NFL-Hawk-Eye swoops in place of iconic ‘chain gang’ measurements

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By Amy Tennery

NEW YORK (Reuters) -An iconic sideline tradition ends as the new NFL season kicks off on Thursday when the league replaces the well-known “chain gangs” with Sony’s Hawk-Eye technology to measure first downs.

    The camera-based technology can save up to 40 seconds per measurement, according to the NFL, and provide a greater level of confidence for fans in a game where even a fraction of an inch can make the difference between success and failure.

The officials who make up the “chain gangs” will remain on the sideline to serve as a back-up system when needed.

    “We’re always looking at all different angles, and we’re trying to improve the game and operation of the game around it,” Aaron Amendolia, Deputy CIO of the NFL, told Reuters.

    “We’re just not stuck in the traditions we’ve had for years, we’re always exploring.”

    The Hawk-Eye measurements, rolled out during pre-season, will not be without a human element – officials will still be responsible for spotting the football on the field after each play.

    But fans accustomed to the nail-biting tension of the measurement chains will instead see a graphic showing near-instant measurements to confirm whether 10 yards have been met, both on television broadcasts and on in-arena screens.

    NFL and Sony believe the speed and elimination of human error will make converts out of even the world’s most strident football purists.

    “There’s certainly the tradition and the nostalgia of the chain gang …,” said Justin Goltz, Commercial Director of Sony’s Hawk-Eye North America.

    “The speed and the accuracy should outweigh hopefully some of the nostalgia, definitely give it a lot more objectivity and accuracy that people can stand by.”

NEW TECHNOLOGY

It is the latest example of technology replacing the human touch across global sport.

    Wimbledon replaced line judges with artificial intelligence technology this year, earning mixed reviews from players and fans, while English soccer’s Premier League introduced semi-automated offside technology for the first time in April.

    In the NFL, the technology offers a major upside for snaring new fans, as North American leagues scramble to speed up their games to appeal to younger audiences.

    The NFL first began integrating the Hawk-Eye technology in the 2021 season to enhance replay options and the technology to measure first downs was tested last season.

    Each of the NFL’s 30 stadiums will be fitted with 32 cameras to operate the Sony Hawk-Eye tracking systems, including six specifically for the line-of-game measurement.

    The league’s growing portfolio of international games will also feature similar systems in their respective venues.

    “It’s our job to make every call as objective and accurate as possible, to take some of the subjectivity out of calls where it’s possible,” said Goltz. “I think fans appreciate that over time.”

(Reporting by Amy Tennery in New York; Editign by Ken Ferris)