Industry update: more on fan experience, safety and development

Read more on the fan tokens at West Ham United, an hospitality upgrade at Everton FC, safety at the Swedish Football League and more in ESSMA’s weekly industry update.

Fan Experience & Hospitality

• West Ham United have announced a strategic partnership with Socios.com, a blockchain based fan engaging platform. With the mobile platform, fans have the ability to vote on selected club decisions, earn club rewards or compete in unique matchday experiences by buying, earning or hunting for fan tokens. In addition, the token will also give the fans access to exceptional merchandise and games. 
• Villarreal CF will organise a number of activities to enhance the matchday experience for the fans attending their last home match of the season against SD Eibar. The initiatives include:
  • An extra free ticket for each Villarreal VYP Gold season ticket holder
  • Free scarves and official flags to the first 1000 supporters who come to welcome the team as the team bus arrives at the stadium
  • At the fan zone there will be music playing prior to the match
  • 16,000 flags will be distributed around Estadio de la Cerámica
• Fortuna Sittard have launched a unique WhatsApp service for their fans to increase fan involvement. Fans signing up will receive important and exclusive content about the club on their smartphones. Fans wishing to avail this service, can register their phone numbers via the club website.  

Safety & Security

• The Swedish Football League have launched a movie describing the safety and security journey on matchdays. The video shows how security systems and forces work together on matchday with the match between Hammarby IF and BK Häcken as an example. 

Development & Construction

• Atalanta BC presented the plans for redevelopment works at their Stadio di Bergamo. The three-stage renovation works will increase the stadium capacity to 24,000 and will modernise the facilities. Construction has already started on the North Curve stand. It is estimated that the project will be finalised by 22 September 2019. 
• The hospitality lounges at Goodison Park, home of Everton FC, will undergo a major renovation project that will see the stadium’s suites and event areas being upgraded. The work will begin after the club’s final home fixture of the season and includes updating the audio-visual equipment at the stadium. The project focuses on refurbishment works to all hospitality lounges and will enhance the experience for its Members, whilst showcasing and testing new concepts.  

General News

• Nottingham Forest have launched their ‘It’s Tricky to Talk’ campaign motivating fans to talk more openly about mental health problems and seek support. The campaign is in cooperation with the Nottingham Forest Community Trust. Both The Institute of Mental Health and University of Nottingham have shown their support for the campaign and views the campaign as a tool to improve the mental health of not only the fans of the club, but also the wider community.