One of the most popular products of Amazon’s is their line of Alexa speakers. The voice-controlled speaker can do everything from play a specific song, to order pizza on command, to provide traffic and weather reports. Now Alexa can also Rock the Red. The Caps have partnered with Amazon on providing a Caps-themed Alexa Skill, which will allow fans to ask the speaker specific Caps-themed questions such as stats and schedule updates. Alexa can also now play the Caps’ goal song and Unleash the Fury.
It is the first Alexa Skill from a pro sports team. You can download it at https://washca.ps/the-capitals-skill.
In addition to the Alexa Skill, the Caps are launching a Flash Briefing, which will provide short daily news updates on the Caps. The Flash Briefing is voiced by Caps Radio announcer John Walton, and can be downloaded at https://washca.ps/the-capitals-flash-briefing
Both services are free to use for Alexa speaker owners.
More from the Caps:
The Washington Capitals have become the first professional sports team to unveil an Alexa Skill for Amazon’s voice-controlled speaker market.
“The Capitals” Alexa Skill, available now, allows fans with an Amazon device (Echo, Echo-Dot and Echo Show) to ask “Alexa” specific questions including schedule, roster and statistical information about the Washington Capitals.
In addition, the Capitals Skill has unique additions for fans including the ability to ask the Capitals to play the team’s goal song or to “Unleash the Fury” – a popular in-game experience from Capital One Arena.
The Capitals also are unveiling a Flash Briefing – a popular method of delivering news through short audio messages that update daily. John Walton, radio voice of the Washington Capitals, will provide the updates for the “Capitals Flash Briefing.”
The Capitals Skill is available online at https://washca.ps/the-capitals-skill, while the Capitals Flash Briefing is available at https://washca.ps/the-capitals-flash-briefing.
“We saw at the end of last season that the Capitals were the fourth most searched team in the NHL across Amazon’s Alexa cloud service,” director of digital media James Heuser said. “To enhance user experience, we thought it would be a great to build out a Skill that would further teach Alexa all about the Capitals. Since our radio network Caps Radio 24/7 is already available on Echo devices through the TuneIn Radio application, we figured a Skill and a Flash Briefing would be the perfect complement for fans listening to our games from their Echo device at home or in the office.”
“We always want to engage with our fans wherever they are,” added Capitals vice president of marketing Mike Hutchinson. “Our Alexa Skill and Flash Briefing allows us to do so in a unique and exciting way. We look forward to learning more about the Alexa platform, how our fans interact with it and how best to leverage that interaction towards business objectives.”
The Capitals teamed up with iStrategyLabs (ISL), a D.C.-based agency that creates digital and physical experiences for brands, to create the Alexa Skill and Flash Briefing.
The Alexa Skill is the second project the Capitals and ISL have developed together after unveiling the Capitals’ Facebook Messenger Bot last season, which was also the first of its kind for a National Hockey League (NHL) franchise.
The Capitals Facebook Messenger Bot (CapsBot) returns this seasson with enhanced statistical and schedule information as well as an opt-in subscription service.
Sample Alexa questions include:
“Alexa, open The Capitals.”
“Alexa, ask The Capitals how many goals Nicklas Backstrom has?”
“Alexa, tell The Capitals we just scored!”
“Alexa, ask The Capitals when they play next.”
“Alexa, ask The Capitals what their record is.”
“Alexa, tell The Capitals to Unleash the Fury!”
“Alexa, play Caps Radio 24/7.”
