LEADS THE SPACE
Bob Heere, PhD
Executive Director, Sports Innovation Space @ UNT
Professor and director of UNT's Sport Entertainment Management programme, and a past president of the North American Society for Sport Management.
Meet Bob
See upcoming events
FRISCO, TX · SPORT CITY USA
WHERE INNOVATION HAPPENS
A premier U.S. launchpad for international sport technology companies, connecting them to North Texas industry access, executive coaching, student talent, strategic partners and real market opportunities.
Year Round Membership
Applications are open all year
- 6
- International members with their U.S. base in Frisco
- 85+
- Executives on the advisory board
- 70+
- Companies through the STIB US bridge programme
- #1
- Sports business city in the U.S., Sports Business Journal 2024
WHY SIS@UNT
THE FOUR PILLARS
THE SPACE
6,000 sq ft of coworking and event space inside Origin at The Star District, the Dallas Cowboys world headquarters. Members get unlimited access, and share the floor with the SIS team, Plug and Play Sports Tech and their affiliates. Frisco alone holds the headquarters of the Dallas Cowboys, FC Dallas, the PGA of America, the Dallas Stars and the National Soccer Hall of Fame.
EXECUTIVE COACHING
Coaching on two levels. The macro level is how American sport works in general: the upheaval in collegiate athletics, pay to play youth sports and the structure of the pro leagues. The micro level is how your company fits into it, worked through one to one on U.S. market readiness, product market fit, entry strategy, pilot projects and staffing.
THE NETWORK
An advisory board of more than 85 executives, covering every Major League sport entity in the DFW region and most of the minor league ones, alongside the PGA of America, Legends Global, Learfield, Genesco, Conference USA and the athletic departments of UNT, TCU and UT. They meet members one to one and speak at our programming. Partnerships with the Frisco Economic Development Corporation, Plug and Play Sports Tech and the United Premier Soccer League sit behind it.
THE TALENT
In the 2024 rankings, two UNT programmes placed in the world’s top 25 for sport management, and the online MBA came first among online programmes. Members reach that talent through capstone consultancy courses, independent studies, internships, the online MBA bootcamp and PhD research. Five people already work at Origin for member companies, three of them UNT students or graduates.
MEMBER COMPANIES
NOW BUILDING IN THE SPACE
Six international sport tech companies hold their U.S. base at Origin at The Star. Here is what they build, and who they already work with.
FAN ENGAGEMENT · Netherlands
Acoustic cameras that turn crowd energy into data.
WORKING WITH LA Clippers · UNT Mean Green
DIGITAL INTERACTIONS · Netherlands
Games and fan activations for clubs, leagues and brands.
WORKING WITH FritoLay
PITCH PERFORMANCE · Netherlands
Smart monitoring for natural and hybrid pitches.
WORKING WITH Guadalajara, Seattle & Vancouver World Cup fields
FAN MEDIA · Finland
AI that puts what fans film into the broadcast.
WORKING WITH EarthX · McKinney Chupacabras
SMART EQUIPMENT · Netherlands
Smart kit for training conditions and preparation.
SPORT SURFACES · Netherlands
Durable designs, digitally printed onto sports tiles.
FIRST ALUMNUS
Our first alumnus, now in its own U.S. office and the exclusive data video analysis partner of The League.
WORKING WITH FC Dallas
Where member technology has landed LA Clippers · FC Dallas · FritoLay · UNT Mean Green · US Soccer and more
THE SPACE & THE LOCATION
6,000 SQ FT AT THE HEART OF SPORT CITY USA
Coworking and event space inside Origin at The Star District, the Dallas Cowboys world headquarters in Frisco, Texas. Members have unlimited access and share the floor with the SIS team, Plug and Play Sports Tech and their affiliates, which is the whole point: the conversations happen unfiltered.
- 6,000
- sq ft of coworking and event space
- 24/7
- access for members
- 0 mi
- to the Dallas Cowboys world headquarters
LEADERSHIP & ADVISORY BOARD
LED BY BOB HEERE. BACKED BY TEXAS SPORTS.
THE ADVISORY BOARD
85+ leaders of Texas sports
Executives from every Major League sport entity in the DFW region, the PGA of America, US Soccer and more. They meet members one to one.
PROGRAMS
PROGRAMS THAT OPEN THE U.S. MARKET
The space is where companies land. The programs are how they get there, and how the next ones are found.
- OUR ACCELERATORSTIB USA modular, hybrid route into American sport. More than 70 companies since 2023.
- FOR LEADERSExecutive programsHow American sport really works, taught by UNT's sport business faculty.
- FOR MEMBERSKnowledge libraryA working directory of the Texas sport economy, kept current by UNT MBA students.
EVENTS
UPCOMING EVENTS
The fastest introductions happen in a room. Members get VIP access to every SIS@UNT event, with signage, presentations and activation opportunities.
- PLACEHOLDERRSI Sports Group joins the Sports Innovation SpaceThe Dutch sport surfaces company, known for digitally printed sports tiles, takes a desk at Origin at The Star as it builds its U.S. licensing business.Read the article
- PLACEHOLDERAmerican college sport, explained for international foundersWhy college athletics matters so much in the U.S., and what international sport tech companies should know before they pitch to an athletic department.Read the article
PLACEHOLDERLooking back at the third World Cup Innovation SummitMore than 120 sport executives from the U.S. and abroad met at Origin at The Star and the Dallas Cowboys team auditorium for the third edition of the summit.Read the article
MEMBERSHIP
MEMBER BENEFITS
INNOVATECOLLABORATEELEVATE
SPACES
Unlimited 24/7 access to communal and shared workspaces for one member per client company, with guest passes upon approval.
NETWORKING
Personal introductions to prospective clients, investors and stakeholders, a minimum of 5 connections, plus a mini demo space for product showcases.
EVENTS
VIP access to all SIS@UNT events with signage, presentations and activation opportunities, plus selected Plug and Play event invitations.
WORKFORCE
Engagement with UNT BBA and MBA students through capstone projects and volunteer opportunities.
EXECUTIVE COACHING
Micro: how your company fits into the U.S. market, worked through one to one. Macro: how the American sports industry works in general, through workshops, seminars and podcasts. Conference rooms included.
EXTRAS
Sponsorship and branding opportunities, expanded demo space, dedicated internship support and research assistance.
MEMBERSHIP
CLAIM YOUR PLACE IN SPORT CITY USA
Membership runs year round and is by application only, but there is no waiting for a start date. Get in touch whenever you are ready and we will move as fast as you do.
THE U.S. LAUNCHPAD
YEAR ROUND MEMBERSHIP
For international sport tech companies entering the U.S. market
$10,000/ year, including workspace
Apply for Membership- Unlimited 24/7 shared workspace access at The Star District
- Executive coaching, shared and tailored to your company
- Minimum 5 personal introductions to clients, investors & stakeholders
- VIP access to all SIS@UNT events
- Priority access to UNT BBA & MBA student talent
- Mini demo space for product showcases
- Soft landing support for U.S. market entry
- Networking within the SIS and Plug and Play community
Applications are open all year.
READY TO BUILD IN SPORT CITY USA?
Applications are open all year. Send us a short message about your company and we reply within two business days.