Column by George Vaughan, The Digital Line
For decades, arenas and stadiums have been viewed as self-contained environments – carefully engineered spaces that come to life when the lights go up and the crowds pour in. They have become ever more connected internally, boasting seamless digital entry, cutting-edge AV systems, cashless operations and AI-driven crowd management. Yet, as cities evolve into smart ecosystems and digital infrastructure becomes as fundamental as roads or power lines, the next frontier for venues lies not just within their walls but also very much beyond them.
We are entering an era where the arena is no longer an island but a node in a living, breathing urban network, a distributed venue ecosystem that extends the event experience across the entire cityscape. It requires operators to think more expansively but also promises opportunities to engage with sponsors and partners in completely new ways.
From Smart Venue to Smart District
The modern stadium has already embraced technology to optimise many of the things that happen within its walls: dynamic lighting, cloud-managed video distribution, advanced acoustics and intelligent building management. But the true potential of these systems is only realised when they’re connected to the world beyond the turnstiles.
In a genuinely connected city, the arena becomes a participant in a wider digital conversation. Its data feeds can inform – and be informed by – transport systems, local businesses and civic infrastructure. Imagine an event day where the venue, public transport, hotels and even restaurants collaborate in real time to enhance and elevate the visitor journey.
Read the full article from ISSUE 44 below: