Game-Changing Smart Stadium Technology: How Location-Based Solutions Transform the Stadium Experience

In recent years, location-based solutions have transformed how fans experience stadiums. With innovative smart stadium technology, fans no longer get lost in large venues or struggle to find amenities such as restrooms or concessions. Smart venue solutions such as indoor location-based technology allow fans to receive personalized navigation and recommendations based on their location inside the stadium, ensuring they never miss a moment of the action.

But it’s not just the fans who benefit from this technology. Stadium owners also reap the rewards of implementing location technology. By offering location-based promotions and advertisements, they can create new revenue streams and enhance their overall business model. This blog will provide details about these exciting location-technology possibilities and more for stadiums.

Beyond Beacon Technology

When people think of location-based technology and sports stadium wayfinding, beacons often come to mind. These battery-powered devices installed on stadium walls use Bluetooth to communicate with nearby smartphones. However, these Bluetooth beacons have a downside: they require hardware, which can be expensive to install and maintain. Most stadiums need a large number of them and specialized installation to ensure full coverage

However, these Bluetooth beacons have a downside: they require hardware, which can be expensive to install and maintain. Most stadiums need a large number of them and specialized installation to ensure full coverage. 

This is where Mapsted, the world’s only patented, beacon-free, hardware-free location-based technology solution, really makes its mark. Mapsted has developed a hardware-free solution that surpasses traditional location-based technologies such as beacons, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. It’s a game-changer for transforming the stadium experience, benefiting both fans and stadium management alike.

Traditional Location Technologies – Incompatible for Stadiums 

Here’s why:

• Hardware limitations: Traditional location-based technologies such as beacons require expensive hardware and skilled installation, making them challenging to implement and maintain, and not easily scalable.
• Poor coverage: Beacons and other location-based technologies may not provide comprehensive coverage across large stadiums, leading to inconsistencies in fan experiences.
• Connectivity issues: Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity may be unreliable in crowded stadiums, leading to poor location accuracy and slower response times.
• Integration with existing systems: Integrating new indoor location technology with existing stadium systems and infrastructure can be complex and time-consuming.
• Cost-effectiveness: Stadiums need to balance the cost of indoor location technology with the potential benefits to the fan experience and stadium management. Hardware-based solutions can add extra upfront costs and maintenance costs.

Stadium digitization can be challenging and so is selecting the right location technology. With personalized and real-time information on seat upgrades, concession stand wait times and in-stadium directions, fans can get the most out of their game day experience. This means they can focus on cheering for their favourite team instead of worrying about logistics. Better fan experiences lead to increased engagement, loyalty and satisfaction. Furthermore, location technology allows stadium management to gather valuable data and insights that help optimize operations, marketing and revenue generation strategies. It is the key to providing fans with a more enjoyable and efficient experience, which ultimately helps improve their bottom line.

How Far Do Stadiums Need To Go Find The Right Location Technology?

A recent report by Marketing and Markets measured the indoor location market and revealed that worldwide it is valued at USD 8.8 Billion. The report further predicts that the value is projected to rise by 22.4% by 2027, reaching USD 24 Billion.

The growth of this market can be attributed to several factors such as the demand for contact tracing solutions due to the pandemic and the shift towards Industry 4.0. Additionally, factors such as the widespread use of smartphones and location-based technologies also contribute to this growth. All these developments suggest a major revolution is in the making. 

Choosing the Right Location Tech is Critical and the Right Time to Do It is Now!

Mapsted, a visionary location-technology brand, has revolutionized indoor-outdoor navigation, analytics and marketing, making it a key player in the smart stadium solutions market. With a global presence, Mapsted technology is deployed over more than 1 billion sq. ft. on six continents, with innovation far exceeding that of beacons and GPS, cementing its position as a true leader. 

And it’s not for just fans. Even stadium operators can benefit from the scalable software that offers far-reaching benefits that completely blow traditional location technology out of the water.

The Mapsted Solution – Value-Added Benefits

Could Mapsted even make meeting up at a stadium easier? Yes! With its real-time in-app location-sharing feature, connecting with friends is a breeze. The app also provides a complete map of the stadium, so navigating and exploring is a cinch. 

To help your analytics team better understand fan behaviour patterns, Mapsted offers hotspot insights, which identify overcrowded areas and can help alleviate congestion at entry and exit points. 

Additionally, the technology can identify areas in need of optimization and address them quickly. For media and players, the app’s intelligent technology uses AI to analyze telemetric data from sensors, allowing them to easily navigate between floors and rooms without the need for physical wayfinding signs. And, with an impressive accuracy rate of 1-5 metres, Mapsted’s technology pushes the boundary of contextualized experience in all aspects.

Indoor Location Technology: There’s More!

By integrating location technology, stadiums can transform into intelligent environments. The following points outline the areas where the most significant impact can be observed:

• Improved Sports Venue and Stadium Wayfinding: Indoor location technology can provide visitors with real-time navigation tools and maps, helping them to easily find their way around the stadium and locate points of interest.
• Enhanced Safety and Security: By using indoor location technology to monitor crowd flows and congestion in real time, stadium operators can take proactive measures to improve safety and security.
• Personalized Experiences: Indoor location technology can enable personalized experiences for visitors, such as targeted offers and recommendations based on their location within the stadium.
• Optimized Stadium Layouts and Operations: By collecting and analyzing data on visitor behaviour, stadium operators can use indoor location technology to optimize stadium layouts and operations to enhance the overall experience.
• Accessibility: Indoor location technology can also help to improve accessibility for visitors with disabilities, by providing real-time guidance and assistance tailored to their needs.

Final Thoughts

In the ongoing challenge to keep stadiums enjoyable and secure for fans, smart stadium technology can play a key role, clearly surpassing conventional systems that rely on GPS and beacons. Mapsted technology has been deployed at several stadiums around the world, providing measurable benefits in revenue streams, safety and crowd management. If your stadium is ready to join the hardware-free location technology movement, reach out to Mapsted today! If you enjoyed learning about how Mapsted can help high-tech stadiums flourish, you may enjoy this short video on how to Elevate the Stadium Experience With Advanced Location-Based Technology as well as our blog on How to Create the Ultimate Fan Experience in Stadiums.