diff --git a/backend/src/routes/events.js b/backend/src/routes/events.js
index 219ce47..c326fcb 100644
--- a/backend/src/routes/events.js
+++ b/backend/src/routes/events.js
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 const express = require('express');
 const { prisma } = require('../utils/db');
 const { authenticate } = require('../middleware/auth');
+const { getIO } = require('../socket');
 
 const router = express.Router();
 
@@ -566,6 +567,28 @@ router.post('/:slug/heats', authenticate, async (req, res, next) => {
       return userHeats;
     });
 
+    // Broadcast heats update to all users in event room
+    try {
+      const io = getIO();
+      const roomName = `event_${event.id}`;
+      io.to(roomName).emit('heats_updated', {
+        userId: req.user.id,
+        username: req.user.username,
+        heats: result.map(heat => ({
+          id: heat.id,
+          divisionId: heat.divisionId,
+          division: heat.division,
+          competitionTypeId: heat.competitionTypeId,
+          competitionType: heat.competitionType,
+          heatNumber: heat.heatNumber,
+          role: heat.role,
+        })),
+      });
+    } catch (socketError) {
+      // Don't fail the request if socket broadcast fails
+      console.error('Failed to broadcast heats update:', socketError);
+    }
+
     res.json({
       success: true,
       count: result.length,
diff --git a/backend/src/socket/index.js b/backend/src/socket/index.js
index 9713dbc..c8f8b6a 100644
--- a/backend/src/socket/index.js
+++ b/backend/src/socket/index.js
@@ -5,8 +5,18 @@ const { prisma } = require('../utils/db');
 // Track active users in each event room
 const activeUsers = new Map(); // eventId -> Set of { socketId, userId, username, avatar }
 
+// Global Socket.IO instance
+let io;
+
+function getIO() {
+  if (!io) {
+    throw new Error('Socket.IO not initialized');
+  }
+  return io;
+}
+
 function initializeSocket(httpServer) {
-  const io = new Server(httpServer, {
+  io = new Server(httpServer, {
     cors: {
       origin: process.env.CORS_ORIGIN || 'http://localhost:8080',
       credentials: true,
@@ -348,4 +358,4 @@ function initializeSocket(httpServer) {
   return io;
 }
 
-module.exports = { initializeSocket };
+module.exports = { initializeSocket, getIO };