STADIUM CX
Tech Tackles Stadiums: Game On! Three major trends have been happening in the world of stadiums and arenas as far as we at UC Advanced can see: major sponsorships and associations with tech companies, extended purposes for use other than sports, and the uplevelling of the technology, and with that an improved customer experience (CX).
Sponsorships closing the digital divide
Open for Business Stadium uses are not just for sports, from religious gatherings to corporate hospitality, museums and exhibitions, stadiums are staying open 7 days a week. Stadiums are big business, factor in the cost of the tickets, the catering, the merchandise and some stadiums in the Premier League can take as much as £3million on key match days. That’s on a good day in the Premier League, but start factoring in the costs of electricity, grounds maintenance and staff fees and you can start to understand why stadiums diversify into weddings, festivals, exhibitions, conferences and so much more. With over 160 stadiums and arenas in the UK, there is bound to be one near you. Historically equipping stadiums In 1946 the first live televised football match was broadcast by the BBC from Underhill Stadium in Barnet. Since then, stadiums have evolved their transmission capabilities with satellite transmitters, HD cameras and editing suites. Stadium lighting too has gone on a journey with bodies like FIFA and UEFA requiring evenly illuminated fields from stadium lights, and hence floodlighting, scoreboards, and advertising LED boards are now essential during a game. The Dell stadium, previously used by Southampton FC until 2001, was the first in England to have permanent floodlights installed, used for an exhibition match in 1950 against Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic. UC Advanced caught up with the current IT Director at Southampton FC, Huw Fielding, when 8x8 held their CX South 2024 conference in St Mary’s stadium.
The major sponsorships and associations with tech companies are widely publicised; think HP and Wrexham at Racecourse Ground, HP and Real Madrid at Santiago Bernabéu Stadium, HPE Aruba and Everton FC at Goodison Park, soon to be Bramley-Moore Dock Stadium to name only a few. Yes, the sponsorships have been there for some time, but when HP became the first brand in Real Madrid’s 121-year history to have its logo appear on the sleeves of the club’s men’s and women’s first teams it speaks volumes of the levels of investment and depths of partnerships being forged. Along with the sponsorships come an investment and commitment for digital transformation of club spaces, elevating fan experiences and club operations.
Huw Fielding IT Director
southamptonfc.com
Stadiums are big business... ...some
stadiums in the Premier League can
take as much as £3million on key match days.
CONTINUED
ucadvanced.com
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