Etihad Stadium has stepped up the ‘event experience’ for spectators with the introduction of hi-tech, luxury leather smart seats to the stadium. A global first, the initial role out of the new technology will see 1000 Medallion Club Seats fitted with high definition screens loaded with top of the range app technology developed by Melbourne based, mobile-first agency, Appscore, in conjunction with Telstra.

Appscore co-founder and managing director, Alex Louey, said, “As a trusted partner of Telstra, we were their first choice as partner solution provider on this project and we are really excited to see this project come to life.

“Together we were able to create a solution to help position Etihad as one of the most technically advanced and connected sporting stadiums in the world.”

The smart seats offer interactive touch screens for fans, who will have access to all Fox Sports and free to air channels, allowing them to stay up to date on other games in progress. Children’s television channels Nickelodeon and Nickelodeon Junior are also available to help keep the young ones occupied.

Louey said this is definitely the future of stadiums, with data and technology changing fan experiences at venues in order to keep bringing them back.

“Live events are no longer just about turning up to watch a game or concert. The advancement of technology means that fans now expect a tailored mix of physical and digital experiences across their phones, seats and pretty much every where they go in the stadium. The ‘smart seat’ solution is just the first step for Etihad and we look forward to releasing new applications in the future.”