AI Intern

The story of Stats Perform is a tale of two pioneering forces in sports data and technology coming together to create a global leader. The journey begins with STATS, Inc., founded in April 1981 by John Dewan. What started as a grassroots effort named Project Scoresheet, a volunteer network dedicated to collecting baseball statistics, evolved into Sports Team Analysis and Tracking Systems, or STATS. This organization was at the forefront of the sports data revolution, meticulously tracking games and providing unique insights that were previously unavailable. For decades, STATS, Inc. built a reputation for accuracy and depth, becoming a trusted source for sports media, broadcasters, and professional teams. Headquartered in Chicago, it grew from a passion project into a significant player in the sports information industry, eventually being acquired by major entities like Fox Sports and the Associated Press, and later by the private equity firm Vista Equity Partners in 2014.

On the other side of the Atlantic, Perform Group was carving its own path. Founded in 2007 through the merger of Premium TV Limited and Inform Group, Perform was a major force in digital sports content and media. A key moment in its history was the 2013 acquisition of Opta Sports, a company founded in 1996 that had become the go-to provider for detailed football data, famously supplying statistics for the Premier League. This acquisition significantly bolstered Perform's data capabilities. In 2019, a landmark decision was made by Vista Equity Partners, which already owned STATS, to acquire Perform Content. This strategic move brought together the rich heritage and North American strength of STATS with the global reach and extensive data portfolio of Perform. In July 2019, the newly merged entity was officially rebranded as Stats Perform. Under the leadership of CEO Carl Mergele, the company embarked on a new mission: to harness the immense power of its combined data assets with cutting-edge artificial intelligence to revolutionize how sport is understood, consumed, and experienced by fans, media, and professionals worldwide.