by William Skink

Last Thursday I watched the Kansas City Chiefs play the Texans in the NFL season opener. My oldest is a huge football fan, so it was nice seeing him get to have a little normalcy by watching the reigning Super Bowl champs continue their winning streak.

While my son cheered on his team, I watched the game with a more discerning eye.

Football is a significant cultural engine driving this country, so what happens in these corporate coliseums should be of prime interest to anyone looking for signals of what’s to come.

One piece of technology highlighted during the game are wearable key-cards that everyone with the Chiefs organization is required to wear. If/when someone tests positive, the cards geolocation information will indicate if you came in physical proximity to the infected person.

Another aspect of our NEW NORMAL that football will help normalize is the removal of cash. On this front the Raiders will take the lead as Allegiant Stadium “makes history” by becoming the first American pro sports venue to open cashless.

So, while you might not be a fan of America’s national past time, I think it’s worth paying attention because the changes coming to football will be a harbinger of things to come for the rest of us.