The experience of being in a sports stadium – the noise, the anticipation, the connection with fellow and rival fans – can often be as important as the actual event itself (and sometimes more so). It’s vital how to learn from Covid-19 at your stadium.

The fan experience was undermined by Covid-19. Sports venues were in lockdown. Fans were forced to cheer from their sofas.

Everyone’s now delighted to get back in their seats. And stadiums should be making some significant changes . These will ensure the health and safety of audiences.

Creating a touchless fan experience

By now, we all understand the best practice. We could have to revisit again at any time. Wear a mask. Practice social distancing. Use hand sanitizer.

That’s fine on an individual basis. But how do you ensure that with thousands of fans at once?

It would be an impossible task without the help of technology. Also the reimagining of key stadium operations. These include ticketing, gate control and concession sales.

Here are just some of the practices that sports stadiums are starting to implement or consider.

At the gate

Even before the pandemic, many stadiums were moving to e-ticketing. This saw them saving the cost of printing and mailing fans their tickets. While the loss of souvenir ticket stubs may disappoint some, scanning a fan’s smartphone is far more sanitary than exchanging bits of paper at the gate.

Stadiums are also looking to smartphones to help them stage entry times into the stadium. Instead of the traditional stampede when the gates open, stadiums can now notify fans through an app. An example is when it’s their turn to queue at a specific gate.

Inside the stadium

Eager to keep their fans and staff protected, stadiums are shifting to touchless, cashless operations. To avoid crowded concourses, with fans lining up to purchase food and souvenirs. Stadiums are adopting their own version of ‘click and collect’. Instead of congregating to eat on the concourse, fans place and pay for their orders. This is through their smartphones and are notified when they’re ready for pickup.

New norms, new challenges

As stadiums thankfully now have full attendance, they may face new challenges they hadn’t previously anticipated. But with help from intelligent technology, stadiums are now able to restore the full fan experience and more in all its exciting glory.

Are you getting the most out of your ticketing system? Contact Riche Business for a review of how you can improve your offering.