Figure 1 Hi-tech sports stadia have become increasingly common
Being a sports fan should be very simple. You support a team, you go to watch a team, and you come home again either celebrating a win or hoping that your team doesn’t get beaten so badly again. That is the essence of being a fan – and for a long time that was all there was to it. But technology has changed sports, just like it has transformed every other facet of our lives.
We can keep up to date with all the latest trades by logging onto our favorite sports sites and even make predictions of how the game will go by opening an account on any of the betting apps in California has to offer. Even just going to the game has changed over the years.
Sports stadiums and arenas have transformed from field and scoreboard basics to cathedrals of technology, enhancing the experience for everyone involved. Obviously, there is still a lot of charm in watching a minor league game in an older stadium. But for teams at the top of their sports, a futuristic, hi-tech stadium is an absolute must these days.
Hi-Tech Stadiums
Technology can benefit all kinds of facets of the game day experience – for the sports organization, as well as the fan. You may not need to hold a physical ticket to get into the stadium but rely on a digital ticketing system that promises to make coming and going from the venue much quicker and easier.
Once inside, you could find that there is no need for cash, as all purchases can be made contactless or through a dedicated app. You don’t even have to leave your seat to find the concession stand. In-seat apps are available to order food and merchandise and what you have purchased will be delivered to you.
In-Game Experience
We have already mentioned an in-seat app that can be used throughout a game. But sports teams and franchises now look to offer a more immersive experience for their fans and the technology in the stadiums allows for that. Fans are used to being able to access more information when they watch games at home – and that is now the case when they are actually in the stadium as well.
Electronic billboards and huge LED screens can provide extra content and information for the fans, as well as keeping them up with the game in progress. Fans don’t have to miss a thing when they are accessing replays via content providers, and there is even the possibility to introduce augmented reality (AR) into the experience, enabling fans to interact with holograms of players.
Sustainability Goals
But introducing advanced technology into sports stadiums and arenas is not only to benefit the experience of the fan on the day. Newer stadiums can also incorporate technology that benefits the environment and escapes the drawbacks of some of the older arenas that still cause problems with climate change eradication goals.
Using energy efficiently is obviously a major goal of an environmentally minded sports franchise – and using LED lighting can help with that. But other ideas, such as using hybrid vehicles in and around the stadium can also have a good effect. It may take a little more time to convince the fans to forego their burgers and hot dogs, but plant-based alternatives can also help with wider environmental concerns.
The Internet of Things
We have gotten used to turning where we live into smart homes these days. So transforming old sports stadiums should not be too much of a jump. Using an Internet of Things model to improve the way a stadium works can vastly improve the experience for everyone. For example, the sports organizations themselves can control the crowds and direct the movement of people with smart signs to keep congestion down to a minimum.
Digital innovation is the key here and providing fans and visitors with an issue-free day out can only foster the bond between the fans and the team. People expect a certain level of service in everyday life and there is no need for that not to be part of sports as well.
Futuristic Stadiums
All of the technological advances we have outlined so far are already in use in stadiums across the world. With more new stadiums being built all the time, sports teams have the opportunity to put customer experience at the top of their priority lists. Many stadiums are already offering almost futuristic days out.
The SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles, home of the Rams, is one of the most technologically advanced in the world. Everything is connected thanks to Cisco, and the 4K video board hanging from the roof is linked to 2,600 smaller screens throughout the complex.
The Raiders now play in Las Vegas and rewards its fans with the latest fan technologies. Not only is everything connected, like at the SoFi Stadium, there are large retractable windows that offer a unique view of the world-famous Las Vegas Strip.
Sports teams can combine advanced technology with traditional elements to please fans as well though. Borussia Dortmund plays soccer in the Signal Iduna Park, where high-powered lights offer unrivaled illumination. There is undersoil heating to enable games to go ahead in the harsh German winters – and fans can still enjoy the traditional experience of standing at a game thanks to a vast terrace that employs safe standing technology.
Figure 2 Technology and tradition can be combined
What’s Next?
With so much money in pro sports, it always seemed strange that some organizations failed to invest in the stadiums to enhance the experience of the fans and the players. There is a feeling that owners think that the fans will turn up however they are treated. But game day fans have expectations now and will vote with their feet if they feel as though they are being shortchanged.
With more digital integration and connected technology, the only limit to how far sports stadiums can go would seem to be with the technology itself. The top teams in sports across the world have recognized that a futuristic place for fans to come and watch the team is just as important as recruiting the players in the first place. A more immersive, digital experience is almost guaranteed in the years to come – and we are excited to see what comes next.
