Reign teams with Microsoft, Chihuly

Here’s the word from the club:

Seattle Reign FC today announced that Microsoft will serve as its presenting partner for the 2016 season.

“We are excited by the opportunity to partner with Microsoft and look forward to the chance to work together during the upcoming season,” said Seattle Reign FC owner Bill Predmore. “Our collaboration with Microsoft exemplifies what we believe our partnerships can and should be: an opportunity to leverage our unique assets and experiences to add meaningful value to our partner’s business.”

The partnership was borne out of an ongoing collaboration between Microsoft and Reign FC on the development of Microsoft’s sports science and analytics platform which aims to enhance training and coaching staff decision making through data driven insights derived from the Microsoft Cloud.

“I am a firm believer that player data can be utilized to improve player and team performance and to better manage the fitness of our players,” said Reign FC head coach and general manager Laura Harvey. “Microsoft’s sports science and analytics platform provides our club with a powerful, easy-to-use way to develop actionable insights from the data we collect. I am excited about the impact this information can have on our club, and I am looking forward to working with Microsoft to provide a footballer’s perspective on how to optimize and evolve the platform.”

As part of the partnership, Reign FC will utilize Microsoft hardware, software and Cloud services to manage team operations and analytics on and off the pitch. Reign FC will utilize Surface Pro 4 devices to manage training sessions, Microsoft Azure for the Reign FC website and custom-developed .NET ticketing system, Microsoft Power BI for data analysis, and Office 365, including OneDrive, Skype and Outlook, to support all back-office operations.

“As part of Microsoft’s ongoing commitment to drive innovation in the world of sports, we are excited to work with an organization like the Reign that shares in the vision for how technology can impact the game,” said Tim Mallalieu, Partner Group Manager.

“With Microsoft’s sports science and analytics platform we will focus on using the Microsoft Cloud to deliver added value, advanced analytics and actionable insights from team and player data that the Reign will be able to use to prevent injury while maximizing athlete readiness and team performance.”

As Seattle’s presenting partner, the Microsoft logo will appear on Reign FC’s new 2016 home and alternate kits from Nike. The new kits are available immediately for purchase at www.reignfcshop.com. The home kits will be worn for the first time this Saturday, April 9 at 7:00 p.m. PT, when Reign FC take on the University of Washington in its annual pre-season Community Shield Match.

The 2016 regular season will begin on Sunday, April 17 with a 4:00 p.m. PT match against Sky Blue FC. Season tickets, half-season match packs and single match tickets are now on sale at REIGNFC.COM/TICKETS or by calling (855) REIGN-FC.

And here’s more news from the club:

Seattle Reign FC and Chihuly Studio have entered into a three-year partnership to launch the Legends Campaign, the team announced this afternoon.

Seattle Reign FC’s Legends Campaign is an opportunity to celebrate and honor the women in the Pacific Northwest who have set an example of excellence in our region and beyond.

In a pre-game ceremony at each Seattle Reign FC home match during the NWSL regular season, one woman will be honored for the lasting impact she has made in our community. Legends candidates will be considered from all fields of work, including corporate, non-profit, government, and civic organizations.

“Our stewardship of Seattle Reign FC provides us with both the opportunity and responsibility to further causes that we feel can have a positive impact on women and girls in our community. The Legends Campaign is meant to showcase the the accomplishments of the many women in our community whose efforts deserve our recognition, respect and appreciation. We are grateful to have a partner like Chihuly Studio to underscore the importance of honoring these deserving women,” said Reign FC Owner Teresa Predmore.

As part of the partnership, Chihuly Studio has created the Reign Royal Blue Piccolo Venetian, based on Chihuly’s Venetian series. This unique, hand-blown piece stands approximately 20” high and measures 6” in width at its base. The artwork will be on display on the Memorial Stadium concourse at all Reign FC home matches and the Legends name and date of the match they were honored will be included on a plaque that will be added to the display case.

“As President and CEO of Chihuly Studio I am delighted, along with Dale, to applaud the wonderful and meaningful contributions the Legends have made within our community, said Leslie Jackson Chihuly. “Long may they Reign!”

During the on-field presentation, each Reign FC Legend will be given a limited edition Chihuly Workshop Print by artist Dale Chihuly. These prints reveal Chihuly’s unique sensibility and highlight his unmistakable style. All Chihuly Workshop limited edition prints are signed by Chihuly and numbered.

Dale Chihuly, an American sculptor, has mastered the alluring, translucent and transparent qualities of ice, water, glass and neon, to create works of art that transform the viewer experience. He is globally renowned for his ambitious site-specific architectural installations in public spaces, and in exhibitions presented in more than 250 museums and gardens worldwide.

This story was originally published April 7, 2016 at 8:53 PM with the headline "Reign teams with Microsoft, Chihuly."