Broncos fans Dave and Aimee Martin with son Lachlan at the game against Wests Tigers at Campbelltown Stadium. Picture: Mark Evans Source: News Corp Australia
THE chiefs of Australia's two biggest sporting clubs say technology is becoming central to enhancing fan experience at stadiums.
Brisbane Broncos CEO Paul White and his counterpart at AFL giant Collingwood, Gary Pert, both agree that as technology evolves, so do expectations of what people should have access to during a game.
It comes as sports lovers and organisers of major events such as the State of Origin clash over the cost of tickets, and what constitutes a €premium€ experience. The Queensland Rugby League administration has come under fire for a hike in Origin ticket prices, which left it scrambling to sell out Game One of the series, on Wednesday.
There are also issues of connectivity at stadiums, particularly with large crowds, which Telstra is looking to address as part of its nationwide Wi-Fi network announced last week.
Mr Pert told The Courier-Mail clubs had to offer fans more.
€They can be at the game, watching it and enjoying that amazing energy and experience, but also have access to any of the news or updates coming through on their technology platforms,€ Mr Pert said.
He also suggested crowds could have access to slow-motion replays of questionable calls and live streaming of all injury updates.
€Instead of having to read about it in the newspaper the next day you will be able to get medical updates and replays live while you are sitting at the stadium.€
The Broncos also view technology and social media engagement during games as critical.
But Mr White said the challenge ahead for clubs would be their ability to drag people away from their couches.
€The thing about attending a game is that it can't be replicated; in the truest sense it is a human contest between two teams, it is not something that can be reproduced in a fictional sense. It is a contest and it will continue to remain that,€ he said.
Mr Pert said it was now crucial for clubs to be offering not just a match, but a match-day experience.
He warned Australian clubs were falling behind their foreign counterparts.
€Quite often the experience (overseas) goes for the day, rather than just between the first and last siren,€ he said. €And so, as clubs in the AFL, we have to look at how we communicate and interact with our supporters.
€When you look at a lot of the European and American sporting clubs, they do excel at the ritual that happens for hours before they even roll up to the game.
THE chiefs of Australia's two biggest sporting clubs say technology is becoming central to enhancing fan experience at stadiums.
Brisbane Broncos CEO Paul White and his counterpart at AFL giant Collingwood, Gary Pert, both agree that as technology evolves, so do expectations of what people should have access to during a game.
It comes as sports lovers and organisers of major events such as the State of Origin clash over the cost of tickets, and what constitutes a €premium€ experience. The Queensland Rugby League administration has come under fire for a hike in Origin ticket prices, which left it scrambling to sell out Game One of the series, on Wednesday.
There are also issues of connectivity at stadiums, particularly with large crowds, which Telstra is looking to address as part of its nationwide Wi-Fi network announced last week.
Mr Pert told The Courier-Mail clubs had to offer fans more.
€They can be at the game, watching it and enjoying that amazing energy and experience, but also have access to any of the news or updates coming through on their technology platforms,€ Mr Pert said.
He also suggested crowds could have access to slow-motion replays of questionable calls and live streaming of all injury updates.
€Instead of having to read about it in the newspaper the next day you will be able to get medical updates and replays live while you are sitting at the stadium.€
The Broncos also view technology and social media engagement during games as critical.
But Mr White said the challenge ahead for clubs would be their ability to drag people away from their couches.
€The thing about attending a game is that it can't be replicated; in the truest sense it is a human contest between two teams, it is not something that can be reproduced in a fictional sense. It is a contest and it will continue to remain that,€ he said.
Mr Pert said it was now crucial for clubs to be offering not just a match, but a match-day experience.
He warned Australian clubs were falling behind their foreign counterparts.
€Quite often the experience (overseas) goes for the day, rather than just between the first and last siren,€ he said. €And so, as clubs in the AFL, we have to look at how we communicate and interact with our supporters.
€When you look at a lot of the European and American sporting clubs, they do excel at the ritual that happens for hours before they even roll up to the game.