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Digitization in the sports and stadium business is a crucial topic nowadays. Therefore, Stadiaworld looks at the technical solutions in the sports and event sector and presents key flagship projects.
At a breathtaking pace, digital transformation is creating multiple new challenges for the professional sports clubs as well as stadium and arena operators. At the same time, digitalization clearly offers the actors many new opportunities, ranging from cost savings and improvements in the administrative area, to improving the fan experience or developing new business and sales models.
Following the „Smart Stadium“ series that Stadiaworld published last year, the magazine Stadionwelt INSIDE will be releasing a four-part series on digitalization in sports and stadium business in 2019. Stadiaworld takes the perspectives of the various players in the market, answers the most urging questions and presents current showcase projects. Trend towards integral solutions
The series will start at the end of February with the issue 1/2019, when Stadionwelt INSIDE examines the topic from the point of view of the professional sports clubs in football as well as in the big indoor leagues. Particularly in the core areas (ticketing, merchandising, catering, member administration etc.), the increasing expectations of younger visitors require a user-friendly front office with simultaneous functionality of the back office. In addition to isolated solutions in the various areas, the decision-makers are increasingly choosing integrated solutions that can map the central business processes on the basis of a classic ERP system.
Moreover, a lot has changed in recent years in terms of marketing and communication with the own followers and fans. Modern CRM systems are able to deliver fans individualized content across the various channels, thereby increasing fan experience as well as the fan loyalty.
Stadium infrastructure: Beacon technology, 5G and Co.
Which topics move operators and owners of sports venues when it comes to digitization? This question is addressed in issue 2/2019, which will be published in early May.
The use of innovative technologies already allows spectators to experience a whole new world around the actual sporting event. Apps and other digital services are increasingly engaging viewers and making them part of the event (e.g. real-time streaming). Also in the area of location-based services, there has recently been some progress that helps operators and clubs to interact with fans, thus increasing customer-/fan satisfaction. Especially with regard to a modern IT and network infrastructure, which forms the basis for almost all new kinds of available services, many stadiums and arenas still have a lot of catching-up to do.
Thinking outside the box
As usual, the magazine thinks outside the box and looks beyond the German-speaking sports and venue market within the theme series. How do the clubs and venues in England or the US address the digitalization process? What else could you learn from other industries and institutions like airports, shopping centers and more? (Stadiaworld, 24.01.2019)
