Fans Ready to Embrace Stadium Digital Future

By

The return of live events has been a welcome development for all. But, it hasn’t come without challenges for facilities operators. Staff shortages are impacting service delivery, and fans are ready to embrace a digital future where the stadium also becomes an immersive, self-guided tour.

The fan expectation increased post-pandemic due to digitalization. Fans are showing that stadium operators need to provide an experience that embraces self-service and reduces the reliance on human interactions. In Oracle Food and Beverage’s "Stadium Without Borders: Stadium Technology and Trends in 2022 and Beyond" report, 70% of attendees would prefer to have service jobs replaced by digital solutions in the future.

Costs to attend events continue to rise, so it’s no surprise consumers want technology that will give them more return for the price they paid to attend the event. In most fans eyes, high ticket process are a direct function of insanely high contracts athletes, in particular, receive.

  • 53% of fans want to engage with their favorite teams and artists in the metaverse. This includes virtual "backstage/stadium" tours and meet-ups, shopping for merchandise, etc. This sentiment was especially true of sports fans and millennials, both around 65%.
  • 42% of fans say they'd like to use their fingerprint, rather than a ticket, to enter a stadium.
  • 38% of fans want to view sports stats through their mobile device.
  • 53% of respondents are interested in receiving special offers for pre-game activities.

"While providing an immersive and seamless journey presents challenges to stadium operators, fans' increased expectations have also created opportunity to bring innovation and digitalization into the traditional stadium sphere," said Simon de Montfort Walker, senior vice president and general manager at Oracle Food and Beverage.

Additionally, fans want to experience some of the in-person live event benefits while viewing from home. Sports fans would prefer receiving personalized promotions to enhance the game-day fun with stadium-brand food and drinks when watching from their home. When fans do attend events in person, they’re eager to add to the live portion of the day with digital pre- and post-event content to create a more well-rounded, all-day experience:

  • 57% of people want to purchase an all-inclusive experience at a pre-game partner restaurant and exclusive post-game content on their device.
  • Half want to participate as part of a virtual crowd, support their team and interact with fans in the metaverse.

Fans today seek the excitement of live, in-person viewing but want the experience to feel as convenient as if they were watching from their home. They want the fun to begin before they enter the stadium and continue after they exit.




Edited by Erik Linask
Get stories like this delivered straight to your inbox. [Free eNews Subscription]

TechZone360 Editor

SHARE THIS ARTICLE
Related Articles

Phishing bank scams in Australia: How to protect your business

By: Contributing Writer    9/28/2023

Financial phishing scams, a prevalent form of bank scams in Australia, have plagued Australians for years, leading to significant financial and emotio…

Read More

EDR: The Missing Piece in Your Security Puzzle

By: Contributing Writer    9/28/2023

Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) is a cybersecurity technology that continuously monitors and responds to various threats to an organization's ne…

Read More

What Is SAST and How It Can Help DevSecOps Adoption

By: Contributing Writer    9/28/2023

With the rise of cyber-attacks and high-profile data breaches, companies are increasingly recognizing the need to integrate security into every phase …

Read More

Unmasking the Power of Brand Reputation: How it Can Make or Break Your Business

By: Contributing Writer    9/27/2023

A business's brand reputation can either make or break the business. It's a powerful concept that can influence customers, attract new clients, and in…

Read More

CI/CD Tools: A Beginner's Guide

By: Contributing Writer    9/27/2023

In the fast-paced landscape of modern software development, the tools and practices you choose can make or break the efficiency of your development pi…

Read More