When the Seattle Seahawks face off against the New England Patriots at Levi’s Stadium on February 8, the spectacle will be more than just a clash of titans. For a group of roughly ten fans in the stands, the game will represent a technological breakthrough in accessibility. This year, the NFL is officially testing the OneCourt tablet, a device designed to give blind and low-vision fans a real-time, physical connection to the action on the field.
Bridging the Visual Gap
For decades, blind sports fans have relied almost exclusively on radio broadcasts. While talented announcers provide vivid descriptions, there is an inherent limitation to audio alone: the “lag.” In a stadium setting, the roar of the crowd often precedes the radio play-by-play by several seconds, leaving vision-impaired fans to react to the reaction rather than the play itself.
The OneCourt device, which is roughly the size of a thick iPad, aims to eliminate that sensory delay. The tablet’s surface features a tactile map of a football field with raised lines. Using high-speed tracking data from Genius Sports—captured by chips in the players’ shoulder pads and the ball—the device converts game coordinates into physical vibrations.
When a quarterback like Trevor Lawrence throws a deep pass, a user can feel the “ball” move across the tablet’s surface. When a running back hits the sideline, the vibrations shift accordingly. Different intensities and patterns of haptic feedback signify specific events, such as a bone-jarring tackle or a celebratory touchdown.
“Like Giving Me My Own Pair of Eyes”
The technology has already undergone rigorous testing during the regular season. The NFL teamed up with OneCourt and Ticketmaster to pilot the experience 15 times this year, including games hosted by the Seahawks, Jaguars, 49ers, Falcons, and Vikings.
Thomas Rice, a blind Jacksonville Jaguars fan, was one of the early testers. “When Trevor Lawrence threw a touchdown pass to Brian Thomas Jr., I felt the ball travel through the air,” Rice told the Associated Press. “It was like giving me my own pair of eyes.”
For Scott Thornhill, the executive director of the American Council of the Blind, the device represents more than just a gadget; it’s a reclamation of a former passion. Thornhill, who lost his sight due to retinitis pigmentosa, will be among those using the tablet at Levi’s Stadium. “As someone who grew up playing sports before I lost my vision, I’m getting a big part of my life back that I’ve been missing,” he said.
How It Works: Data to Haptics
The engineering behind the OneCourt tablet relies on the NFL’s existing “Next Gen Stats” infrastructure. Thousands of data points are processed every second to ensure the tactile feedback is near-instantaneous. By pairing the device with low-latency audio—specifically the Westwood One broadcast—fans receive a multi-sensory experience that mirrors the speed of the game seen by sighted spectators.
The startup, based in Seattle, was founded in 2023 by Jerred Mace. The inspiration struck Mace while he was a student at the University of Washington, after observing a blind fan at a soccer match trying to follow the game through a radio. Since then, OneCourt has expanded its reach, partnering with NBA and MLB teams, and is currently in discussions with the NHL to bring tactile sports tracking to hockey rinks and beyond.
A New Standard for Stadiums
The inclusion of this technology at the Super Bowl—the most-watched annual sporting event in the United States—is a major milestone for inclusive design. The initiative was born after several NFL teams approached the league seeking ways to improve stadium access for all fans. Ticketmaster stepped in to fund the NFL pilot, underwriting the costs so that the devices can be offered to fans free of charge at guest services.
“The Super Bowl is such an amazing event, and now blind and low-vision fans can use our technology in a way they deserve,” said OneCourt co-founder Antyush Bollini.
As the NFL moves forward, the goal is to make these devices a permanent fixture in every stadium. If the Super Bowl test proves successful, it could signal a shift in how live entertainment is constructed, moving away from a purely visual medium toward one that is truly felt by everyone in the room. For fans like Clark Roberts, a Seahawks supporter who has also tested the device, the potential is limitless. “Can you imagine how this can open up everything, not just football?” he asked. “OneCourt is working on it.”
Sources and Links:
- Gizmodo: The Super Bowl Will Test New Device for Blind Fans Who Want to Enjoy the Big Game
- AP News: Some blind fans to experience Super Bowl with tactile device that tracks ball
- Yahoo Sports: Some blind fans to experience Super Bowl with tactile device that tracks ball
- SFGATE: Some blind fans to experience Super Bowl with tactile device that tracks ball
- Seattle Seahawks Official Site: Seahawks Participate In NFL’s OneCourt Accessibility Pilot
- OneCourt Official Website: onecourt.io (and specific Stadiums page)
- God’s World News: Feeling the Super Bowl
- YouTube (News Features): * Fox 5 OneCourt Story
- Bringing Sports to Your Fingertips with OneCourt’s Haptic Technology
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