December 8 – The Amsterdam ArenA is calling for ground breaking “creative thinkers and innovative entrepreneurs” to help the company create the stadium of the future as part of the revamp of the country’s main stadium.
Amsterdam ArenA, the home of Dutch giants Ajax and which will host four matches at the 2020 European Championships, has already unveiled a major €50 million renovation project that will radically alter the look of the stadium and upgrade spectator facilities.
The current stadium capacity is 53,000 and that will remain unchanged. The principal change will be in the fan experience, especially in the 28,000 seated upper tier which will be served by more escalators and toilet facilities as well increased natural light and a “climatised” environment.
But that is just the beginning of the improved fan experience for fans as the stadium opens up to new ideas which will come via “an international innovation challenge”, with the best plans being tested and implemented in the newly renovated ArenA with the help of the municipality of Amsterdam, Amsterdam Smart City, and the innovation partners Microsoft, Huawei, KPN, KPMG and TNO.
An ArenA statement says” the objective of the project is to improve the level of service, quality and sustainability…One of the aims, for instance, is to reduce waiting times in queues. Other examples include creating optimal security as well as a sense of being right at home, reducing waste, offering healthy food choices, and connecting visitors and fans online.”
“Innovation cannot be achieved alone; the best creations are the result of a cooperative effort,” said Henk Markerink, CEO of the Amsterdam ArenA.
To enter go to www.InnovationArena.amsterdam. Competition categories include Safety and Security, Healthy food & Beverage concepts, Fan experience, Cleaning & maintenance and Connectivity. Entries will close early in March of 2016.
The Amsterdam ArenA has traditionally been a leading innovator in football stadi. Markerink said. “It is part of our DNA. To name a few examples, the construction of the stadium was funded through what is now known as crowdfunding, the so-called returfing technique was developed in the ArenA, and we were the first stadium ever to introduce our own electronic payment system.”
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