Sports fans care about outcomes – not only of games and tournaments, but of their experiences as consumers. They know tech can make a difference. When asked by Oracle to rate the importance of fan experience attributes, for example, avid sports fans placed technology ahead of venue amenities and entertainment.
Sports venues are deploying technology, such as Internet of Things (IoT) devices, to improve fan experiences – and meet their operational objectives – before, during, and after live events. “Smart” stadiums and arenas are at the forefront of this nexus between fans, facilities, and fun.
What’s a Smart Stadium?
Smart stadiums leverage IoT devices with sensors, cameras, displays, and other components to better manage facilities and enhance fan experiences.
Smart stadium applications enhance the fan experience both directly and indirectly. Examples include:
- Experience hubs in the palms of fans’ hands. In-stadium apps on fans’ smartphones create experience hubs that deliver personalized services – from ticketing, admissions, and real-time concession-line monitoring to mobile wayfinding and facilities maps. Critically, these apps deliver personalized experiences that scale to tens of thousands of fans.
- Smarts on the other side of smartphones. Connected devices and apps help stadium managers and staff minimize wait times, maximize services, and optimize operations. For example, connected point-of-sale solutions simultaneously process customer orders while tracking and triggering resupply needs for food, drinks, swag, souvenirs, and other fan purchases.
- On-site digital signage. Digital signage and wayfinding via on-site displays keep fans tuned in and on track in real time, even when their phones are stored in their pockets and purses.
- Connectivity for electrified fan experiences. Expansive WiFi can deliver robust, stadium-saturating connectivity that powers personalized social media engagement for thousands of fans.
- Smarter facility, energy and waste management. Smart lights, cameras, and other sensor-based devices ease the management of maintenance and other non-retail supplies. This, in turn, minimizes waste, which benefits facilities, owners, fans, employees, the community, and the environment.
A Win-Win for Stadiums and Sports Fans
Fan experience will only get better over time as IoT-driven sports experience solutions target fan pain points like lines at admissions, concessions, and restrooms. Plus, they are enabling significant service upgrades, such as fans ordering food to be delivered to their seats, so they don’t miss the action.
The connectivity and tracking technologies that improve the sports fan experience also lower stadium operating costs, giving smart stadiums a leg up over their rivals. Looking ahead, current leaps in predictive and responsive AI promise more infrastructure and facilities management innovations and sports fan experiences.
