Industry update: more on stadium development, in-seat ordering and fan experience

Read more on Nottingham Forest FC’s redevelopment plans, an in-seat ordering app at Beşiktaş JK, FC Barcelona’s virtual reality viewing experience and more in ESSMA’s weekly industry update.

Development & Construction

• Nottingham Forest FC has been given permission to redevelop The City Ground. The project will include a new fourth stand, improved facilities in the remaining stands, additional facilities for disabled fans, a club museum and more. In addition, the stadium capacity will increase to 38,000. The next step in the project is a period of consultation and engagement with relevant supporter groups. 

Fan Experience & Hospitality

• Beşiktaş JK has integrated in-seat ordering and a mobile wallet in its app. Fans can order and pay for their food and drinks from their seats and pick up their order at a dedicated location without having to queue. Moreover, fans will earn points when purchasing within the app. 
• Visually-impaired FC Bayern München fans can opt for an audio reproduction of written text to follow the club’s latest news via a new function on their official website. This initiative is part of FC Bayern München’s goal to provide possibilities for all its target audiences. Fans already had the opportunity to change the font size of articles and to optimise the display.
• FC Barcelona implemented a dedicated standard 5G coverage in Camp Nou. With the 5G coverage, they can trial the "Immersive Reality in Sports" project. The project is developed by FC Barcelona, Telefónica, GSMA and 5G Barcelona to enable sports fans to immerse themselves completely in a sporting event by creating the illusion of being on the field itself. With 360° cameras and VR glasses, fans will be able to watch the match from any viewpoint at any given time. 

Partner news

• The main driver for clubs to switch to LED is compliance with the latest standards demanded by TV broadcasters and football federation. Only the highest quality lighting enables TV cameras to capture the flicker-free super slow-motion action replays. The ability to use the lighting in pre-match light shows is a huge added value – afforded by the ability to program individual LED lights to turn on and off rapidly, vary their intensity and sync them to music. Even pitch-side advertising screens and large displays featuring team colors and bespoke images can be incorporated and synced to music, while steerable spotlights add to the excitement.

“Today, football is no longer about 90 minutes of action. Arguably, the entertainment experience begins even before the light show as fans approach the stadium. Stadiums such as Juventus’ Allianz Stadium, Ajax Amsterdam’s Johan Cruyff ArenA and Atlético de Madrid Stadium, Wanda Metropolitano, have all taken the art of the pre-match light show to another level.”

Kees Klein Hesselink - International Key Account Director at Signify (formerly knows as Philips Lighting, an ESSMA Stadium Partner)