No Jumbotron, No Problem: How Two Lacrosse Teams Doubled Fan Engagement with Smart, Scalable Tech
In the ever-escalating arms race of sports entertainment, it’s easy to assume that enhancing fan engagement requires massive capital investment — bigger screens, smarter stadiums, or fully digitized arenas. But two teams in the National Lacrosse League (NLL) are proving there’s a different path rooted not in million-dollar upgrades, but in accessibility and mobile-first thinking.
The San Diego Seals and Las Vegas Desert Dogs have both dramatically increased fan interaction this season by using Uvenu, a technology platform that turns each fan’s smartphone into an interactive entertainment tool. The shift is reshaping how fans engage with the game and setting a new standard for audience connection in mid-market sports.
A League with Momentum and a Challenge
The NLL is North America’s only professional indoor box lacrosse league, with an average attendance that ranks third in the world among indoor sports, trailing only the NBA and NHL. That growth presents an opportunity, but also a challenge. How do franchises competing in mid-sized or aging venues match the immersive experiences of their more tech-enabled counterparts?
For Mike Grace, Vice President of Game Presentation and Content for both the Desert Dogs and Seals, that question became increasingly urgent. “We wanted a way to better reach our fans,” he explains. “Uvenu had a unique solution that allowed us to do that without incurring expensive technology costs.”
The Tech That Meets Fans Where They Are
Rather than relying on legacy infrastructure like stadium screens or in-seat displays, Uvenu operates entirely through mobile devices. Once inside the venue, fans can participate in real-time light shows, selfie cam activations, interactive trivia, social media walls, and live polls, all synced with the action happening on the field.
This format offers several advantages. First, it bypasses the need for capital-heavy upgrades to venue AV systems. Second, it meets fans in the environment they’re already in — their phones. In a media landscape where second screens often distract from live sports, Uvenu flips the script and makes the smartphone part of the show.
Daniel Canepa, Uvenu’s CEO, says this is by design. “We believe fan engagement should feel native and inclusive, not forced or overly engineered. Our platform is lightweight on infrastructure but heavy on experience.”
Transforming a Legacy Venue
One of the strongest testaments to Uvenu’s adaptability comes from San Diego’s Pechanga Arena. Originally built in 1966, the arena isn’t exactly a modern marvel. With legacy wiring and aging AV systems, it has long posed challenges for tech integration. But because Uvenu is entirely cloud-based and operates through fans’ own devices, the Seals were able to deploy the system with zero venue upgrades.
“We have a technologically deficient venue,” Grace admits, “but the Uvenu platform just works. It’s user-friendly, 100% reliable, and it removes any worry about technology issues during games. Whether you’re in a state-of-the-art arena or a decades-old building, it performs.”
Engagement That Drives Revenue
While boosting fan satisfaction is a clear win, Uvenu’s integration has also opened new doors for monetization. Features like the branded selfie cam and in-app polls can be tied to sponsorships. Email capture functionality has helped both teams expand their marketing databases, improving fan outreach beyond game day.
“Uvenu has given our fans a way to interact with the videoboard in real-time,” says Grace. “We’ve not only increased engagement, but also layered in sponsor visibility and data capture in a way that’s organic. That’s hard to do in a packed game environment.”
The potential extends beyond engagement and revenue. By creating a more participatory environment, both the Seals and Desert Dogs are helping redefine what it means to be a fan in smaller-market pro sports. Instead of sitting back and spectating, attendees become active contributors to the atmosphere. In an era when younger fans expect personalization and interaction, that could be a critical differentiator.
A Broader Shift in Sports Entertainment
Uvenu’s success story echoes a broader trend in sports tech: the decentralization of experience. Just as cord-cutting has restructured how fans watch from home, mobile platforms are reimagining how they engage in person. Teams and venues that once relied solely on physical infrastructure are now able to layer on rich digital experiences with minimal friction.
This is especially relevant for franchises operating outside the NFL or NBA spotlight. In many cases, they don’t have the budget or the need for massive technology investments. What they do need is a way to make their existing infrastructure feel fresh and interactive.
That’s where mobile-first fan tech becomes a game-changer. It’s scalable, flexible, and most importantly, adaptable to virtually any venue.
The Future: Smarter, Not Flashier
Looking ahead, both teams plan to expand their use of Uvenu. There are discussions around integrating AI-driven features that personalize content based on fan behavior, location, or game moments. This includes curated content drops, smart-triggered activations, and potential tie-ins with augmented reality.
“We’re just scratching the surface of what this platform can do,” Canepa notes. “The goal is to evolve the fan experience in real-time — not just respond to it after the fact.”
In a time when the sports industry is grappling with how to keep audiences engaged, particularly younger and more digitally native ones, the Desert Dogs and Seals may have found a blueprint: prioritize participation, lean into mobile, and rethink what it means to be “in the arena.”
Because sometimes, innovation doesn’t require a new stadium. Just the right screen and a smarter way to use it.
