English Premier League club Wolverhampton Wanderers FC announced a new mobile app, developed by Pittsburgh-based software company YinzCam.
The app currently uses augmented reality to let fans use Wolves-themed face filters. New features expected to be introduced soon include interactive man-of-the-match polls, museum audio tours, and a prediction game. The free app supports both iOS and Android devices.
“We are delighted to have launched the club’s first mobile application,” said Russell Jones, Wolves FC’s Head of Marketing, in a press release. “The app offers fans a convenient way to stay connected with the club, wherever they are in the world. We are working in partnership with YinzCam on a 12-month roll-out strategy, which will see exciting innovative features released to enhance our mobile offering every month.”
Other points of fan engagement in Wolves’ mobile app include team announcements, live team and player statistics, video interviews, highlights, and the ability to purchase Wolves tickets and merchandise. YinzCam has developed more that 180 apps for teams and leagues across sports organizations such as the NFL, the NBA, the NHL, MLS, and the NCAA. Wolves are the first Premier League club the company has worked with. Both the NFL and NBA hold minority equity stakes in YinzCam.
“It has been a great collaborative experience to craft the Wolves app user interface and features with a view to what club supporters want on match-day,” said YinzCam’s CEO Priya Narasimhan, in the press release. “We look forward to working closely with the Wolves to implement their creative concepts as the app evolves over the months and years to come.”
SportTechie Takeaway
YinzCam has built augmented reality-backed mobile apps for other professional sports teams such as the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Kansas City Chiefs, as well as the Pittsburgh Steelers. AR features such as face filters or stadium tours have become commonplace for sports teams, but Wolves’ fan polling system to decide the man of the match could be seen as an exciting innovation for fans.