Chicago-based business plans ‘dream’ jobs in Limerick for sports fans

Sports fans could land dream jobs – being paid to watch live sports – after US sports analytics groups Stats announced plans to establish a regional base in Limerick.

The Chicago-based business confirmed on Tuesday that it planned to create 130 jobs in the city – 30 full-time and 100 part-time roles.

Regional director Gráinne Barry said it would be “a dream job” for any sport fan.

Stats provides data to a host of “big media brands” looking for relevant sports data, including sports network ESPN, Google, Snapchat and Amazon.

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“If you’re a sports fan, as I am, and a lot of people in [Limerick] would be, it’s obviously the dream job… in terms of the company culture and the customers we work with, and the data that we produce.”

‘Sports-mad culture’

Limerick’s renowned rugby and soccer fan base was a big attraction for Stats, she said. “They knew there is a sports-mad culture here, and a pedigree and sports heritage here.”

Ms Barry, a co-founder of SportsTech Ireland, said the jobs on offer ranged from data mining to researchers and customer support, as well as “sports reporters [who] will actually look at matches live and interpret the information into data”. The jobs are to be rolled out over the next 18 months.

Sports data

“It’s all about sports data and technology… For example, how many times does a player pass a ball in a match? Two of the largest sports in Europe for [match] stats would be rugby and soccer,” Ms Barry said.

Stats is looking at six Limerick city sites for the operation, which will be its regional headquarters overseeing European, Middle Eastern and African operations, delivering live sports data and intelligence solutions to 800 teams, leagues, brands, technology and media partners of Stats.