September 20, 2021

INDIANAPOLIS—AT&T, Butler University, Indiana Sports Corp, and Nextech are teaming up to bring you the latest AT&T hackathon in Central Indiana.

The “AT&T 5G Sports Hackathon” is the fifth tech competition the company has hosted locally in the last six years.  This year’s event, which will be held at the Butler University Health and Recreation Complex (HRC), will be focused on how 5G technology can be game-changing for the sports world.

From October 22–24, teams of developers, designers, and other creatives will gather at the Butler HRC to come up with tech solutions to sports challenges that organizers will pose to them.  Participants will also hear from 5G and edge compute experts, as well as leaders from local sports teams, venues, and public safety, as they think about the challenges and how to tackle them.

More than $100,000 in prizes will be up for grabs during the competition. Registration details can be found at 5gsportshack.eventbrite.com.

“Connecting people is at the heart of what we do at AT&T.  And hosting major events like this is a great way to bring people together to build meaningful relationships and technology solutions,” said Bill Soards, president of AT&T Indiana. “I’m grateful for the numerous collaborators that have stepped forward to join us, with a common vision to support this amazing event that seeks to disrupt and energize sports tech through 5G and other technologies.” 

“There’s no question that Indianapolis has become a national mecca for major sporting events. Couple that with the tremendous momentum we’re seeing in the state’s technology ecosystem, and we know this is the right place for this AT&T 5G Sports Hackathon,” said Eric Kammeyer, director of Esports and Gaming Technology for Butler University. “We welcome the engagement on our campus and look forward to seeing what the participants develop.”

Also as part of this hackathon, high school computer science students from across the state will be engaged in a shorter, 24-hour competition that utilizes technology tools geared toward teenagers. This element of the “hack” is part of AT&T’s “Believe Indy” initiative that’s aimed at reducing violent crime and lifting up lives in Indianapolis.

“Events like this certainly help close the digital divide in our community, by exposing young people to the inner workings of app development and other meaningful tech experiences. Some may even find their passion,” said Karen Jung, president of Nextech. “We’ve all heard about the wonders of 5G—now we’ll get to see them in action.”

“There’s no better place than Indianapolis for this kind of competition,” said Ryan Vaughn, president of Indiana Sports Corp. “We’re experts at attracting the biggest sports events here and successfully hosting the athletes, coaches, and staffs when they arrive.

“Having 5G in downtown Indianapolis has been vital to our ongoing achievements—imagine what it can do to further transform the sports industry,” Vaughn added.

  • WHAT: AT&T 5G Sports Hackathon (#5GSportsHack on social media)
  • WHEN: October 22–24, 2021
  • WHERE: Butler University Health and Recreation Complex (530 W. 49th Street, Indianapolis, IN  46208)

NOTE:  All Butler University visitors (regardless of vaccination status) are currently required to wear masks when inside classrooms, hallways, and common areas, such as the HRC. This temporary policy is being implemented as a response to the surge in positive COVID-19 cases attributed to the Delta variant, and will be reviewed weekly.

About Philanthropy & Social Innovation at AT&T
We’re committed to advancing education, creating opportunities, strengthening communities, and improving lives. AT&T Connected Learning is a multi-year commitment to bridge the digital divide and narrow the homework gap, so today’s learners are connected with skills, resources, and opportunities for success in school and in life. Since 2008, we’ve committed $600 million to programs that help millions of students across all 50 states and around the world, particularly those in underserved communities.

About Butler University
Butler University is a nationally recognized comprehensive university encompassing six colleges: Arts, Business, Communication, Education, Liberal Arts & Sciences, and Pharmacy & Health Sciences. Approximately 4,500 undergraduate and 1,000 graduate students are enrolled at Butler, representing 46 states and 22 countries. More than 75 percent of Butler students will participate in some form of internship, and Butler students have had significant success after graduation, as demonstrated by the University’s 97 percent placement rate within one year of graduation. The University was recently listed as the No. 1 regional university in the Midwest, according to the U.S. News & World Report Best Colleges Rankings, in addition to being included in The Princeton Review’s annual “best colleges” guidebook.