TGL Partnership Q&A: Aboo Tayub, Golf Business Technology
Spokesperson: Brian Duffy, Sr. Strategic Account Manager of Live Entertainment, Panasonic Projector and Display Americas
Questions
- What initially drew Panasonic to partner with TGL presented by SoFi, and why did this league feel like the right platform to showcase your technology?
Panasonic Projector & Display Americas has always been committed to delivering cutting-edge technology that not only drives creativity and innovation but enhances experiences. So, when provided with an opportunity to deliver innovative visual solutions to compliment traditional golf viewing while also reimagining a new way to experience golf, it was a no brainer. TGL presented by SoFi is the first of its kind; a new team golf league fusing advanced technology, live action, and global fan engagement. The league’s technology-forward approach aligns closely with how Panasonic views the future of sports and entertainment: immersive, data-driven, and designed to bring audiences closer to the action. TGL provided the ideal platform to demonstrate how large-scale, high-performance projection can seamlessly integrate into a hybrid physical-digital venue, enhancing realism, precision, and storytelling while preserving the integrity of the sport itself.
2. TGL presented by SoFi blends elite golf with entertainment and technology; how does this partnership reflect Panasonic’s broader vision for the future of live experiences?
At Panasonic Projector & Display Americas, our vision for live experiences centers on enabling professionals in the AV industry to focus on the art of storytelling, the power of communication, and the joy of connecting people through shared experiences. Through this partnership, Panasonic’s professional projection systems allow TGL presented by SoFi to execute its unique form of immersive live entertainment. TGL is doing something truly distinctive: blending the fun of traditional golf with immersive technology, which aligns with Panasonic’s commitment to innovation. Inside TGL’s custom-built SoFi Center, Panasonic’s flagship PT-RQ50K 4K projectors deliver an impressive 50,000 lumens of brightness with native 4K resolution. These high-performance projection systems create a dynamic, lifelike visual experience that seamlessly blurs the line between physical and virtual play.
- How closely did Panasonic collaborate with TGL presented by SoFi and the league’s founders to bring this concept to life?
The team worked with Full Swing, TGL’s exclusive golf simulator partner, and is continuing to work closely with TGL’s operations and technology teams to bring this experience to both players and fans. From planning through execution, the process has been a true partnership, focused on bringing a fun, visual environment to the SoFi Center for TGL’s second season. The partnership is also helping TGL reach new audiences and engage a younger, more digitally native fan base. By combining cutting-edge technology with live competition, TGL is redefining how audiences connect with the game.
- As TGL’s official Projector Partner, what role does Panasonic’s visual technology play in creating the hybrid physical-digital environment? How does this setup differ from traditional sports broadcasting or in-venue displays?
As the league’s official Projector Partner, Panasonic Projector & Display Americas is committed to delivering immersive experiences through projection technology that is fool-proofed. Our technology brings the league’s gameplay to life on its 64-by-53-foot screen, which is approximately 24 times the size of a standard golf simulator screen. The use of nine units of Panasonic’s high-performance PT-RQ50K 4K projectors creates an experience much more dynamic than traditional in-venue displays or broadcasts. They deliver stunning color, detail, and intensity, creating a truly lifelike visual experience that blurs the line between physical and virtual play. It’s first and foremost a live sporting event paired with immersive projector technology, with technology at the core.
5. Do you see this model helping to redefine what “watching golf” means for future generations?
Golf has long been a sport that resonates with fans and players across generations. The hybrid physical-digital model is not here to replace traditional ways of experiencing the game, but rather to compliment them, offering a new entry point for younger audiences while also delivering a fresh, engaging experience for longtime golf enthusiasts. In the future, we expect to see technology at the heart of many ‘first of its kind’ immersive experiences on the golf course and across live entertainment.
- How does a stadium-based, visually driven format change fan behavior compared to traditional golf tournaments?
TGL presented by SoFi is one of the most technologically advanced fields of play in sports. With the stadium-based, visual format, fans can watch everything happen from one space, which really brings that electric, community-driven energy to each match.
- Do you envision hybrid competition environments like this becoming more common across professional sports?
Yes, we do. As immersive technologies continue to advance, hybrid competition environments are becoming an increasingly natural evolution for live sports. While traditional golf experiences hold a universally loved status for golf fans, live events, particularly professional sports, offer a powerful platform for integrating immersive technology, enhancing the energy and excitement that fans already associate with being there in person. When thoughtfully applied, these technologies can deepen engagement, expand storytelling possibilities, and create new ways for fans to connect with the sport while maintaining the authenticity of live competition.
- With TGL’s second season, what excites you most about what’s coming next?
We’re excited to build on the momentum from last season and bring this experience to life for fans in its second season. Seeing how audiences engage with immersive projection technology, particularly following the strong response to its inaugural season, reinforces the impact these experiences can have. As TGL continues to evolve, we look forward to supporting an environment that draws fans even deeper into the sport and delivers something truly distinctive within live entertainment.
