The Pro12 rugby league is just getting started and Welsh side Cardiff Blues have a special trick up their sleeves for this season’s fans. The Blues just unveiled new solar powered iBeacon technology that they have set up in their home stadium, BT Sport Cardiff Arms Park.
Manufacturer GCell, a beacon and energy innovation company, installed all of the parts in the stadium, crafting a low-power and sustainable option for the rugby team.
This sort of technology is reminiscent of a major trend happening over in the United States, headlined with the big name, high-tech creation of the San Francisco 49ers’ Levi’s Stadium.
“The installation of iBeacon technology has become standard at Major League Baseball (93 percent) and NFL (75 percent) stadiums. Teams that have deployed iBeacon and proximity technologies have seen a return on investment (ROI) as big as 40 times from incremental merchant revenues alone within one season,” said GCell’s Barry Jenkins.
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The first duties of this technology will be to send a welcome message to Blues fans as soon as they enter the park, then offer them discount coupons for the club story and remind them to vote for the man of the match.
However, a fan must first download the match-day app to see these benefits. Currently, a number of teams are using iBeacon technology to provide services like ordering food directly to seats, or telling a fan how long a bathroom line is. But adding the sustainable power factor is another level entirely.
Beacon technology is bringing in a completely new stadium experience to interest fans in getting off the couch and making their way to see live sporting events. The Cardiff Blues are making a smart step to securing the ticket sales of their future.