When the Brooklyn Nets opened their doors at the beginning of the 2012 season, the illuminated LED entranceway and state of the art concourse, made it clear that this arena would soon be known as one of the most technologically savvy places to watch a basketball game.
To go along with this state of the art complex, the Nets leaped to the front of the digital world and created an equally impressive Barclays Center App. While many mobile apps designed by teams include player stats, news, and similarly data driven topics, the Barclays Center created a mobile experience unlike any other.
Don’t miss a pick at the 2013 @NBA Draft! Order food from your seat & skip the line with the #BarclaysCenter App! http://t.co/xQmD1buEQk
— Barclays Center (@barclayscenter) June 26, 2013
Useful widgets, such as “getting here” and “ticketing” are just the first layer of a user friendly interface that values the fan experience above all else. Upon entering the arena, hooking up to the Barclays Center Wifi network opens a world of possibilities. You can check into the game on foursquare or Facebook, and share tweets, photos, and videos that might be displayed on the scoreboard. Another significant feature is the video streaming capability which allows fans sitting in the upper levels to watch the game from multiple camera angles and rewind up to 30 seconds of live game play.
Get the stats on your newest player at the 2013 @NBA Draft pres by State Farm! Look it up from your seat on our free #BarclaysCenter wifi!
— Barclays Center (@barclayscenter) June 25, 2013
As impressed as one can be with the technological side of the app, fans have the ability, through a partnership with Yelp, to search for local Brooklyn restaurants, bars, and hotels within walking distance. Their connection to the community allows the Barclays Center to use technology to create growth and opportunity throughout Brooklyn.
Each year, teams face the challenge of enhancing the in stadium experience to combat the ease and comfort of watching the game from home. But, with developments in the mobile app game, arenas like the Barclays Center provides basketball fans and concert goers with an unparalleled experience that every organization should emulate in the future.