27030","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/es.sorenson.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/es.sorenson.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/es.sorenson.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/32"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/es.sorenson.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=27030"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/es.sorenson.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27030\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/es.sorenson.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/27041"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/es.sorenson.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=27030"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/es.sorenson.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=27030"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/es.sorenson.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=27030"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}