Industry update: new stadiums and operational innovations

Check out the latest industry news!

Development & Construction

• Plans have occurred to build a new 10.000 seat stadium in the heart of the city of Sunderland in England. The new stadium will be part of the The Riverside Sunderland masterplan and will have a building cost of approximately 96 million euro.

© Riverside Sunderland

• At the other side of England another club, Stoke City, has revealed plans for a five-year development programme at the bet365 Stadium. More than 8,400 new seats will be installed, the stadium’s Delilah’s Bar will undergo a complete transformation into a sports bar and much more. The refurbishments should improve the match-day experience for the fans, but also enhance the opportunities for non-match day events.
• United Soccer League (USL) League One’s Lexington Pro Soccer has released the rendering concepts of its proposed downtown stadium, which would serve as a multi-purpose venue, surrounded by retail, lodging and entertainment opportunities.

© Lexington Pro Soccer

Sustainability & Smart

• A study of the English Premier League football clubs has designated Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur as the best clubs of England concerning sustainability. In the study several topics such as clean energy and waste management were evaluated.

Operations & Ticketing

• Real Madrid agreed to a long-term deal with Legends for the commercial exploitation of Estadio Santiago Bernabéu. Legends offers holistic solutions for sports organisations and venues. Real also confirmed a new phase of financing for the redevelopment of its stadium. The addition to the original financial package should compensate the challenges of installing a retractable pitch system.

© Real Madrid

• ESSMA partner Signify will illuminate the Winter Olympic Games in Beijing. The key venues will be equipped by Signify with new lighting systems to optimise the athletes’ performances and to enhance the experience of spectators and TV viewers. Furthermore, the system will improve operational efficiencies and maintenance.
• Swedish streaming giant Spotify is on the verge of sealing a deal to become the Spanish professional football club FC Barcelona’s major sponsor. As part of the deal, Barça’s home – Camp Nou – will be renamed ‘Camp Nou Spotify’. If the deal is sealed, Barça will earn between €60m and €65m per year.
• Everbridge, an ESSMA-partner which helps you to speed up your digital transformation, will launch its Digital Operation Platform on February 9^th. During the launch event you’ll hear from experts and customers what the Everbridge solution could do for your business. Register here to follow the launch event.

Safety & Security

• SafeSight has announced its new partnership with FC Groningen last week. Their safety management software platform will be operational during the second half of the season in the Dutch Eredivisie and ensure the safety in and around the Euroborg stadium. You can find more info about SafeSight here.

Fan experience & Hospitality

• The Arsenal Innovation Lab has selected eight start-ups to develop new ideas to enhance the fan experience. These initiatives should reach the Gunners’ worldwide fanbase and help Arsenal to engage with its fans.

© Nelson Ndongala