Industry update: more on fan engagement, safety and supporter satisfaction

Read more on the crowd management project at the EFL, the Swedish Football League’s Supporter Satisfaction Index, fan engagement at Heracles Almelo and more in ESSMA’s weekly industry update. 

Safety & Security

• The Swedish Football League’s Supporter Satisfaction Index (NSI) showed a highly perceived level of safety and security among fans in Allsvenskan and Superettan with an average of 4.3 out of 5 during the 18/19 season. Over 17,000 fans conducted the survey. With the Supporter Satisfaction Index the Swedish clubs can compare themselves and measure their yearly progress.

• The EFL announced a new research-led crowd management project called ENABLE that aims to promote collaboration between football clubs and police forces in order to find the most efficient ways to police football matches.

Fan Experience & Hospitality

• Fans of Heracles Almelo have the opportunity to design the away jersey for the upcoming 20/21 season themselves. With the action, the club wants to involve their fans more in their decision process. 

• Nine of the eighteen Eredivisie teams including FC Emmen, AZ Alkmaar, ADO Den Haag, Feyenoord, AFC Ajax, PSV, FC Utrecht, PEC Zwolle and sc Heerenveen have a dedicated stand for visually impaired fans. In addition, at BV Vitesse, Fortuna Sittard, Willem II and Heracles Almelo have been testing the possibilities.

• With the Seat of Dreams initiative, Manchester United offers its fans a unique opportunity to enjoy a match with VIP access including executive seating and complimentary food and drinks. The new addition to Old Trafford will be awarded to four fans at random through a complimentary upgrade to their existing ticket.

General News

• ESSMA Stadium Partner, Pitagone, is ensuring a safe perimeter around the 2019 Rugby World Cup venues with the instalment of their Mobile Barrier Anti-Ramming Trucks Certified.

• FIFA is testing data monitoring systems at Camp Nou. The tests are focusing on indicators of positioning and speed of the players. With this new experience, the Barça Innovation Hub keeps the door open to the football and sports technology industry and consolidates the club's facilities as a testing space, with the aim of turning FC Barcelona into the largest sports experimentation and innovation laboratory in the world.