Real Sociedad’s Anoeta to be smart stadium

Article posted by Coliseum, July 30^th, 2018

Image: MJR Group Ltd.

LaLiga football club Real Sociedad in partnership with Microsoft will develop their club’s Anoeta Stadium in San Sebastian, into a smart stadium, according a report Microsoft’s official website.

The San Sebastian-based Spanish club in collaboration with Microsoft Sports and Global Sports Innovation Centre (GISC) will transform the Anoeta Stadium using venue technological innovation to create an ultimate fan experience. There will be 10 start-up companies competing to provide the solutions by creating models for the stadium.

The club will be able to achieve some of the key aspects of smart venues as prescribed by Microsoft Sports through the use of the Sports Thinkers Smart Stadium program, designed by GSIC.

The program will ensure that the design take into account the safety and comfort of the fans, making it a top priority during the transformation process. It will also see to it that the stadium becomes an architectural icon and a regional tourist attraction.

The other core design aspects that the program will consider as per Microsoft Sports guidelines will be that the venue won’t be developed only for sporting events but also for non-sporting and entertainment activities. This will be aimed at taking full advantage of the business opportunities from all events.

The program will commence this month with the final 10 start-ups being announced in October.

Iris Córdoba, General Manager, GSIC, said, “This initiative seeks to identify the best innovative startups that can provide technological solutions regarding the smart stadium concept and thereby help to bring the future of the improved experience of soccer fans, putting at the disposal of a club like Real Sociedad, the latest solutions in the sector.”

General Manager of Microsoft Sports Sebastián Lancestremère says “That’s why we work as a team with the GSIC and expert partners in the industry, taking advantage of the Microsoft Sports platform to develop new services and experiences for fans, before, during, and after each sports event.”

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