
From TGL To Travel Sports: Fastbreak AI Is A Scheduling Power Play
PALM BEACH GARDENS, FLORIDA - MARCH 25: Billy Horschel of Atlanta Drive GC celebrates on the 14th ... More green during their TGL presented by SoFi match against the New York Golf Club at SoFi Center on March 25, 2025 in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Cliff Hawkins/TGL/TGL Golf via Getty Images)
No professional or amateur sports schedule will please all players, fans and stakeholders. A well-orchestrated schedule should rankle the feathers of all relevant constituencies equally—in there lies the challenge.
'Scheduling in general is the art of equally managing disappointment. You want to make sure everybody equally hates you—then you've done a good job. If one team thinks 'oh my God, this is amazing, this is fantastic' then you've probably done something wrong,' explains Fastbreak AI CEO John Stewart.
Stewart, a serial entrepreneur based in Charlotte, North Carolina, made his mark with MapAnything—a location intelligence and route optimization system run on Salesforce's platform. Features included territory management, multi-day route planning, and location-based workflows to enhance field operations. Under his leadership, MapAnything grew to $22 million in annual recurring revenue before being acquired by the customer relationship management behemoth itself in 2019 for $250 million. Its DNA still powers what is now known as Salesforce Maps.
Following the sale, Stewart was bound by a three-year non-compete that kept him out of the scheduling space. Since that's his forte, he used the time to reset before plotting his next move. Like many temporarily sidelined tech impresarios, he invested in startups, dabbled in rental properties, sat on boards, mentored and took on occasional consulting work.
Harnessing AI to build out schedules for leagues–condenses a grind of a process that could take weeks to finish tweaking into just a few hours. Fastbreak AI has become a pro sports scheduling goliath. When your client roster includes dozens of professional sports leagues—like the NBA, WNBA, NHL, MLS, Serie A and Premiership Rugby—it's clear the industry has taken notice.
At the core of Fastbreak's platform is an algorithm that weighs dozens of variables—venue availability, player rest, travel, broadcast windows—and adapts to whatever constraints a league values most, whether that's competitive balance, minimizing back-to-backs, or boosting TV ratings.
'We are sort of the 800 lb gorilla," Stewart said. 'I don't have to convince you to use Microsoft Office. Here's the validation: there are twelve or thirteen people in the world that really understand this stuff, in terms of the optimization that applies to sports scheduling and ten of them work for us. We have a density of expertise and the fact that we are so broad in our customer base gives us a unique ability to digest new problems that we see. Every league has a unique problem.'
The company, now the dominant player in the space, has been on an acquisition spree of late—bringing four companies into the fold in the past six months, an effort that has substantially expanded its footprint, with its software now scheduling 55 professional sports leagues.
Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy-backed TMRW Sports is a recent client—and also an investor—onboarding the tech after TGL's inaugural season schedule was already set. But they will be using it moving forward to create a schedule for next season that balances optimal broadcast viewership with player availability.
Most pro sports teams travel together and follow a predictable cadence of home and away games. But TGL presented an entirely different challenge. In professional golf, players build their own tournament calendars—and in a league where team matchups, TV broadcasts, and individual preferences all have to align, Fastbreak AI faced a complex puzzle.
'They have their teams, but every one of those golfers has an independent and different schedule. There's a schedule of broadcasts they have to meet, a schedule of match play for their teams and they have to accommodate the individual schedules of the players on the six teams,' Stewart explained.
Most of Fastbreak AI's remaining competitors are consultants, some of whom rely on third-party optimization engines like Gurobi or Xpress. Stewart's co-founders, Dr. Chris Groer and Dr. Tim Carnes are data science and mathematical optimization experts who previously worked on the NBA's scheduling system while at KPMG, when the league contracted the firm to build an in-house scheduling solution. Stewart had initially recruited them to work on MapAnything, and when Fastbreak AI launched, one of the first calls they made was to their old pals at the NBA.
At the time, the league was developing the concept for its in-season tournament—a scenario that pushed the limits of their existing scheduling software and gave Fastbreak AI an opportunity to showcase the capabilities of its platform's custom repair algorithm.
'It was pretty obvious they were going to be a customer and they wanted to be on our cap table,' Stewart said. 'So, we opened up a small friends and family round. Then in May of 2023 we actually launched the software platform—so for two years now the platform has been on the marketplace,' Stewart said.
Play simulation is an area Stewart's team has been contemplating exploring—looking at player tendencies to then make assumptions on match length.
'We don't currently do that, we are looking at it to see how it would apply. This is a huge problem in any type of combat sport. They are always behind schedule and athletes never know when to show up because a match can be over in fifteen seconds or it could take six minutes,' Stewart explained.
Simulations could even be used to potentially juice the PGA Tour's pace of play, a perennial pain point. Theoretically, if certain players tend to play a few minutes slower depending on their pairing, an algorithm could solve for that—generating more efficient groupings, at least in pre-cut rounds before performance determines the tee sheet.
'It's definitely possible, there is a math problem to be solved there and we've thought about how it could be applied to any math-based sport.'
Predictive viewership is another area Fastbreak AI is plowing ahead on. They have a product coming out later this year that models for eyeballs as a schedule optimization variable.
'This then has an impact on the value of media rights and of course that is the way we are looking on it as well,' Stewart said.
Fastbreak AI's professional contracts help subsidize the development of its scheduling engine, which is then applied across both pro and youth sports.
'The media rights deal of the NBA is not the same as the Greek Basketball League—both of which are customers—but it's exactly the same platform,' Stewart said.
The company adjusts its pricing model based on the rights package value of each league, effectively tethering service costs to the revenue potential of what clients are selling to broadcasters.
'We will bring our capabilities to the youth level to make it more efficient and a better experience for the parents. We are doing a whole sports approach, from the grassroots to professional leagues using the same technology,' Stewart said. He would know—Stewart has five kids and has logged plenty of hours navigating the chaos of youth travel sports firsthand.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
6 hours ago
- Yahoo
New York Liberty Hanging Tough In WNBA Power Rankings
New York Liberty Hanging Tough In WNBA Power Rankings originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Trying to make some headway toward the top of the WNBA world right now looks like job No. 1 for the New York Liberty. They're still playing great ball early in the season, but so are the Minnesota Lynx. Advertisement New York is 8-0 in play right now, putting them firmly in the No. 2 spot in the latest WNBA Power Rankings, according to ESPN. It's not that Breanna Stewart and Co. aren't putting solid outings together. They are but cannot make any headway against early MVP favorite Napheesa Collier and the Lynx. Still, Stewart goes out all the time and gives 100% effort. In New York's lone game last week, where the Liberty beat the Washington Mystics 86-78, Stewart scored 26 points and grabbed 11 rebounds. It was her first double-double this season and, well, won't be the last. What about other Liberty players contributing to head coach Sandy Brondello's offensive schemes? Take a look at Kennedy Burke. She scored 12 points and was a hot 80% from the floor against Washington. Burke has put herself in some early contention for the WNBA Sixth Player of the Year award given out after the season. New York Liberty needs contributions from every player to keep on winning The Liberty dearly want to repeat as WNBA champions. They know that they have the players and team to make it happen. As long as Stewart keeps on rocking and the New York bench can pitch in, good things will keep on happening this season. Advertisement New York has a couple of games upcoming on their schedule. The Liberty hit the road to play the Chicago Sky on Tuesday night, followed by a home game against the Indiana Fever. Liberty fans will be disappointed if Caitlin Clark is unable to play. Clark has been dealing with a concussion lately, so her availability for that game remains up in the air. All the Liberty can do is continue to pile up victories, hoping it all leads to another ring ceremony for the team. The WNBA is in the middle of Commissioners Cup play at the moment. New York wouldn't mind getting that title, too. This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 11, 2025, where it first appeared.


New York Post
8 hours ago
- New York Post
Bryson DeChambeau talks his LIV Golf future, hunt for perfect equipment and YouTube
OAKMONT, Pa. — The most interesting man in golf was at it in full force on Tuesday in advance of this week's U.S. Open at Oakmont. Bryson DeChambeau, the defending champion, opined on a number of topics, including the state of his LIV Golf contract, revealing that it ends next year. Advertisement 'We're looking to negotiate end of this year, and I'm very excited,' DeChambeau said. 'They see the value in me. I see the value in what they can provide, and I believe we'll come to some sort of resolution on that. I'm super excited for the future. I think that LIV is not going anywhere.' He said he's bullish on the team aspect growing. 'Whether everybody believes in it or not, I think it's a viable commercial option,' DeChambeau said. 'We're starting to grow and move in the right direction, just like TGL. TGL has done a great job. They've got some teams that are making some money, and I believe there is a sustainable model out there. Advertisement 'How it all works with the game of golf, who knows, but I know my worth. I know what LIV brings to the table. And I'm excited for the future of what golf is going to be.' Among the things DeChambeau spoke about was (of course) his ever-evolving search for the perfect equipment. After the PGA Championship, DeChambeau hinted that he was going to turn up to Oakmont with some new stuff, and he's indeed turned up with new irons this week. He was having issues at Quail Hollow with hooking his irons. 3 Byrson DeChambeau hits a drive on the ninth tee during his U.S. Open practice round on June 10, 2025. Bill Streicher-Imagn Images Advertisement 'I've optimized it a little bit more, so hopefully that helps with those overdraws in my irons,' he said. 'They seem to have helped this week, and hopefully it aids for me this week. The golf ball is a longer discussion. That's going to be a bit of time. I'm still working on it. We think later this year I'll have a golf ball that will be very interesting to test. 'I'm excited to keep researching and trying and experimenting and optimizing,' he went on. 'My goal right now is just to optimize myself to another level, and if I can't, so be it. If I can in some areas, great.' Asked what he'd be doing for a living if he weren't playing golf, DeChambeau said, 'I'd be in a research lab, something like that. I would say I'd probably be doing something around biomechanics. 3 Bryson DeChambeau is all smiles during his U.S. Open press conference on June 10. Bill Streicher-Imagn Images Advertisement 'I'm working with Sportsbox AI right now, so I'd probably be doing something around the biomechanics and how AI integrates into it and just researching more of the body and how it works most repeatably and most consistently and how to become healthier as well, something along those lines.' DeChambeau, who's revolutionized the YouTube golf platform, was also asked if any of his playing partners have asked him for advice on how to build their own platform. 'Phil Mickelson has been one of the only ones to do that,' he said. 'He sees that as also a viable option for commercialization, the future, inspiration, education, entertainment. He did a short-game series back in the day. He knows what teaching means to the public. 3 Bryson DeChambeau lines up a putt on the seventh green during his U.S. Open practice round on June 10. Bill Streicher-Imagn Images 'It's so funny because he's taught me a bunch in short game, so we kind of exchange ideas in that role. He teaches me a couple things out of the bunker and wedges, and I'm like, 'All right, here's something we do for our channel that makes it a little more interesting.' It's fun.'


New York Post
13 hours ago
- New York Post
Bengals rookie Shemar Stewart blasts team over contract standoff: ‘Y'all just want to win arguments'
The Bengals can't seem to get it right with pass-rushers. First-round draft pick Shemar Stewart is in attendance for the team's mandatory minicamp, but he will be watching from the sidelines as his contract negotiations are seemingly turning ugly while the team deals with its ongoing dispute with the NFL's reigning sack leader Trey Hendrickson. According to multiple reports, Stewart is seeking a contract similar to that of recent Cincinnati first-round selections Amarius Mims and Myles Murphy, with the team now seeking to void future guarantees on rookie deals. 3 Bengals first-round draft pick Shemar Stewart. AP 'I'm 100 percent right. I'm not asking for nothing y'all have never done before,' Stewart told reporters on Tuesday, addressing the Bengals. 'But in y'all case, y'all just want to win arguments [more] than winning more games. The No. 17 pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, Stewart is one of five first-rounders yet to sign their rookie deals. 3 Shemar Stewart getting pointers from Jerry Montgomery, the defensive line and run game coordinator, during rookie mini-camp AP 'I've been doing this for most of my whole life, and then all of a sudden it's gone over something very simple to fix,' Stewart told reporters. 'It's kind of disappointing.' While he's not on the field with his Bengals teammates, Stewart said he's keeping up with them everywhere else. 'I still go to meetings. I still study my playbook,' he said. 'Taking down the right notes, and then whenever I get some free time, I go out to train.' Cincinnati brass now has an additional fire to put out as it continues to deal with Hendrickson's trade request. The Pro Bowler, 30, did not report to minicamp this week, and is looking to move to another team before the start of the 2025 season if a new contract is not worked out. 3 Bengals star pass rusher Trey Hendrickson AP Hendrickson, who racked up 17.5 sacks last season, is seeking a raise from his $15.8 million base salary and a long-term deal. It seems like quarterbacks might be able to stay extra clean when they face the Bengals at this point in time.