Dr. Liz Wanless on AI & Sports Innovation | Innovation: An MLB Day with 30 Games and 1 Million Fans
AI is already changing sports, but not always in the ways fans expect.
Nick Elam talks with Dr. Liz Wanless, associate professor of sport management at Indiana University Indianapolis and director of the Sport Innovation Institute, about AI in sports, custom software, data insights, sport partnerships, and how innovation can serve real organizations. Liz also shares her path from philosophy major to national champion shot putter to sport management leader.
The innovation segment introduces MLB Day, Nick’s idea for day night doubleheaders across Major League Baseball after the All Star break. The goal: one day, thirty games, and the possibility of more than one million fans at the ballpark. Then the next to last segment revisits Game 6 of the 2025 World Series between the Blue Jays and Dodgers.
What You’ll Learn:
How AI is helping sports organizations build custom tools
Why empathy matters when designing sport technology
How Liz Wanless connects data, strategy, and client work
Why MLB Day could become a second half baseball spectacle
What made Game 6 of the 2025 World Series so tense
Episode Highlights:
00:00 Episode preview
03:00 Liz Wanless joins
06:20 Sport Innovation Institute
12:40 AI in sports and fan experience
24:30 Research, data, and client work
35:20 Shot put and competitive mindset
47:10 MLB Day proposal
58:40 2025 World Series Game 6
Guest:
Dr. Liz Wanless is an associate professor of sport management at Indiana University Indianapolis and director of the Sport Innovation Institute. Her work connects AI, data, software development, sport partnerships, research, and innovation in the Indianapolis sports ecosystem.
Tools, Frameworks, or Strategies Mentioned:
Sport Innovation Institute: IU Indianapolis initiative focused on software, data pipelines, insights, and custom solutions for sport organizations.
Custom built for Indy sport: The institute’s approach to designing technology around the specific needs of local and regional sport partners.
AI supported software development: Liz describes using AI tools to speed up custom software creation while keeping human insight central.
Large language models: AI tools discussed as brainstorming aids, software support, and emerging technology for sport organizations.
Machine learning: A data analysis method used in sport for prediction, decision support, and tools such as win probability.
Mystery as margin: A warning that vague or fearful AI narratives can create room for people to profit from confusion.
MLB Day: Nick’s proposed Major League Baseball event featuring day night doubleheaders across the league after the All Star break.
Good idea scale: Sports Rule Pod’s recurring evaluation lens for judging whether a sports innovation is practical, useful, and worth adopting.
Next to last segment: Sports Rule Pod’s recurring segment that revisits the overlooked moment before a famous ending.
Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@SportsRulePod
Subscribe to our newsletter: https://www.podpage.com/sports-rule-pod-with-nick-elam/
Got a rule change or innovation you want to see implemented? Tell us about it here, and vote on other suggested rule changes: https://sportsrule.net/
