Sports Technology

Etihad Stadium is enhancing its Medallion Club Membership, introducing Smart Seats with high definition screens to provide an unprecedented experience for Australian sports fans.

The in-seat tablets, launched in conjunction with Telstra and Samsung, are part of the next phase of Etihad Stadium’s multi-million connected stadium fit out, which is making the venue one of the most technically advanced and connected, across the globe.

The first batch of the luxury leather Smart Seats were unveiled at the AFL Round 12 match between Essendon and Hawthorn last Friday (10th June).

Progressively up to 1,000 Medallion Club seats will possess the tablets with the technology replacing some of the venue’s pre-existing video seats.

Etihad Stadium acting Chief Executive Michael Green said the Smart Seat technology combines the very best of being at a live event with the great recent advances made through technology.

Green explained “under our roof, the atmosphere is already fantastic but now we can offer fans a live match along with HD replay action, virtually in the palm of their hand.

“We have canvassed the globe and looked at technology at some of the world’s great venues and ultimately in association with our partners Telstra and Samsung, we believe we have produced a global first product which takes the in stadium sports’ experience to another level.

“Etihad Stadium set its sights three years ago on becoming Australia’s most connected stadium and we feel this advancement puts us ahead of the game.”

Telstra Executive Director Telstra Business, David Coventry said expectations of fans and how they want to connect at events are changing.

Coventry added “fans want to watch live sport but also be in touch with the outside world; keeping up to date with other sports, news and using social media. This, new game day technology, combined with Etihad Stadium’s free WiFi will continue to enrich the fan experience.

The Smart Seat tablet displays and device management system have been developed in collaboration with Samsung Electronics Australia. The seats utilise Samsung’s premium Galaxy Tab S2 9.7-inch tablet range to manage and deliver content to guests.

In addition to a planned roll-out of 1000 Tab S2 devices, Samsung has provided technical support to help manage tablet content, app updates, and security through the Samsung KNOX mobile security platform.

The tablets offer fans the opportunity to not only watch video action of the game they’re attending but to also switch to action from other AFL games with access to all Fox Sports and free-to-air channels along with Sky Racing, a broadcast of the game and scoreboard feed.

Families can also take advantage of the new technology with the tablets providing access to the Nickelodeon and Nickelodeon Junior channels.

Further enhancements will be added to the system progressively, providing even greater entertainment options for patrons.

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