BOSTON- In the ultra-competitive world of professional sports and entertainment, leveraging technology to gain an edge is no longer just a luxury—it's a necessity. As one of the NHL's "Original Six" franchises and the league's third-oldest active team, the Boston Bruins boast a storied history and a passionate worldwide fanbase. While the organization celebrates its rich legacy, it's also laser-focused on the future and harnessing data innovation to score big wins on and off the ice. 

Bruins' digital transformation strategy pioneering partnership with cloud storage pioneers Wasabi Technologies

At the heart of the Bruins' digital transformation strategy is a pioneering partnership with cloud storage pioneers Wasabi Technologies. By tapping into Wasabi's affordable, high-performance cloud services, the Bruins are laying the foundation to unlock powerful new data applications. From preserving treasured historical archives to revolutionizing the in-venue fan experience, data is the engine fueling the organization's bold vision.

"Data is the lifeblood of our business and the key to staying ahead of the curve," said Josh Carley, Vice President of Technology for the Bruins and the iconic TD Garden arena they call home. "Wasabi gives us reliable, highly scalable cloud storage that functions as a central repository for our valued audio-visual assets and so much more."

Indeed, while safeguarding their rich heritage is a priority, the Bruins see managing and activating data as the pathway to elevate their brand into an unparalleled entertainment powerhouse in the years ahead.

Leveraging data to energize guest experience

"With a partner like Wasabi handling our storage needs efficiently and cost-effectively, we gain the freedom to get incredibly creative about how we leverage data to energize our guest experiences," Carley explained. "The opportunities to drive innovation are virtually limitless when you have a secure, high-performance cloud infrastructure in place."

Frictionless entry and digital twinning to remake the live event experience

At the top of the Bruins' agenda is exploring state-of-the-art concepts like frictionless entry and digital twinning to remake the live event experience. In Carley's vision, fans will be able to move seamlessly from the front gates to their seats, foregoing outmoded friction points like physical tickets and security lines through advanced systems driven by data and cloud computing power.

"We're not just competing against other venues and teams anymore—we're competing against the ease and comfort someone enjoys in their living room at home," Carley said. "Eliminating as much unnecessary friction as possible is crucial to making a night at TD Garden an unmatched entertainment Experience."

Creating a virtual 3D replica of the physical facility

Building the arena of the future, quite literally, is another audacious goal. By leveraging digital twinning—creating a virtual 3D replica of the physical facility—Bruins planners can run analytics, model scenarios, and test concepts in a virtual environment before implementing them. Assessing foot traffic flows, measuring environmental impacts, and maximizing profitability from concessions are just a few of the use cases digital twinning could enable when powered by secure, scalable cloud data stores.

"We want to make fully informed decisions using predictive analysis, rather than implementing changes and just hoping for the best," Carley said. "A digital twin gives us a risk-free way to experiment and perfect fan amenities, sustainability efforts, and operational efficiencies without disrupting the live experience."

Bruins' data-driven vision entails ambitious infrastructure modernization

While the Bruins' data-driven vision entails ambitious infrastructure modernization, the organization's partnership with Wasabi has already paid dividends by optimizing video archive storage and retrieval. As the team celebrated its centennial season in 2023-24, footage from a century of iconic on-ice moments was seamlessly integrated into gameday entertainment, replays, and special video packages.

"Our historical archives are priceless assets that connect generations of fans and players," Carley noted. "Wasabi ensures those assets remain secure yet instantly accessible whenever we need to relive and share our proud legacy with the world."

The future ahead

Looking ahead, as broadcast technologies continue merging with live entertainment experiences, the ability to crunch data and deliver insights will play an increasingly pivotal role. Spectators crave more information and context, from real-time analytics on player performance to deeper statistical storytelling around the action. Carley envisions finding innovative ways to put that data at fans' fingertips through cloud-powered digital channels and delivery platforms.

"If we can provide meaningful, entertaining data that helps fans understand the nuances of the game better, that elevates the experience and grows our sport's appeal," he said. "With the right cloud data infrastructure in place, those fan-centric services are well within our reach."

Combination of affordability and premium service- the game changer

Underpinning all these transformative initiatives is a cost-efficient, high-performance cloud storage backbone sturdy enough to support the long-term data demands of a fast-paced, data-intensive organization like the Bruins. What caught the team's attention was Wasabi's combination of affordability and premium service—a hockey hat trick of value that's proven to be a game-changer.

"Where I found amazing value with Wasabi wasn't just the pricing, which was exactly where we needed it to be, but the level of customer service and expertise they provide as a true innovation partner," Carley said. "We're confident that our work with Wasabi positions us to make the fan experience of the future an electrifying reality at TD Garden."

From hoisting championship trophies to hoisting data into the cloud, the Boston Bruins' bold embrace of pioneering technologies is redefining what's possible in the arena of professional sports entertainment. By placing data at the center of their long-term strategy and enlisting a partner like Wasabi to optimize that valuable asset, this legendary hockey franchise is poised to score big wins for decades to come.