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The post-COVID19 game-day fan experience continues to evolve for sports fans with global venues new and established adding exciting enhancements to drive fan-first smart stadiums that provide positive experiences and memorable moments for fans.

Recent global developments to enhance the match-day experience of fans has seen venues such as Manchester’s Etihad Stadium introducing self-service beer taps for convenience, New York’s Citi Field trialling biometric facial recognition ticketing for entry into the ballpark and Seattle’s T-Mobile Park adding palm scanning technology at their “Walk-Off Market” snack bars to eliminate lines. Further developments have seen trials of in-seat hot dog drone deliveries, weapons detection gunshot localisers and sustainability initiatives like tower gardens, which produce stadium-grown food for use in venue concessions. These are just some of the developments that illustrate the lengths that venues are going to in order to enhance the fan experience and get fans off the couch at home and back into venues in the post-pandemic sports world.

Sydney’s spectacular new state of the art Allianz Stadium is Australia’s latest major venue that has this fan first thinking and the fan experience at it’s core with a raft of impressive modern features providing an exceptional game day experience for fans. In my latest fan experience review here for AUS Leisure, I take a look at the impressive features of the redeveloped Allianz Stadium from the grand opening on September 2nd at the Sydney Roosters rugby league match day to highlight how they are achieving best practice fan experience and the lessons that other venues can learn to improve and enhance their own venue fan experiences.

Transport

Starting the fan journey from the CBD to Allianz Stadium in the Moore Park entertainment precinct was a seamless and quick experience via the brand new Sydney Light Rail network that took less than 15 minutes and was free with game day tickets. This free match-day travel to and from the venue could also be used on other public transport modes such as nearby trains and buses while the venue itself features dedicated new electric car charging stations and bike racks as well as only being a short and easy 25-minute walk from the city.

Accessibility

One of the reasons for the redevelopment was that the previous venue provided a poor spectator experience by not being able to cater for different user groups as well as not meeting modern amenity standards around accessibility. It was good then to see that this is certainly a stadium for everyone as there has been significant increases (2300%) to space and seating for wheelchair and companion areas, the addition of gender neutral toilets as well as a 170% increase in female toilets to 600. This represents a commitment to improving facilities for fans in terms of minimising wait times but is also good to see that all fans are being equally catered for especially with the rise of both women’s sport and female attendances at venues.

Welcome and Way-Finding

Arriving early to soak up the atmosphere outside the ground it was evident that a focus on designing clear way-finding solutions had been implemented to enable fans to see where their entrance was. There are detailed, easy-to-understand maps located throughout the outside concourse area, clear signage for gate numbers across each stand along with engaging customer service staff acting as backpack billboards featuring gate entrance and venue information. Heading through the turnstiles into the venue (or when getting a pass out to exit) was seamless and efficient by simply scanning the QR-coded ticket however what really stood out on entry was the pleasant greeting, positive attitude and smile from the staff which has long been identified by fans as one of the most important factors in creating a positive match day experience.

Seating

One of the clever features of the stadium redevelopment that fans will appreciate inside the venue is the 360° open concourse. The 300% increase in the public area concourse enables fans to walk around the venue while always staying connected to the game even while grabbing F&B items or accessing toilets or just wanting to see the game from another angle. The four levels of seating that comprise the 42,500 seats are set on a thrilling steep rake, offer clear sightlines of the pitch no matter where you’re seated and are positioned closer to the field of play than the previous seating plan to maximise the atmosphere and fan experience. The noise that was created from fans seemed to reflect back into the seating bowl as a result of the stadium design, which in turn added to a louder and more intense experience for spectators.

The vibrant and unique art design of the seats by Indigenous artist Tony Albert is titled ‘Two Worlds Colliding’ and really makes you feel like you’re sitting right on top of the action while the innovative design of the diagrid roof also sees 100% of the seating area now undercover (up from only 30% previously) to offer weather protection for spectators which again illustrates a commitment to the fan-first vision of the venue. Rooster’s member Alan Katzmann agreed and added, “The stadium is terrific. I sat in the members stand on level 4 west and found it easy to get around with great viewing areas to mingle with friends and I felt very comfortable throughout” while Easts diehard Jane Cook also stated that “the atmosphere was phenomenal as I felt so close to the turf from my seats in the Chookpen members area”.

Architecture and Design

Designed by Cox Architecture and constructed by John Holland on the site of the original Sydney Football Stadium, the $874m venue transformation was delivered on time and features a host of innovative architectural design elements, exciting active spaces and art for spectators and the local community to engage with that highlight the venue’s iconic architectural identity.

The precinct around the stadium features an accessible open-air fitness space with gym equipment and a basketball court on a visually striking sports surface while there are also sculptures, audio art, a wind-screen and seating areas with historic moments from the ground carved into them that add to the fan experience on game days as well as also being a creative use of public space for the community to utilise all year round. A signature of the architecture are the 980 bronze coloured fins that form an elegant curtain wall surrounding the external façade of the venue while native vegetation has been used to increase shade and reflective roofing has been installed to add a heat mitigation solution to keep fans cool and comfortable inside the venue which further highlights a focus on putting fans and the environment first.

Food and Beverage

Merivale Group is the exclusive ‘hospitality experience’ partner of the venue and has clearly brought it’s culinary expertise into the stadium with a host of interesting gourmet selections as well as the standard footy fare that is expected of fans. The inclusive design of the menu features over 350 food and beverage options for fans to chose from across 64 outlets ranging from pork belly tacos and veggie burgers to margarita seltzers and independent craft beer from local Sydney breweries while the addition of more F&B outlets, self service ordering stations, a 30% increase in the counter lengths of bars and the use of mobile backpack beer servers all saw service times sped up and queues alleviated to enable fans to get back to their seats.

A highlight of the first match day at the venue was the generous offer for fans that saw 49% off the price of all beverages while F&B prices were seen to be on par with other venues for standard stadium fare with items such as water ($5), hot chips ($5.50) and soft drinks ($4.80) actually being cheaper than other Australian venues. It was also good to see the inclusion of combo meals, non-alcoholic beer and dietary needs being taken into consideration however ‘stadium sauce’ was being sold for the outrageous price of $2.90 in one snack bar (although for research purposes I tried it and it was actually delicious!).

Overall it was clear that the quality and diversity of the stadium grub on show at Allianz Stadium is a step above and puts this on another level in terms of the stadium food and beverage that is currently available in other Australian stadiums.

Fan Engagement

The Sydney Roosters put on a spectacle on the field for the 41,906 fans in attendance winning 34-6 (NRLW) and 26-16 (NRL) while off the field their fans and members were also winning with sponsors and staff both delivering a spectacular effort in storytelling and fan engagement. Roosters Fan Engagement manager Ryan Chant highlighted that “Returning home to Allianz Stadium provides us with an array of new opportunities to engage with our members and supporters” and this was evident asoutside the ground there were relevant sponsor activations for fan of all ages plus live entertainment while the pre-game build-up featured an emotional scene of two young fans embarking on their journey home to the venue. The hype reel, player entrance and big screen visuals, amplified by the impressive JBL loudspeakers, increased the intensity of the atmosphere while all fans were given free commemorative flags and TRY cards on entry before Aussie band The Presets kicked off the pre-game show with a pumping gig that had fans up in their seats.

Conclusion

The redeveloped Sydney Football Stadium is the result of years of collaborative teamwork amid COVID lockdowns and government restrictions and is a spectacular venue that fans both deserve and should be proud of due to its forward-thinking modern facilities that elevate the atmosphere and puts them closer to the action than ever before.

Allianz Stadium’s fan-first approach has significantly raised the bar on every aspect of the fan experience from accessibility and design to seating and food and beverage and represents a new era in Sydney’s sports and entertainment stage that will create memorable moments for fans, boost the local economy and place the capital in a prime position to attract major international and local events into the future. Put it on your list of sporting game day’s to experience and you won’t be disappointed.

BIO:

Blair Hughes is an award winning, globally respected fan engagement specialist who helps clients in the sports, music and craft beer industries grow their fan bases, improve fan experiences and create new business and revenue opportunities. You can follow him on Twitter at @MrBlairHughes or at www.MrBlairHughes.com.

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FAN ENGAGEMENT FRIDAY: NEWS FROM AROUND THE GROUNDS 04/11/2022

A weekly recap of some of the interesting stories and developments from the educational to the random in the world of fan engagement/experience, stadium/venue news, fan behaviour and psychology, customer service plus much more. Enjoy.

XXXX QLD DERBY NRL Brisbane Broncos Vs. North Queensland Cowboys, Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane, 10.03.2023

A very good 2023 opening home game win for the Brisbane Broncos with 43,000 at Suncorp Stadium for the XXXX Derby. 28-16 to Bronx. Beer, footy cards, chip challenge, mates, all good fun. #NRL #NRLBroncosCowboys #XXXXDerby #LangPark #BronxNation

Pictures here:

What a win and first match for 2023.
The weather didn’t help but I liked the look of the new fan area.
The drums, seating and colours all looked good but I do miss the bar and TV especially to watch the first Friday game. Anyway to bring the tv back? There seemed to be limited food options too this time round. Not sure there was or will be enough seating too on dry game days. The hammock type beach chairs were great too but since gone. 


The ball pit and the faces game looked cool and I’ve not seen either at another AUS team game day so well done for something new and unique. Can’t wait to get my daughter on the slide and ball pit. Photo idea also cool. More photo opportunities. 


Bring the trading cards back! That was epic last year. 


How about a match day program. One page of stats and facts for fans, like a newsletter. Something to read on game days over a beer. I miss the old big league, rugby league week etc game day guide.
The fireworks, light show was outstanding. The dolphin used safe smoke that looked very visually effective, could they try that in our colours? 


Loved the barber shop. How do I get a beard trim future games?


Shepperd. Please never again. They do the same thing every QLD government or Stadiums QLD event and it is tiring and painful on my ears! Get Violent Soho or some other Qld bands, performers, but as was said during the week, a lot of people are over them doing EVERY bloody gig in sport, community etc. 


Posters. Great idea. 


Members tent/support. Very good comms and friendly, helpful people. Maybe more incentives or giveaways for members, show how we’re valued. More giveaways per game. A trading card collectable series each game day only members can collect? A new poster each game? 

10,000 cans and bottles recycled!

Ramona Josie and I have just this week surpassed 10,000 cans and bottles recycled in the container deposit scheme by collecting in our suburb on our morning and afternoon walks since we started in July 2020, 6 days after she was born!

We walk between 8km to 15km a day (although I guess I do all the walking at this stage!) and we turn the recycling into our own scheme whereby 50% of the recycled funds go into toys and educational supplies for her fun and development while the other 50% goes to buying toys to donate to charities like we do each Christmas by donating 100+ Hot Wheels cars to Helen’s Haven and the QLD Children’s Hospital for kids in need.

I love our suburb and the CDS has been a great motivator for exercise, helping the environment, giving back to our community and helping kids in need, cleaning up our suburb, bonding with my daughter and giving my wife a break! (haha).

FAN ENGAGEMENT FRIDAY: NEWS FROM AROUND THE GROUNDS 22/10/2022

A weekly recap of some of the interesting stories and developments from the educational to the random in the world of fan engagement/experience, stadium/venue news, fan behaviour and psychology, customer service plus much more. Enjoy.

Barcelona fans take legal action over Lionel Messi’s transfer to PSG

Tim Winton urges Fremantle Dockers to drop Woodside Energy sponsorship

After The NBA Japan Games 2022, Japanese Fans Are Hungry For More

Indonesia to demolish football stadium after deadly stampede

Minnesota United Relies on RTS Intercoms to Create Ultimate Fan Experience

Golden State Warriors and Chase Center elevate immersive fan experiences with Aruba Wi-Fi 6E

How FIFA and Roblox Are Collaborating to Elevate the World Cup Fan Experience

WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert discusses viewership, streaming, Brittney Griner, and more

Fandom, the world’s largest fan platform, unveiled its 2022 State of Gaming report

A-Leagues announce partnership with Komo Technologies

DoorDash launches in-stadium ordering with Golden State Warriors

Soccer Qatar World Cup will have areas for drunk fans to sober up, chief says

ICC unveils world first digital experiences that take fans closer to the game

StatusPRO and Green Bay Packers bring NFL PRO ERA experience to fans at 2022 London Games

Amazon One Technology Growing At Seattle’s Climate Pledge Arena

L.O.L. Surprise! kicks off FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 collaboration

The Golden State Warriors Have Become the World’s Most Valuable Basketball Brand Thanks to 3 Factors

With an offseason to prepare, Kraken expect better game-day experience for fans

Technology Innovations of the 2022-23 NBA Season

Meta debuts first Premier League sports apparel for avatars with LFC

Innovating For The Sports-Crazy Customer

ICC T20 World Cup starts, ICC launches 5 amazing innovations to take cricket fans closer to the LIVE MATCH ACTION

Titans, Nashville Strike Deal for $2.2 Billion Domed Stadium, per Report

Sohrob Farudi on redefining the level of control in the fan experience

Brooklyn Nets Debut the Brooklyn Way

‘#1 Sabres fan’ gets special game-day experience for her 80th birthday

6 emerging threats and trends in venue security

LA Clippers Launch ClipperVision, With Six Different Live Streams Available Direct-To-Consumer

Building The Best Matchday Menu in Sports

Climate Pledge Arena extends use of Amazon One service

Optus Stadium introduces plastic-free cups for all drinks as WA moves to ban and replace single-use items

Immersal’s 5G AR horse racing tech bids to enhance at-track experience

NEW GROUND-BREAKING TECHNOLOGY ROLLING OUT ACROSS THE HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY

5 technologies to redefine the consumer journey for the FEC of the future

NFL’s ‘Por La Cultura’ campaign seeks inclusivity; league addresses controversial logo

Two Fresno State fans injured by falling glass after coach punches out press box window

Dolphins Clever Stadium Design Has Created A 30° Temperature Difference Between Home & Away Sidelines

MOST EMBARRASSING STADIUM PROPOSAL FAIL EVER, OR ELABORATE HOAX? YOU DECIDE

Scottish nightclub relies on ravers body heat to generate venue’s power

Oriole Park at Camden Yards has been crowned for having the best sports stadium food

Hong Kong Sevens: 23,000 tickets sold but stadium food ban ‘reducing demand’

12 Old-Fashioned Ballpark Foods You’ve Got To Try at Least Once

LFC tackling antisocial and criminal behaviour

How to build a fanbase from nothing in 2022

NBA venues go big on Zippin powered checkout-free stores

Which Team Has the Most Expensive Beer in the NBA This Season?

This NBA Team Helped Erect a Vegan Concession Stand at Their Home Stadium

Frito-Lay Kicks Off FIFA World Cup™ Campaign with Globally Inspired Flavors and Unique Digital Fan Experience

Every NBA team’s Super Fan

Rakuten becomes the NBA’s secret weapon for winning fans in Japan

How the Milwaukee Bucks fan experience is changing, including the beer: Q&A with Peter Feigin

F1 Arcade venue offering fans the ultimate racing-themed experience set to open in London

United Center unveils new fan experience ahead of Bulls, Blackhawks home openers

LA Clippers offer live in-market NBA games on new DTC platform

MLB Walk-Up Music Spurs New Category in Stadium Sound Systems

Next Woman Up: Kristi Johnson, Director of Security for the Arizona Cardinals

Dubai launches first ever World Cup fan zone for social influencers

ESPN bets big on TikTok to become ‘home of hockey’ for Gen Z fans

How to leverage sports communities for brand engagement

NSW pubs and clubs to expand use of facial recognition technology in gaming areas from 2023

NFL kicks off ‘greening’ project, plants 57 trees at Phoenix park ahead of Super Bowl

FAN ENGAGEMENT FRIDAY: NEWS FROM AROUND THE GROUNDS 15/10/2022

A weekly recap of some of the interesting stories and developments from the educational to the random in the world of fan engagement/experience, stadium/venue news, fan behaviour and psychology, customer service plus much more. Enjoy.

FANS HQ 24

Cambridge United to establish ‘fan led’ Shadow Board 

ICC launches world-first for cricket: Digital collectibles to be created as iconic moments happen

Penguins Have One Of NHL’s Most Dedicated Fan Bases: Study

Budget caps, cranes and confusion: F1 risks losing new fans after latest chaos

Australian Open 2023 targets record 900,000 fans

Google deal would see Daniel Levy complete Tottenham Hotspur Stadium naming rights masterstroke

LATEST STADIUM DRONE FOOTAGE | New aerial views of Everton Stadium progress

OnCore Golf, FANS XR and MetaFORE.golf establish collaboration to bring state-of-the-art fan engagement technology to golf

FIFA reveals sites for World Cup fan viewing parties

The uniqueness of the K-Pop fan experience

How Minnesota United, RTS Create Ultimate Fan Experience at Allianz Field

Real Sociedad launch their Fan Tokens with unique experiences

UK bans 1,300 fans from England, Wales at World Cup

Breakers give fans long-awaited homecoming victory

Fifa, Budweiser hosting fan fests across globe during Qatar World Cup

Football club and sponsor come together to present special gift to disabled fan

Does College Football Have An Engagement Problem?

Midges invade stadium ahead of Los Angeles Chargers-Cleveland Browns clash

Indonesia stadium disaster: only four paramedics were on standby inside grounds

Fan Leader Network playing a key role in promoting the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022

We are learning from the IPL, says NBA Asia chief Ramez Sheikh

Digitization and Artificial Intelligence: A Home Run Combination for Sports Heritage and Fan Engagement

Here are the most expensive NHL arenas for the full hockey experience

Bathurst 1000 fans celebrate return to Mount Panorama on Brock anniversary

WATCH: Korean fans’ spine-tingling celebrations after Ulsan’s insane K League comeback

Optus branding to be taken off Optus Stadium as telco battles after hack

Growing women’s basketball fan community highlighted at recent World Cup in Sydney

New offering allows K-pop fans to engage with idols via distributed ledger technology

Minor league baseball draws 30.9M fans, down from 41.5M in ’19

Bombers respond to plans to rip up memberships

International Fans Angered As Postseason Games Blacked Out On MLB’s Streaming Service; League Responds

Minecraft Star Dream Meets His Screaming Fans for First Time

‘We need to apologise’: Game so bad fans leave before overtime as $245m flop booed mercilessly

LEVIS STADIUM: GO SAFELY GAME PLAN

SailGP: Building a more sustainable and inclusive future for international sailing

FC Dallas unveils player tunnel mural created by Dallas artist

NBA 2K League, Australia’s National Basketball League announce agreement to launch expansion team, NBL OZ Gaming

Major tournaments in future will need cooling technology: expert

Dodgers Fans Turning to Secondary Market to Get Past Padres ‘LA Ban’

Future of TV Briefing: A Q&A with Major League Baseball’s CRO about the league taking bigger swings in streaming

UConn offering fans free basketball tickets if they buy football tickets first

Kobie Marketing previews 2022 consumer research findings

State Farm Stadium gets new technology just in time for the Super Bowl

Penguins, Aramark Sports + Entertainment Announce New Dining Additions

MLB PLAYOFF TEAMS DEBUT NEW FOOD Yankees Unveil ’62’ Burger!!!

Buffalo Next: Sabres, Bisons use technology to reduce long stadium food lines

A Decade of Dramatic Change in Digital Customer Experience

Rams team up with La Brea Bakery to provide fans enhanced gameday experience

MLB Playoffs Bring Specialty Concessions To Ballparks

Red Bull make fan’s day after being bullied by Lewis Hamilton fans

Washington Wizards first NBA team to launch Arabic social media platforms

Wittenmyer: Cubs among trendsetters in openly bilking sports fans

Oriole Park home to the best sports stadium food according to new report

FAN ENGAGEMENT FRIDAY: NEWS FROM AROUND THE GROUNDS 07/10/2022

A weekly recap of some of the interesting stories and developments from the educational to the random in the world of fan engagement/experience, stadium/venue news, fan behaviour and psychology, customer service plus much more. Enjoy.

FANS HQ 23

ASM GLOBAL RE-APPOINTED SUNCORP STADIUM MANAGER

Here’s your chance to get a piece of Aloha Stadium

Uber Pies, beers to your seat at the G: Footy fans could soon get Uber to deliver pies and beer to their seats at the MCG or Marvel stadium under a stadium shake-up.

Several fans left injured after Chilean club stadium’s roof collapses during open training, video surfaces

Crypto’s Hold on Formula 1 Sponsoring Gets Tested in Singapore

Indonesia soccer stampede kills 125 after police use tear gas in stadium

Qatar Foundation: bridging the accessibility gap at the FIFA World Cup

Scottish FA and PTI Digital power personalised fan experiences

After lengthy Covid delay, NBA resumes global outreach with Japan preseason games

LaLiga teams up with Snapchat for content partnership

DRS INTRODUCED TO BBL AND WBBL

10 Tech Trends For 2022 NFL Season

GWS fades in land of the NRL giants While the junior rugby league numbers have dipped in other regions western Sydney is an area where the game’s grip has only solidified.

How has personalization improved digital sports marketing?

Digital customer experience top of mind for PGA Tour

Fabric Is Helping Teams and Leagues Augment Their Venue Experience With Real-Time, Location-Specific Fan Content Including Trivia, Polls

Dodger fan celebrates 100th birthday at his first Dodger game

Interning with the Chiefs gives a glimpse of a future in sports

How Birmingham 2022’s tech operations created a blueprint for more sustainable Commonwealth Games and multi-sport events

Here is a taste of the new food, technology coming to AT&T Stadium in Arlington

Coors Light, Tide Cleaners offer to do laundry for college football fans

Indonesian police: Narrow stadium gates slowed people fleeing deadly football stampede

New Gen3 Mustang revealed in Bathurst

Sydney United 58 fan gets life ban for Nazi salute at Australia Cup final

Marlins Deploy Genetec AutoVu to Elevate Fan Experience

‘Worst game day experience bar none’: Fans fume over cricket ‘farce’

Fans charged over alleged missiles at Blackpool v Blackburn Rovers game

MLB hits a 25-year low in unrestricted attendance

Future of Soccer in the US: Is MLS Poised to Challenge the Established Giants?

Packers will give British football fans some of the Lambeau Field experience

Twitter targets sport with ‘mix and match’ multimedia posts and immersive video

Sustainability and sport in the spotlight at 2022 Sport Positive Summit

Next Woman Up: Gabrielle Valdez Dow, VP of Marketing and Fan Engagement for the Green Bay Packers

Golden State Warriors and Chase Center Elevate Immersive Fan Experiences with Aruba Wi-Fi 6E

Rugby League World Cup 2021 teams up with Wor Flags to produce iconic display at tournament opener

Helping Rovers fans to kick the habit!

NBA releases new Azure-powered app to personalise fan experience

Liverpool have ‘responsibility to fans’ to explore new technologies like NFTs, says head of digital

IMMERSIVE AT&T STADIUM TECHNOLOGY TAKES FAN EXPERIENCES TO ANOTHER LEVEL

How the NFL is using technology to enhance the fan experience

2022 NRL Grand Final Fan Experience, Penrith Vs.Parramatta, Accor Stadium, Sydney, 2/10/22

On Sunday morning at 2am I left Brisbane to head down to Sydney for the NRL Grand Final between Penrith Panthers and Parramatta Eels at Accor Stadium in Homebush, Sydney.

Leaving home at 3am I hit Brisbane Airport, parked the car and excitedly boarded my 5am flight to Sydney to head to an NRL Grand Final, my first GF since 2018 at the Olympic Stadium.

In the lead up to the big event I produced a match day fact sheet for my fellow NRL fans which went down a hit in our NRL community. I miss match day programs so tried to make it reminiscent of Big League Magazine (RIP) to have a physical keepsake from the big day.

I hit Sydney by 8am taking into account day-light savings time and made my way to my hotel, stopping to check the front covers of the local papers all promoting the major event.

By 12pm I was making my way out to the venue and here is a run down on the day from my fan experience and fan journey perspective.

Transport:

My fan journey from Central Station to Olympic Park and the game at Accor Stadium could not have been quicker or more seamless. Free travel on public transport was included with every ticket and the journey out to the venue from Central via train took under 25 minutes. From there it was such a simple walk to the venue fan precinct and entry gates. It’s always very accessible and it was good also to see the colourful NRL team bunting and presentation at Central Station and Olympic Park Station which added to the atmosphere. Staff were helpful and eager to engage with both sets of fans to ensure they all had a good day.

Unfortunately I was unable to take the gorgeous old cab or Routemaster bus out to the game but don’t they just look outstanding!

Ticketing:

It pays to be an NRL member. I purchased my ticket as soon as NRL members tickets went on sale. I was able to get a discount, buy first and choose where I wanted to sit. I was surprised members got a further discount which was nice to see. I purchased the cheapest tickets I could at $49 which I thought was a bargain. Many fans on social jokingly said my seat was rubbish however I beg to differ. We were front and centre with a birds eye view. Not every fan can afford to go or be close to the action and this price point was all that I could afford anyway. Entry through the gates was seamless and efficient however I did go through very early in the day so had no troubles scanning in. Bag searches were conducted and a hello and smile along with eye contact was received on entry as well which was pleasant to see.

Fan Zone/Fan Engagement:

The fan precinct was absolutely pumping when I arrived after midday with fans of both teams as well as neutral rugby league fans like myself all having a wonderful, fun, safe time together at the bars and within the outside fan zone area.

The bars were going off with live music, DJ’s and beers flowing with the sun out and the atmosphere sparkling with positivity from the fans. It was such a fun vibe and moment to be in.

The merchandise tents were doing a roaring trade with special event tees and hats as well as Penrith and Parramatta gear selling like hot cakes at the multiple merchandise sites around the venue.

The fan engagement and event presentation was top notch and included loads of fun activations for kids, families and fans of all ages such as:

  • competitions
  • pass the ball
  • face painting
  • giveaways
  • trivia
  • photo opportunities (NRL Steeden ball/NRLW)
  • size me up
  • colouring in
  • trophy photos
  • virtual kick and photo activations

Everyone was having such a brilliant time in the fan zone with the lines moving really well throughout the two hours I spent going from activity to activation….obviously, didn’t do the face painting or colouring in but I can see how much fun my daughter will have when I bring her down for a grand final in a few years time.

The event presentation looked impressive with colourful lighting, banners and bunting throughout the venue and surrounds. There was also plenty of food truck gourmet options outside the ground as well as astro turfed areas, roving entertainers (the 70’s disco crew on stilts- they were outstanding!), craft beer bars and plenty of spaces to sit and take in the festivities.

Venue:

After I had my fun in the fan zone I headed into the venue and up the ramp to my seats in section 606. I forgot how steep this venue gets and you really have to pace yourself, especially if carrying a tray of beers so I was glad I had my weetbix in the morning as when I made it to my seat I was able to take in my impressive view of the ground. For $50 I was very impressed with my seat purchase and settled in for a while with a cold bevvie to take in the NRL State Championship (Penrith defeated Norths Devils 44-10), NRLW Grand Final (Newcastle won 32-12 over Parramatta) and then the pre-game entertainment before the main match.

It was outstanding to be a part of a new Australian crowd record for the NRL Women’s competition as close to 43,000 fans set this record to watch the Grand Final. Well done to everyone for being inside the venue to watch this moment.

When I went down to get a beer and pie at 6pm the lines were unfortunately really bad with up to 100m of people waiting in lines in both directions and no real line management or idea for fans of where lines started or ended or went for food or drinks so I unfortunately gave up and didn’t get to eat anything at the venue and only bought the one beer in the end. This was probably the most disappointing thing about the fan experience as I love nothing more than getting a pie and a beer but it was just too busy and after 20 minutes in a line that wasn’t moving I decided to give up. The venue staff however should be commended because I saw how hard they were working for fans and they were smiling and being positive. It’s always hard for a venue when at capacity to service every fan efficiently and we have to remember that venues are still getting back into their groove post COVID too so while it was disappointing to not be able to get F&B I can also understand the challenges.

Beers were $10.50-10.90 and included Stone and Wood craft beer. I wasn’t able to see more of the food on show but I heard there was a special event day burger which sounded good!

Pre-Game Entertainment:

Being a huge Cold Chisel fan I was really excited for Jimmy Barnes to be performing as part of the pre-game show and he was absolutely brilliant bringing all the hits and having fans rocking out to the classics. The other performers were equally impressive and the Welcome to Country and National Anthem were also big highlights with the Indigenous man doing the WTC doing such a fine job talking about respect.

The crowd singalong’s of fan favourites like ‘Sweet Caroline’ and ‘Horses’ were quite funny to see while the multiple on field sponsor fan engagement activations at half time were run smoothly and provided some laughs. I feel for the ladies kicking the goals in that competition, it’s bloody hard in the footwear that fans bring to a game not realising how oily the turf is!

The pitch invader that ran on and tried to scale the posts was brilliantly nabbed by security and venue staff and ushered off the field. Thankfully this idiot will now be fined and banned and did not cause any player injuries. Well done to the venue staff here for quickly sorting this out. These people don’t belong in our NRL community.

Exit:

Once the game was over with Penrith winning 28-12 over Parramatta we made our way back down the ramp and out to the train station to head back into the city. Transport home could not have been more easy and seamless with the lines moving fast and free transport making it simple to get home and end the night safely. I will add that when I asked a cabbie how much it was to get to the city he remarked $150 and told me the meter was off. Very dodgy behaviour and not what fans expect or deserve to see for the fan experience. No sooner had I told him that was ridiculous and unfair for fans, he was swarmed by transport cops or transit enforcement officers (unsure who they were) who heard me talking to him and ordered him to pull over however he did not want to and continued trying to drive away which was quite dangerous as it was packed with fans around him. I commend these officers because they saw that this was wrong and not what fans expect from transport companies.

A big shout out to the National Rugby LeagueAccor Stadium and everyone involved for putting on an outstanding #NRLGF day in Sydney today.

I had such a fun day participating in all the activations, catching up with the NRL community and just being back at the venue for the first time in a few years.

Fantastic event presentation, fan journey, #FanEngagement, fan atmosphere and entertainment. Seamless free travel on public transport, craft beers, food trucks, happy, positive and helpful staff and a brilliant loud atmosphere all made for an epic day.

Well done Penrith Panthers and Newcastle Knights and Parramatta Eels National Rugby League Club fans too.

NRLGF Match Day Fact Sheet 2022

I deeply miss physical match day programs at the NRL so I produced this one-off free NRL grand final fact sheet for myself and fellow fans for the big day. Sadly print media is dying a slow death and soon there won’t be any match day programs from the English football to the cherished AFL Record….hopefully that time is still some time away.

It went down such a hit with fans in our NRL community and I ended up running out of the 50 copies I printed, all of which was just for a bit of a laugh, to have a physical keepsake memory to take away from the game.

FAN ENGAGEMENT FRIDAY: NEWS FROM AROUND THE GROUNDS 30/09/2022

A weekly recap of some of the interesting stories and developments from the educational to the random in the world of fan engagement/experience, stadium/venue news, fan behaviour and psychology, customer service plus much more. Enjoy.

FANS HQ MAGAZINE

Creepy Fans at Baseball Games Apparent Promotion for Movie ‘Smile’

EXCLUSIVE Qatar planning for World Cup fans to avoid prosecution for minor offences – Sources

ICC better serves the cricket fan experience with Fanatics

Uefa pre-prepared Champions League final statement blaming ‘late’ fans

Three launches first live 5G throughout a Premier League stadium at Stamford Bridge

No stars? No problem: Interest in sumo grows as it enters parity era

A trait called “morbid curiosity” might explain why some people are attracted to violent music like death metal

Silverstone offers apology for F1 British Grand Prix online ticket sale chaos

Preventing stadium violence

The Role Of AI In Sports Fan Engagement

Ind-Aus match day: Here are things not allowed inside cricket stadium

Celebrating 100 years of Ohio Stadium and the man who designed it

Every reason Newcastle United fans were arrested in 2021/22 – how behaviour ranks with Premier League clubs

‘A couple of million dollars’: Swans fans on merch spending spree

Adelaide Member wins AFL Fans Association Fan of the Year Award

Regional Saints fan group named best supporters in Australia

Why Brazilian football fans are ditching the yellow jersey Once an icon of unity and luck, the association of the shirt with Brazil’s far right has led football fans to give up on it.

HCLTech to Supercharge Jets and Giants Fan Experiences as New Cornerstone Partner of MetLife Stadium

Liverpool FC ‘enhances fan experience’ following Sorare extension

Qatar World Cup: Accommodation worries for football fans

EVERTON SETS UP GLOBAL SUPPORTERS’ CLUB COMMITTEES

North London derby breaks attendance record Saturday’s clash between Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur set a new attendance record in the Barclays Women’s Super League

Walsall Football Club: First Time Visitors

Presidents Cup: Inside the Technology on Tap for Fans at Quail Hollow Club in Charlotte

Tennessee Titans and Second Harvest Food Bank team up for a food drive during home game against the Raiders

Fan-Powered Deals Could Be the Next Big Thing in NIL

ASM Global offers seat-mounted mobile device charging to venue attendees

Aussie customer service standards slump since the onset of the COVID

Drone over stadium disrupts Seahawks game in Seattle, a day after same problem at UW game

How a 12-year-old Astros fan got all of baseball to clap in unison

Cristiano Ronaldo charged by FA after slapping phone out of fan’s hand

NRL 2022: Everything you need to know about Fan Fest

First Look: Inside Doha’s Bonkers New Golden World Cup Stadium

A trait called “morbid curiosity” might explain why some people are attracted to violent music like death metal

Tactile launches new palm biometrics scanner; market forecast above $530M by 2027

Tampa Bay Buccaneers to Host Fan Cruise in Partnership With Celebrity Cruises

Live sports streaming frustrates fans

KB Partners’ Steven Ahern on How Tech Will Change Sports Fans’ Experience

Hong Kong Sevens may provide food in corporate boxes only – regular fans ‘can order Deliveroo outside’

Why sports stress us out — and why we keep coming back for more

What makes for a successful loyalty scheme?

More performance venues going cashless for concessions

Tech solutions expand at NFL stadiums as 2022 season opens

Are you a fan or fanatic?

Digimon Fans Still Exist—and They’re the Keepers of Its Future

How Blaseball’s fantasy sports fever dream is embracing the future

The FA and FSA announces new supporter engagement plans

Super Bowl Halftime Show strikes a chord with Apple Music deal

Three launches first live 5G throughout a Premier League stadium at Stamford Bridge

Getting into it at Intuit Dome: The $2 billion arena aiming to change the NBA fan experience

Detroit Lions Select IT Services Company Trace3 as Team’s Analytics Partner to Support Fan Experiences at Ford Field

Tennessee Titans Announce First-Ever ‘Titans Home Team’

NBA puts premium on fan experience in new app

The NBA launches a first-of-its-kind new app experience for fans, driven by the power of data

Exclusive: How many NFL fans have used new in-stadium betting

Sky: Sports fans took 1.7 million actions in the name of the environment this summer

The Role Of AI In Sports Fan Engagement

Opinion: F1 fan experience must improve after Monza shambles

New York Giants and Jets agree HCLTech deals as MetLife Stadium gets technology upgrade

Auntie Anne’s Snack Stadium Pretzel Pack Returns for Football Season

Colts Gets the “Pick Six” Predictor App Rolling to Boost Fan Engagement

What’s new at NFL stadiums, Part 1: burgers, sandwiches and hot dogs

What’s new at NFL stadiums, Part 2: nachos, fries, mac ‘n cheese, etc.

FAN ENGAGEMENT FRIDAY: NEWS FROM AROUND THE GROUNDS 23/09/2022

A weekly recap of some of the interesting stories and developments from the educational to the random in the world of fan engagement/experience, stadium/venue news, fan behaviour and psychology, customer service plus much more. Enjoy.

FANS HQ 21

‘Horrendous in every way possible’: AFL fans in uproar as ‘stupid music’ turns MCG prelim into ‘worst place on earth’

Food For Thought: La Liga Side Getafe Offers Fans A Distinct Catering Service

UP: Food at sports camp kept in toilet, served to nearly 200 players at Saharanpur stadium

Macquarie Point in Hobart confirmed as new stadium site by Tasmanian government ahead of AFL bid

4 Ways Brands Are Boosting Customer Loyalty

Amadeus launches carbon labelling trial at NEC Group venues

The Premier Lacrosse League’s Fight for Fans

Braves welcome three-millionth fan in 2022

Virtual Autograph Sessions From DigiSign Help Athletes, Teams Reach Larger Audiences and Create Interactive Fan Experience

The 25 biggest NBA arena anthems of all time

The Eagles are collaborating with local artists for a unique fan experience

ECA fan survey highlights shifts in how football is being consumed

Texas A&M is first to get Amazon’s ‘Just Walk Out’ tech in college sports

The most valuable football shirts of all time

AT&T Stadium workers will now bring food and drink orders to your seat during Cowboys games

Schools near the Buffalo Bills’ stadium will have a half day because of Monday Night Football

GRUB’S UP Fans all saying the same thing after grim World Cup food is revealed as cheap pastry during awful stadium test event

Webinar: How to Improve the Fan Experience at the Stadium and Online

Wicket’s Facial Recognition Ticketing System Focused on Increasing Opt-In Rates, Tech to Expand for Concession Purchases

6 customer self-service best practices

Buy One Get One Tickets for Final Homestand

Lions aim to keep fans, Commanders trying to get them back

Tackling Plastic Waste at FirstEnergy Stadium

Arsenal say goodbye to Maria Petri, club’s biggest fan who attended games for over 64 years

NFL World Reacts Wildly to First TNF Game on Amazon Prime Video

Using Gated, Personalized Offers to Build Loyalty and Make Connections

Amazon’s Just Walk Out Technology for Checkout-Free Concession Stores Could Soon Expand to Include Merchandise

This AI system will completely change your experience at sporting events

Which Team Has the Most Expensive Beer in the NFL?

FirstEnergy Stadium rolls out new security devices to get fans into seats quicker & safer

Keeping the ‘Heinz’ in Acrisure Stadium — company, Steelers reach agreement

Fan experience gets even better in URC

49ers fans: Levi’s Stadium unveils a pub called The Faithful, plus new food choices

Representative Patty Kim aiming to help sports fans with new resolution

Consumer Alert: Bad customer service. It’s gotten worse. Here’s what to do about it.

What are the loudest NFL stadiums?

PUMA AND AC MILAN REWARD THE SUSTAINABILITY OF THEIR FANS

Opinion: When content meets fandom – the risks and rewards of fan engagement

Qatar endures nightmare stadium issues in World Cup trial run with no water for fans

AFL agrees multi-year TikTok content deal

UEFA and bwin launch fan-led ads across European territories

Best Practices for Sports Teams, Leagues Looking to Improve Cybersecurity While Upgrading Fan Experience From an Industry Veteran

Upgrading College Football Stadiums for a Better Fan Experience

Automated bars will be an ‘enhancement’ of concerts and sporting events: Tended Bar COO

Nextdoor Teams Up With MLS Club Toronto FC

Monza ‘regret’ over poor fan experience prompts fresh questions over its F1 future

Majority of football fans want FIFA to compensate Qatar World Cup migrant workers for human rights violations

New Fan Experience Committee makes its debut at football home opener

Furious AFL fans lash out at ‘stupid’ footy finals change that is ruining the game for them – amid worries it could take the gloss off the grand final

ICC to leverage Fanatics’ technology to serve cricket fans

Excitement around the Commanders Team Store is about more than just merchandise 

Evolv Security Screening Technology Is Finding Success Among Sports Venues as Frictionless Fan Experience Is Prioritized

Macquarie Point selected as Tasmania’s AFL stadium location, ABC understands

S.F. Giants fans upset over Dodgers merch being sold at Oracle Park

Snapdragon Stadium unveils Daktronics LED displays

Saudi football fan begins journey on foot from Jeddah to Doha for Qatar 2022

Jets and Charles Tyrwhitt Form First Transatlantic NFL Brand Partnership in Menswear

NHL wants in-game production capabilities in hands of fans

SELF-CHECKOUT RETAIL EXPANDS TO NFL VENUES

Crowd behaviour is a serious problem in football – Tottenham’s Eric Dier

Compact Cashierless Technology Boosts Sales at Sports Stadiums

Loyalty of true F1 fans being pushed to breaking point by British Grand Prix ticket greed

Liberty Defense Begins Beta Testing with Maryland Stadium Authority and the Baltimore Orioles at Camden Yards Sports Complex

Free makeup touch-ups coming to a concert venue near you Live Nation and Halsey will debut in-person beauty experiences at venues and music festivals around the country beginning later this year.

LIV Golf to air via Weibo in China as part of extensive digital tie-up

Harris Park Fan Precinct revamped for Repco Bathurst 1000

Packers fans experience duplicate charges on credit, debit cards

‘Really positive’: Tassie team’s $204m boost amid new stadium plans and govt funding hope

Tailgate tech for every sports fan!

FanNation, Captain Morgan, NFL Team Up For NFL Fan of the Year Contest

NBA LAUNCHPAD SEEKING INNOVATION SUBMISSIONS FOR 2ND SEASON FOLLOWING SUCCESSFUL INAUGURAL CAMPAIGN

NASCAR EXPERIENCE: ULTIMATE FAN CHECKLIST

Norwich City FC Experiences: There is no matchday quite like a Carrow Road Matchday.

Cleveland Browns, Aramark using technology to get fans from concessions to seats faster

Fans will be allowed on field at NHL Stadium Series game between Washington Capitals and Carolina Hurricanes in February

India-Australia T20I: Chaos, mismanagement at Mohali as fans fail to get inside stadium despite having tickets

Twitch to ban streams featuring Stake.com, the cryptocurrency casino linked to Australian tech startup Easygo

MLB employs ‘virtual idol’ to promote World Series in China

“Pay attention and act quickly”: AFL listens to disgruntled fans, drops post-goal music for Saturday’s Grand Final

Guffey: Why tennis is the best fan experience in sports

ASAP Brings its In-Arena Mobile Ordering to the NHL; New Partnership with Florida Panthers

FAN ENGAGEMENT FRIDAY: NEWS FROM AROUND THE GROUNDS 16/09/2022

A weekly recap of some of the interesting stories and developments from the educational to the random in the world of fan engagement/experience, stadium/venue news, fan behaviour and psychology, customer service plus much more. Enjoy.

FANS HQ 20: Free Fan Engagement Magazine

Telstra unveils Australian-first 5G innovation for AFL fans

Digitally connected San Francisco 49ers taps Avery Dennison retail technology

Touchdown! Verizon customers use 9.7TB of data at kickoff game at SoFi Stadium

Tech company’s outage leaves fans unable to download tickets

Dodgers: New Rule Change Will Affect Fan Experience At Dodger Stadium

The NFL’s most iconic theme music has roots in everything from Batman to ‘Star Wars’

Premier League clubs donate food from cancelled games to charity

NFL’s Decision To Shutter In-Stadium Sportsbooks On Game Days Is First Of Its Kind

What Are the Food Prices at SoFi Stadium? A Guide Ahead of Rams vs. Bills

New food and beverage offerings at Bank of America Stadium in 2022

“Tech now allows clubs, fans, and brands to tell a story even better than before.”

The most/least expensive beer prices at every NFL stadium: study

How MLB teams are targeting younger fans

How to… engage with your fanbase. Tom Leek, co-founder of the creative marketing agency NYX, tells M Magazine how to leverage digital tools and techniques to maximise your reach.

Passionate football fans ‘likely to be hostile to rival fans but also more kind’

Football fans face spiraling costs of tailgating

‘Lusail Stadium is a magical venue that will impress the entire world’

Falcons debut security screening technology before regular season opener

How the NFL Uses Digital Twins

The impact of India’s growing sports tourism market on football

‘Critical’: Epic new Gold Coast stadium fast-tracked

Spectacular and transformational: Rugby World Cup 2023 raising the bar with one year to go

Fifa introducing new Fan Festival for 2022 World Cup in Qatar

Justin Hemmes grilled over price of beer at new Sydney Football Stadium

“Alcohol will be available for fans in the 2022 World Cup stadiums” – Nasser Al Khater says Qatar focusing on fan experience

Arsenal to play three WSL games and all Champions League group stage matches at the Emirates Stadium

World Cup final stadium tested with first sellout crowd

PUSHING BOUNDARIES IN ‘SPORTAINMENT’

Steve Pangburn on elevating the business and fan experience of sports event concessions

FIFA Builds NFT Platform to Boost World Cup Fan Engagement

10 key customer service trends for 2022 and beyond

How the N.F.L. Stays So Popular, Despite Its Many Scandals

Network Upgrade Improves Fan Experience at Leeds United FC

Two fans removed from US Open quarterfinal match after haircut prank at Arthur Ashe Stadium

Qatar warns World Cup fans about sneaking alcohol into country

AFL fans lose out — broadcaster rights deal just another win for executives and players

Extreme and Minor League Baseball to Push the Boundaries of In-Stadium Technology with New Partnership

A Psychological Perspective on Merch Collecting, From Hobbyists to Obsessives

Aramark Sports + Entertainment announces self-checkout technology for 2022 NFL season

You can get $500 and 2 free tickets to an NFL game to review stadium food

EXCLUSIVE PILOT PROGRAM FOR SPORTS CLUBS “SPORT METAVERSE”

Lobster Mac and Cheese and a Muffuletta Are on the List of New Concessions at AT&T Stadium, Home of the Dallas Cowboys

Fan Experience – Pepsi launches the NFL season by offering a Tiny House in « Fan Cave » mode

How to harness the power of fan engagement

Smart sportswear: digital innovation in football fandom

Ticket-holders allowed to invite up to three people to Qatar as excitement grows for the 2022 World Cup

Telstra bringing the fun to NRL fans this finals series!

As the NFL season kicks off, advertisers draw from a new playbook

Tom Brady NFT experience will be an ‘unprecedented fan journey’: Autograph CEO

SpotOn Digital Payment Tech Installed at 37 NFL, NCAA Venues Ahead of Football Season

Lumen Field’s newest food offerings celebrate popular local restaurants

What’s in a name? How naming rights deals impact the professional sports venue landscape

Rising Customer Expectations Makes “Exceptional” the New Service Baseline

Opinion | In the battle for audience engagement, utilisation of technology is key

Utah Jazz Partner with Community, SMS Messaging Platform, to Directly Text with Fans at 801-938-3022

Inter Miami CF Announce Fan of the Match Initiative with Socios.com

Fans can now buy concessions at Allegiant Stadium without paying at checkout

Goodbye soggy chips, hello fine dining at sports venues nationwide

Tropicana Field’s BallPark & Rec will expand into a two-story full-service restaurant

Bayern Munich fans protest match delays due to Queen Elizabeth II’s death

Collingwood fans face sky-high airfares in clamour to reach Sydney for AFL final

Celtic fans slammed over Queen banner as Rangers defy UEFA by playing national anthem

Flight gouging sees die-hard AFL fans priced out of finals

Live streaming scam dupes footy fans eager to watch regional finals matches online

World Cup 2022: Qatar opened its massive Lusail Stadium and the reviews were … not great

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