In a recently released paper, Deloitte has envisioned a new model for sport stadium which integrates emerging technologies.

Titled, “The stadium as a platform: A new model for integrating venue technology into sports business”, the paper says that with technological development, the sports industry is moving towards a new model in which the stadium is a technological and commercial platform. It talks about three layers of the stadium technology stack that work together to enable stadium operators and teams to create new experiences for all visitors, regardless of the event:

• Technology infrastructure layer: Team-owned set of physical hardware, networking equipment, and software that powers arena and enables in-arena experiences
   
• Enabling technology layer: Tools, protocols, and data that the team gives to fans, partners, and sponsors to access core infrastructure
   
• Experience layer: A combination of team-created and third-party experiences that are built on top of the platform

The authors further emphasize that the transformative potential of a stadium platform depends on opening up the stadium and its hardware / software infrastructure to developers, sponsors, and users to build upon – a set of third-party experiences that complement what the team can deliver. To that end, the paper gives several examples of third-party experiences, which among others includes a bitcoin-based betting system.

“Creating a “game within the game” system where fans bet virtual currency (or, using bitcoin / blockchain, real currency) on in-game events, or use stadium-provided technology for other micro-transactions”, it said.

In conclusion, the paper said that re-imagining the modern stadium as a technology and business platform has significant implications for the sports and entertainment industry. Stadiums are much more connected now, which in turn can be the foundation for creating new transactions, growing new businesses, and unlocking new revenue streams.