digital media

Cricket Australia Test Match vs South Africa, SCG, Sydney, Australia 03/01/2023

Ramona and I visited the Sydney Cricket Ground in Sydney for day one of the first test match and what was her first visit to this historic ground.

I took great delight in buying her her first cricket bat, albeit a tiny one for player autographs.

A big hit with her was the automatic sunscreen station too which was a clever idea.

Cricket Australia Test Match, Australia vs South Africa, The Gabba, Brisbane, Australia, 17/12/2022

First Cricket Test Match.

Australia vs South Africa.

Day One. Brisbane, Queensland.

An annual tradition that is important to me.

Great as always to take dad along each year and pack my cricket snack pack.

Gotta have good snacks.

FAN ENGAGEMENT FRIDAY: NEWS FROM AROUND THE GROUNDS 29/10/2022

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.

FIFA Women’s World Cup organisers hope to inspire young female football fans across the Tasman

Checkout-free market offers alcohol, hot food at Mercedes-Benz Stadium

A rivalry bigger than cricket: India and Pakistan fans rejoice in an MCG encounter

Tasmanian Labor calls for statewide vote on proposed $750 million stadium in Hobart

SeatGeek’s first-ever national ad campaign is an energetic homage to sports superfans

Mumbai City FC partners exclusively with DreamSetGo

Lays Is Back At Surprising Snack Fans with Limited Edition Flavors for the FIFA World Cup

Soldier Field adds cloud-based parking system in effort to improve fan experience

Metricon Stadium to change its name after builder fails to renew Gold Coast Suns sponsorship deal

Six Nations Rugby debuts Sportable Gilbert Smart Ball in Autumn Nations Series

NBA looks to tap further into emerging technology with Launchpad program

Social media emerges as primary fan-engagement platform for sports fans

American Express expands global venue presence across the country

Marseille fan faces attempted murder charge for crowd unrest

When Cultures Connect: Hip-Hop & the WNBA

How McLaren is taking high-tech connectivity to another level

Saracens lacking safety certificate to admit 10,000 or more fans to stadium

Supporter feedback shaping Molineux matchday experience

Buried or reborn: can a heritage building survive a mega stadium?

Sports Matters 2022 | How sport must change to engage younger generations

Bolton Wanderers ‘leads the way’ in backing Against the Odds campaign

Chicago Bulls tap Klarna for in-seat merchandise deliveries

Amazon creates exclusive Thursday Night Football experience for randomly selected Valley fans

10 to watch in sustainability

NBA stars team up with Wicked Kitchen to launch vegan concession stand

How Should Global Brands Engage Gen Z During The FIFA World Cup?

Premier League dithering and a reliance on blind loyalty from fans

FIFA World Cup in Qatar: AC stadiums show how technology is shaping sports

GameOn Technology Launches New NBA Chat Experience with the Houston Rockets

Imagine AR announces premiere of Baltimore Ravens immersive fan experiences on mobile app

Seattle’s Climate Pledge Arena Gets More Sustainable With Impossible Burgers and Meatless Subs

Yondr’s phone-free concerts: are they here to stay?- Kate Smith, Darrick Wood School

Racing Club Create Breastfeeding Football Shirt

That’s a wrap! Term 3 in Fans & Community

Fans ‘fed up’ with ‘hypocritical’ athletes

Struggling for Viewers, LIV Golf Looking to Produce a “Drive to Survive” Series

The high cost of being a sports fan

Snooker: BIGGER AND BETTER FAN EXPERIENCE IN YORK

Portland Trail Blazers to Use Interactive Media Platform Sparx for Fan Engagement, Platform Offers Polling, Predictive Questions, Trivia

Fan Tokens of Peruvian, Spanish and Brazilian National Soccer Teams Rally as FIFA World Cup Nears

Winnipeg Jets’ New App Was Designed With Fans in Mind; Inside How the Team Incorporated a Loyalty Program Tied to the Community

FC Edinburgh slash ticket prices after admitting fan experience is ‘not ideal’

How The LA Clippers’ Partnership With Globant Will Revolutionize The Fan Experience

Reading FC boss Paul Ince highlights importance of fan engagement: ‘It was important to bridge that gap’

LGBT football fans told to be respectful at Qatar World Cup

Simply The Best: Allianz Stadium Fan Experience Review, Sydney, Australia 02/09/2022

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.

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

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

FAN ENGAGEMENT FRIDAY: NEWS FROM AROUND THE GROUNDS 02/09/2022

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 FREE MAGAZINE

What you need to know about changes coming to the PGA Tour

Fan Engagement: The NEW Holy Grail for Sports Brands

AT&T Launches Upgraded 5G Game View for WNBA Fans

THE BRISBANE HEAT TAKEOVER THE WHEEL OF BRISBANE

Brisbane Broncos invite Barcaldine Sandgoannas coach for VIP experience

Levy UK + Ireland: Free beer was right call at Dublin game when technical issues arose at Nebraska-Northwestern football

How Ever-Evolving Fan Experiences Are Paving The Way To A New Event Industry

‘Fans mean as much to the rugby league experience as the players’: The value of the NRL fan

Stadium Payments Are Stuck in the Past due to GoTab: Resistance to Automation

Notorious ‘ballhawking’ baseball fan causes another controversy trying to catch more home runs

Rising costs, 28-hour journeys, and Brexit passport woe: meet the Arsenal Belgium members who go to great lengths to see their beloved Gunners

2022 Stadium Journey WNBA Arena Rankings

FedEx Field ranked as worst NFL stadium

Footy fan fuel: What’s on offer at the new Allianz Stadium?

Hated MLB collector Zack Hample whines after having to follow stadium rules

Police union launch legal action over beer cans at Adelaide Oval

The most popular AFL clubs, according to the social media channels

Delta 12Status Brings Back Priority Boarding To Seahawks Fans

Lumen Field Will Be 1st NFL Venue With Amazon’s Just Walk Out Tech

T-Mobile Provides Fans with Behind-the-Scenes Look at the 2022 Little League Baseball® World Series

Digitally or On Site, Brands Serve Up US Open Activations

Opinion: Creating raving fans with content, capability and campaign

NEW YORK JETS BUILD FAN DATA INTO SUPERCHARGED CONSULTING ARM

11 Of The Worst Stadium Foods You Shouldn’t Order

Mercedes-Benz Stadium Celebrates Five-Year Anniversary

How a $2 billion futuristic sports palace will aid the Clippers in the battle for L.A. hoops

Qatar’s Technology for Fight with Heat: World Cup in the desert country of Qatar, how will the stadium be cold? | How Qatar Will Keep The Stadiums Cool in FIFA World Cup 2022

VIRTUAL VENUE TECHNOLOGY LAUNCHED AT BT MURRAYFIELD

How Ever-Evolving Fan Experiences Are Paving The Way To A New Event Industry

When football fandom turns toxic

Lifelong Raiders fan attends her first ever NFL game at 93 years old

Billions are spent marketing crypto to sports fans — Is it worth it?

U.S. Soccer focused on key demos in marketing push before men’s World Cup

WHY WOMEN’S SPORTS EQUALITY IS KEY TO MARKETING SUCCESS

Mickey Mantle card breaks record, as sports memorabilia soar

Vendor applauds staff for serving free beer at Big Ten game in Dublin

How to Connect with Sports Fans as the Third-Party Cookie Crumbles

USA Rugby partners with Rugby Xplorer to provide refreshed Membership platform and digital transformation

Hemmes Happy Hours: Toast to new stadium with half-price drinks

Matt Moran to inspire corporate dining at Accor Stadium

BUD LIGHT ‘CRACKS OPEN’ NFL SEASON BY CELEBRATING FANS’ FIRST BEER

Toyota’s mobility vision comes into focus with a next-gen sports arena

Michael Rubin wants to make Fanatics a one-stop digital sports platform

Vivid Seats Predicts Fan Forecast® For 2022 NFL Season

Everton fan clashes with steward after dropping child to grab Anthony Gordon’s shirt

Players’ AFLW stadium calls grow louder

WORLD CHAMPION ATLANTA BRAVES LAUNCH NEW GAMIFIED FAN EXPERIENCE POWERED BY SURGING SPORTS GAMING OPERATOR STATHERO

Foul balls! Two supporters removed from Blue Jays’ stadium for allegedly having SEX in the stands as Toronto topped the Chicago Cubs in the MLB match

Report: Larger Number of NFL Fans Traveling to Road Games

Feral cats, few fans and lewd acts: is the A’s era in Oakland over?

Brisbane Broncos NRLW Fan Experience, Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane, 27/8/22

What a weekend of sport in Brisbane this weekend with the Brisbane Broncos and Brisbane Lions both playing standalone matches at Suncorp Stadium and The Gabba respectively.

Took Ramona along for the National Rugby League #NRLW match against Sydney Roosters today in what was a really enjoyable fan experience and will follow it up with the Lions match against Fremantle Dockers tomorrow in Woolloongabba.

Quick shout out to the helpful stadium staff (for their dancing for Ramona from the snackbars as we walked through the concourse), the Broncos marketing, fan engagement and design team (for the cool free posters and trading cards) and the female athletes who are paving the way for the next generation – her generation.

#NRLWBroncosRoosters #NRL #BrisbaneBroncos #BrisbaneLions

FAN ENGAGEMENT FRIDAY: NEWS FROM AROUND THE GROUNDS 26/08/2022

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: Downloadable PDF Magazine

See the new food at Lucas Oil for Indianapolis Colts fans for the 2022-23 season

West Ham continue legal action threat over food and drink prices at London Stadium

WEST HAM: Matchday food and drink concession prices – update

What Social Media is Changing about Baseball: MLB Ambassadors

Fan experience elements outlined for upcoming Virginia Tech Football season

MOST BIG-TICKET SPORTS VENUES PLAY HOST TO GAMES, AND LITTLE ELSE

UCF to sell alcohol throughout football stadium for 1st time

The new Allianz Stadium, ready to entertain you

The price of food and drink at West Ham’s stadium causes outrage, it’s £3.65 for a cup of tea

New tech lets most Browns fans walk into stadium without stopping for security

T-Mobile 5G Swings into Yankee Stadium

READ | EFL launches new Equality, Diversity and Inclusion strategy ‘Together’

Foot Locker, Inc. and Fanatics Team Up to Expand Licensed Sports Product Offering for Fans

16 Tactics To Retain Customers While Using A Self-Service Option

9 sports venues that are doubling down on on-site sports betting

Sports stadiums echo ancient divisions

See Inside New York’s Yankee Stadium ‘Like You’ve Never Seen Before’ Read More: New Drone Footage Gives Unique View of New York’s Yankee Stadium

10 Sports Marketing Trends That You Should Know and Use

Can Baseball survive in a Football world?

OPINION: INSANE F1 TICKET PRICES WILL SHUT OUT REAL FANS

Another step towards fans having a meaningful say JAMES NALTON is encouraged by Liverpool’s owners establishing a supporters board

Hibernian: Digital Transformation Complete At Easter Road

Inaugural US National Cycling League could see fans virtually racing the pros in 2023

LFC leads the way in fan engagement with legally enshrined Supporters Board

WNBA Delivers Most-Watched Regular Season In 14 Years and Shatters Fan Engagement and On-Court Records

Belgian Grand Prix impose restrictions to combat disruptive fan behaviour

Football banning orders beefed up for new season, with pitch invaders and drug takers targeted

Sydney’s $830 million super stadium a work of art

Rail strikes: Portsmouth FC wheelchair user thanks fans who got him to match

The best-run football clubs know when it’s time to ignore the fans, and when it’s time to listen

Poacher’s Den drives fan engagement forward

Stadium Of The Future: Emerging Game Day Technologies For Engaging Fan Experience

Southampton FC, Sarah Batters: NFTs a ‘major pillar’ of engaging football fans

AFL’s first NFTs sell out in 12 hours

PGA TOUR transforms fan experience, analytics and customer feedback

Southampton FC, Sarah Batters: NFTs a ‘major pillar’ of engaging football fans

Southampton FC marks ‘brave new direction’ in NFT kit collection

Southampton FC and Sportsbet.io launch first bitcoin competition

Lambeau Field brings in new bar and grab-and-go food option

Big changes are coming to Gillette Stadium in 2023

FC Barcelona and Heura Foods give ‘new impetus’ to women’s football

Stadium-Size AR Games Could Transform Live Sports

How Will Metaverse Transform Sports Industry?

Everton new stadium stands rise higher as latest incredible footage released

Inside the new $830 million Sydney Football Stadium

Minnesota Twins introduce interactive AR platform for Target Field visitors

ICC and Nium launch coding challenge to engage tech-loving cricket fans

Autograph launches NFT-connected fan club with access to cofounder Tom Brady

Tailgating costs are up ‘substantially’ this year as travel, food costs are hit by inflation

Sports World Reacts To Yankee Fan’s Hot Dog Beer Straw

College football fans ‘want the different experience’ in new stadium seats: 4Topps president

Fans Attending MLB Games This Season to Receive NFT Tickets as Digital Memento

Atlanta Falcons to open Ticketmaster branded in-house production arm

L.A.’s Crypto.com Arena announces multi-million dollar revamp helmed by its original architects

Are NFTs Entertainment’s New Fan Engagement Tool?

Beverage Technology and Inventory Management Company BarTrack Announces Partnership with Mercedes-Benz Stadium

10 ways the pub sector will change in the next 10 years

Horizon Summit: How SAP’s Real-Time Data Analysis Improves the 49ers Fan Experience at Levi’s Stadium

FIFA to Use Artificial Intelligence Player Tracking at 2022 World Cup

Architect Breaks Down Iconic Baseball Stadiums | Architectural Digest

Fan Engagement – What does this even mean?

FAN ENGAGEMENT FRIDAY: NEWS FROM AROUND THE GROUNDS 29/07/2022

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.

The Cathedral By Populous, A Part Of A Rejuvenation Plan For San Siro Stadium District In Milan

How can marketers do a better job of reaching female fans?

What Steelers fans’ enduring love for Heinz says about the value of stadium naming rights

How the NFL Makes Money

FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022: How marketers can prepare for the most digital World Cup ever

How NY Giants plan to blend legacy and reality, renew engagement with fan base

‘The kind of place planners have dreamed of’: the London Olympics site 10 years on

Track looks to pump up US fan base ahead of 2028 LA Olympics

How inflation is affecting your wallet at the ballpark concession stand this season

CONTACTLESS TECHNOLOGY CHANGING THE FACE OF LIVE ENTERTAINMENT

World Cup to use drones to help protect stadiums

Brands that establish emotional connections earn the right to own the heartland

Emotional connection is the silver bullet for brand loyalty

Free refreshments offer for fan hit by ball during match

ENGLISH FOOTBALL TO TOUGHEN MEASURES AROUND FAN BEHAVIOUR IN 2022-23 SEASON

Premium practices: Executives across sports share the challenges and strategies of selling their venues’ best seats

Premium seating takes on a flexibility it has rarely displayed as a younger generation becomes the primary sales target

Creating community opportunities at ABC Supply Stadium

Rays offer free meals for kids during games through August

Disney Star showcases Cricket Australia for seven years

The Next Phase of NIL: Alabama, Fanatics Announce Game-Changing Partnership

Love football. Protect the game.

Commanders ask for fan input on new fight song, mascot

Mercedes-Benz Stadium will add on-field terraces with lounge seating

New study crowns the UniBol the ‘best fan experience’ in League One

Waitr Becomes Exclusive Mobile Ordering Platform for MetLife Stadium

RS Recommends: Here’s Why Soccer Fans Are Turning to ESPN+ for Live Games

The future of soccer: The sports technologies aiming to revolutionize the Beautiful Game

New Study on Fans’ Attitudes Toward Sports NFTs Offers Teams, Leagues a Roadmap for Success

NFL releases subscription service in ‘evolution’ of direct-to-consumer offering

Philadelphia 76ers announce plans for new $1.3bn stadium by 2031

NRL fans respond by buying all Manly Sea Eagles pride jerseys

Changes Coming to Game Day as Result of Fan Experience Committee

PSG reaps the benefits of being fashionable in Japan in lucrative pre-season tour

Rovers team up with consumer experts to give supporters a new voice

F1 set to clamp down on fans removing signage in track invasions

Euro 2022: England success bringing more fans to games

MLB All-Star Game Showcased Fan Friendly Technology

MLB Attendance Figures Continue to Trend Downward

Atlanta Braves Unveil $151 Burger, Chance to Buy World Series Ring

2022 MLS-All Star Week Fan Events

RESEARCH SHOWS AUSTRALIA’S MAJOR SPORTING EVENTS STRUGGLING TO GENERATE ENGAGEMENT

Fans seek trust and better understanding of sports NFT market: Research

More than 1,500 3M Open volunteers make the tournament possible

With a spate of 250 tournaments in recent weeks leading to all-time low fan engagement, is a formula 1 style season the answer?

MLB All-Star Metrics: Baseball fans turn out for record-setting All-Star Week in Los Angeles

A World Cup of Innovation – All the technological revolutions at Qatar 2022

The Best Fan Engagement Platforms Every Sports Fan Should Try

Free-to-air coverage: Keeping the game in easy reach for fans

STADIUMS, ARENAS AND CONCERT VENUES DIFFERENTIATE MENUS WITH LOCAL AND MISSION-DRIVEN FOODS

ImagineAR sign first NFL deal for Interactive Mobile Augmented Fan experience with Baltimore Ravens

Bizarre moment footy fan brings a CAT on a leash to the Bulldogs vs Demons thriller at Marvel Stadium: ‘Guess he wasn’t cheering for the Dogs

How one of the world’s top football leagues is using data to stay one step ahead

NFL steps foot in media streaming sector with NFL+

Women are back in the Tour de France, but the race toward equity remains

MLB CMO Karin Timpone Talks Engaging Younger Fans, Metaverse

U.S. Bank Stadium starts selling fan tours for before Vikings games

Authentic Customer Experiences Begin With Quality Service

New Broncos stadium bar will scan your face, pour you a cocktail

Customer Service Tactics That Stand the Test of Time for Customer Retention

As venues and arenas enforce ‘clear bag policies,’ these are fashionable and see-thru

RANGERS FC FAN ENGAGEMENT UPDATE: RANGERS is pleased to confirm details of several new supporter focused initiatives that aim to put fans at the heart of the club.

Toyota Stadium enhances food offerings for Major League Soccer fans

Anfield, Old Trafford, Emirates: Premier League stadiums’ atmosphere ranked by fans

NBA Teams Deliver Personal Experiences To Drive NBA Fan Engagement

Enhancing the match day experience for Town fans living with autism

High Tech Scarves Will Be Part of Fan Experience at Manchester City Games Next Season

PSG’s JP¥100m of retail sales during Japan tour breaks Fanatics’ daily record in Asia

Indian sports buffs can now vote for their favourite team’s jersey using blockchain

‘So many complaints’: Suncorp Stadium’s crackdown on vaping

Why Premier League teams are flocking back to Asia

Respect and rainbows: Manly fans flock to Brookvale

Western Sydney Wanderers Season Fixture Announcement

State Of Origin III, QLD vs NSW, NRL, Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane, 13/07/22

State of Origin at the Cauldron is always something special but last night at Suncorp Stadium will go down in history as one of the great nights in Queensland Rugby League Maroons history.

A huge shout out and praise to the National Rugby LeagueQueensland Rugby LeagueSuncorp Stadium Stadium and all the catering and cleaning staff plus of course the players and fans who put on this spectacle at Lang Park together last night.

Starting the fan journey on a chilly night in Brisbane (12C 🙂) I made my way into Roma Street Station via free included public transport on the train and walked down a pumping and lively Caxton Street a few hours before kick off.

Making my way into the fan zone past the giant QLD and NSW inflatable heads it was impressive to see the quality event presentation on show with QLD members able to collect free hats as well as specially designed cane toad head pieces as part of the Kane’s Crew QLD cheer squad.

The fan zone was alive with skills drills games for fans young and old featuring sponsor activations from Coates , Chemist WarehouseYoui Insurance and Hisense Group while once inside the ground the welcome to country, indigenous dance and player line up announcements looked incredible, especially with the light show, fireworks and vibrantly colourful light up posts (why haven’t we done the latter sooner!).

A special shout out to the staffer who helped a young fan reunite with his mum after momentarily getting caught up in the exit while on that topic, it couldn’t be easier to leave the venue and walk up Caxton Street or to Milton station to get away and catch free public transport home post game. Just makes the end of the night seamless and positive.

An absolute edge of your seat action packed thriller and one where we got to say, ‘we were there!’ ….how good is it to be back full strength with live sport!

Well done to all involved 👍

Some insights into kids at school today across grade 2-6 on #Origin last night from big lunch playground chats:

– Majority had to go to bed by half time/9pm (mums call they said) so is an earlier start time something to consider? Unlikely…
– Most were shocked by the biff
– Ecstatic with the game + plays + action ‘Ponga was unreal!’
– Biggest audience 10-12 years (younger kids not as interested)
– Increased knowledge of HIA/concussion issues/concerned for players welfare especially Cobbo whose highly rated by kids
– More girls than boys excited by the match (many coming on they say from having watched NRLW and Women’s origin)
– Wanted to know what the hell the weird thing was fans were wearing on their heads…. Kane’s Crew canetoad hats!
– Pizza was the standout takeaway meal 🍕
– Many had family parties/neighbour get-togethers
– Few said they would now ask olds to take them to an NRL game
– Most watched via FTA TV with family but some older kids watched via streaming on mobile
– Thought the pre-game light up goal posts were a cool feature
– Thought I was rich paying $90 for a ticket before I told them that was the cheapest on offer!
– Loved the stats on tv of player speeds
– Could name majority of players from both teams not just Queensland Rugby League
– Ponga the absolute stand out hero that they love
– None of them knew who Powderfinger were haha 😆

Was great to see so many boys and girls run up to me today while kicking soccer balls (still the most popular lunch time sport no matter what school I’m at!) to ask what the atmosphere was like at Suncorp Stadium and tell me their thoughts on the big match. Kids often have a very interesting take on things that some of us oldies might not think about.

FAN ENGAGEMENT FRIDAY: NEWS FROM AROUND THE GROUNDS 15/07/2022

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.

Populous and PWR build world’s first esports training facility in Fortnite metaverse

Sports sponsorships sealed amid market turmoil as Man City inks deal with OKX

Checkout-Free Food & Beverage Experience Coming to Kyle Field

DraftKings Will Open Sports Bars to Create Betting Venues

Washington Football Team Is First In Pro Sports To Add Grubhub For In-Venue Ordering

Dodger Stadium concession workers threaten strike ahead of All-Star Game

F1 must act hard on abuse – no fan should ever attend a GP and not want to go back

A Concession Stand Preview at Globe Life Field: Nacho Stacks and Brisket Egg Rolls

5 simple ways to improve customer retention and satisfaction

BOC-ING MAD ‘Catastrophe waiting to happen’ – Huge crack appears in stand filled with thousands of fans at Boca Juniors stadium

New formulas to engage with fans in an evolving football landscape

Patriots fans among happiest in NFL according to study

Custom shoes, 3-D figures part of NBA Summer League fan experiences

2022 sports industry outlook: Scouting the biggest trends in sports.

F1 TO ACT ON REPORTS OF SEXUAL HARASSMENT AT AUSTRIAN GP

Some Hoops Fans Still Wearing COVID-19 Masks (Voluntarily) At NBA Summer League; Saturday Attendance Hits 17,022 In Las Vegas

PADDY POWER FLOATS BALLOON OVER WOMEN’S EUROS GAME TO POKE FUN AT UEFA’S UNDERWHELMING STADIUM SELECTIONS

AI will help referees make offside calls at 2022 FIFA World Cup

New Survey Shows Arsenal Fans Among Biggest Game-Day Binge Drinkers, Drug Users, Obviously

Ranking the 16 Best Stadiums in Europe for Fans to Visit

Adam Wainwright sets up another scavenger hunt at Busch Stadium

Amazon gives its smart shopping carts an upgrade and expands its checkout-free tech to a college football stadium

FIRST TIME FANS IS BACK FOR 2022/23

Thirty fan ideas to improve the NFL

Beer ‘Won’t Be Served Inside The Stadiums’ During The Qatar FIFA World Cup

Skip the line at T-Mobile Park at the new Walk-Off Market

Tottenham Hotspur launch SpursPlay global OTT platform with Endeavor

Brand Loyalty: How To Gain Devoted Customers and Support Revenue Goals (+ Examples)

5 best practices for customer journey mapping

The state of customer care in 2022

A Sikh man becomes the first fan ever inducted into the NBA Hall of Fame

YouTube, MLB renew streaming deal for 15 games

NEW VIDEO TECHNOLOGY A GAME-CHANGER FOR AUSSIE ATHLETES

FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 will be first carbon-neutral tournament

Matches at a 4,700-seat stadium — Are UEFA and the FA selling women’s football short?

Hawai’i’s Historic Aloha Stadium to Be Demolished

PopID Wants You to Ditch Your Cards and Pay With Your Face

WNBA All-Star Weekend Will Debut Fan Festival Featuring AR Activations

Gillette Stadium to Implement Evolv AI Weapons Detection Systems

Future of Sport Lab Accepts Eight New Startups Into Incubator Program

Venue Next, Ticketmaster to Bring Contactless Payments, Mobile Ordering to Smartphones

Is Good Customer Service a Thing of the Past? It Doesn’t Have to Be.

How Buying A Ticket To A Nascar Race Is About To Change Forever

Inter Milan overhaul digital channels and launch OTT platform to deepen fan engagement

Real Sociedad want to connect with their fans and launch their Fan Token

NBA Introduces ‘Metaverse Coach’ at Tech Summit as Adam Silver Details Future Fan Experiences

TikTok strikes content deal with PGA Tour, DP World Tour and The Open

Dolphins Fan Misses His Own Jumbotron Marriage Proposal

FC Barcelona’s Sale of Fan Tokens Nets $1.3 Million in Single Day

Brands urged to “Switch on Genius” to engage and convert sports fans

Fobi Releases Case Study Highlighting Digital Ticketing and Venue Access Success at the Oscars

Globe Life Park Doubles Down on Vegan With Plant-Based Food and Lab-Grown Meat

Everything You Need to Know About the Dolphins’ $500 Million Stadium Renovation

Partly cloudy: While Clear’s tech is well-respected, the company is still figuring out where it fits in the sports world

FIFA considering installing cameras in dressing rooms during 2022 World Cup in Qatar as they aim to bring fans closer to football players – Reports

How a TV gimmick became F1’s latest secret weapon

“For any tennis fan, Wimbledon is the ultimate experience” – A fan account of watching the world’s most prestigious tournament

SW19’s other high performers: winners announced

AFC Bournemouth DISABLED FAN SURVEY LAUNCHED

Muslims came to MetLife Stadium to celebrate prayers at Eid al-Adha

Burton Albion FANS ASKED TO COMPLETE ANNUAL SURVEY

BASEBALL CLUB PERTH HEAT TO ENHANCE FAN EXPERIENCE WITH LIGHTNING NETWORK

Fans turn Wimbledon quiet rooms into hideaways for inappropriate time

How 5G is elevating the esports fan experience

Liverpool supporting this family and young fans

Sydney Swans AFLW launch epic FIRST HAPPENS ONCE campaign

Socceroos launch AUS POST stamps celebrating 100 years

Horizon Summit: Why the Influencer Space Is Key for Sports Brands Hoping To Capture Gen Z’s Attention

HOW MLB’S NEW CMO IS PITCHING TO ROOKIE FANS—AND WHAT TO EXPECT AT THE ALL-STAR GAME

Verizon makes $80M investment leading up to Super Bowl LV

Sports fan crossover: Panthers night at the Durham Bulls is July 23

Building Your Loyalty Program For The Future

Verizon Furthers 5G Deployment at NBA, NHL Venues

Customer Service and Success: What they are and why marketers should care

Amid more wins on court, Timberwolves and Lynx use tech to fill seats

T-Mobile Goes Big for Fans this MLB All-Star Week With More Than $150K in Fan Giveaways, 5G Batting Practice Experience and More

A NEW ERA FOR STADIUM FOOD AND SUSTAINABILITY

Tech innovations improve high school athletics, from football helmets to stadium lighting

Jagger: Abba concert offers ‘technology breakthrough’ for bands like The Stones

FAN ENGAGEMENT FRIDAY: NEWS FROM AROUND THE GROUNDS 01/07/2022

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.

The palm cockatoo should be Brisbane Olympics mascot – imagine a stadium full of big crested hats and drumming on seats

How IBM Watson is set to serve up a smart fan experience at Wimbledon 2022

Why seeing the whites of driver’s eyes is F1 and NASCAR’s biggest difference

The F1 fan engagement mentality that surprised a Daytona 500 winner

Why sport needs professional leaders to guide its future

The Bayou Cat Crew helping strengthen fan and athlete engagement from NIL

ICC Women’s cricket world cup 2022 sets new digital engagement benchmark

Why the AFL is having a crowds CRISIS as the number of fans attending games drops to its lowest level in 27 YEARS

2022 Stanley Cup Final: How Blink-182’s ‘All the Small Things’ became a big deal for Colorado Avalanche fans

ASO brings in Waze to enhance Tour de France fan experience

The tech game is boosting player goals

Qatar offers artistes stage to showcase talents at World Cup

Video captures horrific moment stadium collapses at bullfight, leaving hundreds injured

The NHL Partners With Sweet to Drive Fan Engagement with NFTs

2022 Women’s Cricket World Cup content generates 1.64bn views across ICC channels

Sports Fandom Increases, Powered By New Digital Platforms

Line call: the Wimbledon ticket queue is back – and tennis fans couldn’t be happier

How NFT.NYC Grew Into The Super Bowl Of NFTs, According To Its Co-Founder

NHL to Launch NFT Platform With Eye on Fan Engagement

SA Rugby president overjoyed with lifting of stadium restrictions: ‘Life’s back to normal’

An Engineering Marvel: Tottenham Stadium Moves the Entire Pitch

LFC provides additional mental health support for fans

Cowboys issue fresh warning to XXXX Derby fans

Opinion | Why conversational AI is the future of fan activations

GameOn launches first-of-its-kind fan engagement focused chat experience with Milwaukee Brewers

‘Best job’ for sports fans opens up as firm looks for worker to test biggest events

Want to enhance fan experience? Start off with a better refund policy

West Ham United boosts online fan experience with Mapp tech

Commonwealth Games Australia partners with Komo to launch digital fan hub

Excessive fan engagement at the footy not ‘fan-tastic’

Sports in the Metaverse: Key Considerations

Colorado Avalanche and Coors launch beer made from venue ice shavings

Optus Stadium AFL Eagles to State of Origin NRL time lapse video

The Ultimate Queenslander NFT

Cyberattacks: Notoriety and revenues make sports organizations targets

What can brands learn from Glastonbury?

History of Baseball Stadiums: Part One – The Good “Old” Days

History of Baseball Stadiums: Part Two – “Domes & Astroturf”

ECB officials concerned over cocaine fuelling crowd trouble ahead of England-India Edgbaston Test

Each MLB Stadium’s 2022 Offering, Worst To Best

7 Top AI Trends in Customer Service 

How To Transform Your Customer Service Experience

Avalanche fan barred from Ball Arena for sprinkling friend’s ashes on the ice

The Top Five Reasons Customers Don’t Come Back

‘Stop treating loyal fans so callously’: Man United supporter slams club for terminating father’s season ticket for missing deadline by a day

Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium recognized for zero waste efforts

Yankees bleachers fans lose their minds over girl’s water bottle flip

Wembley Stadium up its game with a d&b sound solution

NFL vs. covid: A study finds that with safety measures in place, 2020 stadium openings had no impact on local case rates.

Populous Teams up with Leading Audiovisual and Acoustics Professionals to Launch Experience Studios

Wimbledon Residents Protest Against Fans Having ‘Sex Parties’ In Local Area

Gophers football players will grant special fan access this year — for a $199 fee

FC Porto is the First European Football Club to Enter into the Metaverse with Upland Agreement

Wimbledon ‘Virtual Hill’ gives fans worldwide flavour of championships

Sky Sports will tell punters and viewers about the environmental impact of their favourite sporting events this summer and will encourage them to make their match-day habits lower-impact.

10 types of fan: from browsers to collectors and cult fans

LaLiga Tech Launches Startup Competition for Fan Engagement

Wimbledon looks to engage younger fans with virtual Centre Court on Roblox

NFL to Host First Official Events in Africa With Talent Search, Fan Engagement Camp in Ghana

Manchester Venue Trials FinGo’s Naked Payments Technology

PlayStation launches new subscription service at double original price – can it win over gaming fans?

Why captions are suddenly everywhere and how they got there

West Ham United football club launches hyper-personalised fan experience

NHL seeing growth in female and young fans

Warriors set for emotional homecoming after more than two years amid NZ Covid changes

FAN ENGAGEMENT FRIDAY: NEWS FROM AROUND THE GROUNDS 24/06/2022

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.

How the St. Louis Blues are turning to startups to bring new technologies to fans

FIFA Announces 16 Host Cities for 2026 World Cup

MLB News: Rob Manfred Wants Fans to Be Able to Watch More Games

What fans want to see from MLS’ new partnership with Apple

Product spotlight: Sports, venue and entertainment security

Customer service seems to belong to a bygone age

NHL Launches AR Replica of Stanley Cup Trophy for Fans to Experience

Sports fans beware: Counterfeit NHL merchandise on the rise during 2022 Stanley Cup Final

Why Avalanche fans sing Blink-182’s ‘All the Small Things’ during every home game at Ball Arena

DOES MARVEL STADIUM PROVIDE A BETTER FAN EXPERIENCE THAN THE MCG?

PPG Paints Arena to implement analytics for smart cameras to monitor fan experience

Drive to Survive’s reach goes beyond F1 fans. Now, other sports want to copy show’s success

How New York Mets Enhanced Fan Experience at Citi Field

F1 Teams Deploy APIs for Edge on Track, in Stands

Sports Fans Twice as Likely to Buy Bitcoin, Ethereum, NFTs

The ever-evolving IPL Fan is looking for more inclusion and skin in the game

The story behind Sevilla’s technology-driven mission in Indian football

Finance expert gives first-hand account after experiencing Spurs’ premium virtual tour

Not Metal Enough – A Psychological Perspective on Gatekeeping Read More: Not Metal Enough – A Psychological Perspective on Gatekeeping

NFL aims to reduce messages to fans from over 4 billion in the past year

National Rugby League Could Introduce Ball-Tracking Technology in 2023 Following Successful Trial

“IPL will become No.1 sports league”: Lalit Modi believes investment in digital will make IPL the best sports league in the world

Reformation is bringing sustainability to the $400 million market for concert merch

Put your fans first and entertain always: Jesse and Emily Cole spent months chasing customers after buying an independent-league ball club in Savannah, Georgia. It didn’t go well until they started doing the opposite of normal

Jessie Ware champions wearable tech making live music accessible for Deaf fans following successful trial stage

Biggest stadium ever? Artist shows what a 1,000,000-seater arena would look like

NFL: Ranking every stadium from ‘Cream Of The Crop’ to ‘Bulldoze And Start Again’

Milwaukee Brewers launch new fan engagement chat experience with AI technology

Security Lessons From Protecting Live Events

From New York to Mumbai, Fanatics to Dream Sports, and NFTs to connected fitness… breaking down the sports tech investment scene

5 Ways Technology is Revolutionizing Customer Service 

3 In 4 Consumers Walk Away If Customer Service Is Poor

Football clubs slammed for taking advantage of fans after hiking season ticket prices

Fans Promised 50% Refund For Cancelled 5th T20I But People Are Pissed With ‘Shameless’ BCCI

American Express creates bespoke experiences at Wimbledon

NHL’s Pittsburgh Penguins to Enhance Fan Experience with Smart Camera Applications from Azena

2022 Kantar Fan Engagement Study

Wimbledon, IBM Launch Digital Platform for Player Insights

Women’s State of Origin at Canberra Stadium is more than a game

Champions League: Disabled fans treated like animals – French Senate told

AC MILAN CELEBRATES 60 YEARS OF THE ROLLING STONES WITH A SPECIAL CAPSULE COLLECTION

RANKING NFL STADIUMS BY BEST PREGAME FAN EXPERIENCE

Wimbledon hoping big data will improve fan experience

CHEQ IN: FRIENDS OUTSIDE VENUE CAN ORDER CONCESSIONS FOR FANS AT EVENTS

About half of the UAE’s sports fans prefer watching women’s sports to men’s

The growing relationship between crypto and sport

LaLiga Tech Launches Startup Competition for Fan Engagement

Opinion | Which moments matter most to a sports fan?

Women’s football fans enjoy WSL but unhappy with refereeing, survey finds

6 customer service experience trends to watch in 2022

Hawthorn Hawks Vs St Kilda Saints AFL Fan Experience at MCG, Melbourne, Australia 10/4/22

On Sunday 10th April I finally had the chance to do something I have been looking forward to for such a long time.

I finally got to be back in Melbourne after three years away and I got to take my daughter Ramona Josie along to her first ever AFL match and her first ever visit to the hallowed Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG).

Ramona and I started our fan journey on a gorgeous blue sky day by walking (well she got an easy ride in the stroller!) the short distance from the city along the back inner suburban Melbourne streets of the MCG.

We had a fun little play in the grassy area outside the G where we kicked the football and had cuddles under this amazing stadium that is in my opinion one of the best to visit in the world for any event. That event today turned out to be a classic old school Aussie Rules battle between Hawthorn Hawks and St Kilda Saints which the Saints would eventually run away with in the end 142-73.

After a play we picked up a copy of the AFL Record which is always a must on an AFL game day and a bargain still at $5.

It was great to see a few things by looking up at the MCG and these included the solar panels out the front of gate 3 and the water station and solar powered CCTV and lights which all together has made the MCG run on 100% renewable energy which is spectacular to see from a major Australian venue. The ‘G-TRAIN’ was also a good sight to see for inclusion and accessibility as it carried less mobile fans around the G to their gates.

Today thanks to a friend we were lucky enough to sit in the MCC area which I had never been in to before. We were greeted and welcomed in by friendly MCG staff who waved and made RJ feel safe and welcome. I was even so surprised at how much Ramona enjoyed the atmosphere of a pumping MCG crowd from the people to the sirens, she was beaming ear to ear which made the day all the more memorable.

After walking in we did a big lap of the area taking in the F&B outlets, getting some photos, looking at the facilities and also going on a nice walk along the concourse. We had a look in the MCG shop which is stocked full of AFL and cricket items to buy with the retro range standing out as some very cool merch items. We walked out to then come back into another section and got a special Member’s Reserve pass which felt like something from the old days. The COVID check in process was also seamless and easy with security and gate staff helpful and efficient.

There were many new F&B stands with the addition of Royal Stacks burgers a welcome surprise and the prices were ok too from $12.50-$15.50. I remember when these guys had just opened in Brunswick when we lived here in 2015 so to see them in the stadium was pretty cool for fans, especially with their bright concession stand. There was also a brisket/BBQ outlet selling brisket rolls for $15.50, sweet crepes for $11 and southern fried chicken at the Cleaver and Coop outlet for $12.

Prices for some items were very affordable with water ($3.40) and coke varieties ($4.70) probably the cheapest in an Australian venue while the WAIT TIMES boards were helpful in showing fans which outlets had shortest lines and the distance to each outlet. Beer was priced at $9.50 for Carlton Draught while $11 for Mountain Goat craft beer which did absolutely taste that little bit nicer in flavour.

Power banks, water refill stations and plenty of helpful staff were also present inside the stadium on this event day. I found that the baby change and toilet facilities were also top notch here. I also had a check of some hand sanitisers and they all worked and had been filled prior to the event.

Ramona and I had an absolutely outstanding day at the MCG for her first visit and first AFL game with staff, affordable F&B and the views of the ground being the highlights of visiting this historic venue.

Melbourne Rebels Super Rugby Fan Experience at AAMI Park, Melbourne, Australia 15/4/22

For my second game of today I skipped across town after the AFL game at Marvel Stadium back to AAMI Park to take in the Melbourne Rebels Super Rugby match.

Making the fan journey from Southern Cross Station to AAMI Park I hopped on a free tram and then walked from the free tram boundary in the city to the venue which only took about 20 minutes (10 tram and 10 walk). I made my way down to the stadium and took some pictures along the outside concourse of the set up with the flags and LED screen having changed to represent tonights match and hirer in the Rebels.

Once again I found that the staff and COVID check in process was easy and staff were helpful and kind with greeting fans for the game. I made my way into the ground noticing a massive decrease in the presence of Victorian Police for this match compared to Tuesday night’s A-League game.

My review of the F&B can be found on the recent Melbourne Victory fan experience recap in these blogs however I did try a beer for the first time this trip having had wisdom teeth taken out while down here on holiday and unable to drink and despite the price at $11.80 for a craft beer, it was delicious and fresh and hit the spot on another mild night in Melbourne. I also liked the look of the FAT YAK beer bar outlet that was branded in all FAT YAK related livery.

I’m not quite sure what the #BURNCITYREBELS means, maybe Mel-BURN but I did like the branding and design that they are using for it which is different to what a lot of other clubs are using.

The fan engagement and crowd energy was good with a fun HT kick comp for young fans while the crowd MC and music kept the atmosphere moving along in the venue. It wasn’t the most spectacular turn out but this is an AFL city and even factoring in COVID issues and the reasons that fans are staying away it makes it hard for any team anywhere in the world to go back to what crowds were like in 2019. I think the Rebels are doing a very good job and know for a fact that they have made some really smart hires in recent times, people with good creative minds who will add to this business and bring some of their own quality experiences to the team.

The game was a solid contest too with it going back and forth but eventually getting away from the Rebels who went down to the Reds 36-32.

Ticket prices were very affordable too ranging from $9 kids to $24 adults.

It was also great to see a female ref out there as well but of course we still have a long way to go for all women in sport.

When I made my way around the venue again for photos and to talk to staff I checked on the toilets and hand sanitisers and they were all working and clean.

It was a very enjoyable night at the Rebels match in Melbourne and I’d encourage anyone, even die-hard AFL fans to give it a go and take in a Super Rugby match here at AAMI Park.

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