Technology drives fan engagement and improved experience at Cardiff City FC.
Part of the Tantry group of clubs that includes FK Sarajevo, LAFC and KVK, Wales’ top club, Cardiff City FC is a team with a fine heritage, modern stadium, loyal fan base and premier league experience.
With a hugely ambitious management team and board of directors Cardiff City has invested in its facilities and in its fan experience in an attempt to ensure they match the club’s goals both now and in the future.
As part of this ongoing commitment to its supporters, Cardiff City decided to look at ways they could enhance the match day, improve fan engagement and generate revenue through use of technology, including existing in-stadium TVs.
Having established a digital charter for the club, Cardiff City looked at methods and technologies at a number of other clubs to ensure they adopted best-of-breed solutions and practices, Head of TV and Video Services, Jamie De Cruz commented, “We visited a number of clubs around the country and were impressed by the digital signage and IPTV we saw at places like the Etihad Stadium, Stamford Bridge and New York Stadium and decided to engage with their technology partner, Tripleplay.”
Working alongside Cardiff City’s incumbent IT supplier, Ricoh, Tripleplay designed a solution that could fit the budgets of the club and match the experience fans at world-renowned clubs like Chelsea and Manchester City would get.
Delivering content to over 150 screens around the stadium, the Tripleplay platform has proven invaluable in delivering advertising, information, entertainment and communications to supporters, while its flexibility has allowed Cardiff City to add new facilities and features around the stadium quickly and effectively.
As well as delivering to the TVs in reception, corporate boxes and hospitality suites we have been able to create nine fan zones around the stadium concourse where we stream in-house content and live match footage through large projectors and arrange special events for fans to take part in.
Jamie De Cruz
Working alongside Cardiff City’s incumbent IT supplier, Ricoh, Tripleplay designed a solution that could fit the budgets of the club and match the experience fans at world-renowned clubs like Chelsea and Manchester City would get.
Delivering content to over 150 screens around the stadium, the Tripleplay platform has proven invaluable in delivering advertising, information, entertainment and communications to supporters, while its flexibility has allowed Cardiff City to add new facilities and features around the stadium quickly and effectively.
“As well as delivering to the TVs in reception, corporate boxes and hospitality suites we have been able to create nine fan zones around the stadium concourse where we stream in-house content and live match footage through large projectors and arrange special events for fans to take part in,” added Jamie.
The club’s Fan Engagement Manager, Amy McNiven sees the fan zones in particular as a vital match day resource, “Through Tripleplay and the fan zones we have been able to better engage our supporters, providing them a focal point on a match day to spend time with friends before a game, at half time and after the match. The in-house content we deliver gives them value-add, shows we’re going beyond expectation to improve their experience and also allows them to make the most of their time while they are with us at the Cardiff City Stadium.”
Aside from improving the fan experience, the Tripleplay platform has allowed Cardiff City to generate additional revenue streams, achieving return on investment in a very short time frame.
Cardiff City FC Chief Executive Officer, Ken Choo was delighted with the impact of the Tripleplay technology, “By partnering with Tripleplay we knew we had a tried, tested and trusted technology and have not been let down. We achieved return on investment within 3 months allowing us to create a new revenue stream for the seasons to come and to focus more on the fan experience and engaging our supporters.”
Having a high quality IPTV and Digital Signage solution has also helped Cardiff City schedule in post-match events to entice fans into staying behind after a game, maximising the revenue generation opportunity a match day represents; including broadcasting Welsh national team rugby and football internationals.
Part of the appeal of the Tripleplay solution appeal was its simplicity for Cardiff City and the fact it can work alongside existing stadium technology.
Jamie De Cruz continued, “The Tripleplay solution requires very little management on a match day, it is very reliable and allows us to focus on our core tasks and responsibilities. Through it we can deliver our Statzone content, in-house Cardiff City TV productions, live match streams and sponsor messages.”
As well as delivering content to 150 screens in the stadium, Cardiff City also uses the technology at its four house of sport complexes, its first team training centre and academy foundation making a club wide implementation and a solution that benefits all members of the club.
We’ve been delighted with Tripleplay and with the partnership they have offered us, alongside our colleagues at Ricoh, and look forward to expanding the system and enhancing our offering even more in the future.