February 10 – Cutting edge technology is slowly working its way into stadiums worldwide, particularly as clubs and stadium operators start to understand the content and data possibilities available to them. Manchester City took this a step further last weekend with the launch of an app that will deliver match day information and breaking news to Android Watches.
Marketed by the club as CityMatchday Wear, the app is downloaded to a user’s Android Watch and will update wearers of key match day moments such as starting line-ups, goal alerts, significant events like penalties and red cards and other select City commentary. The app can also be downloaded to an Android phone.
As part of the launch Man City gave away four Android Watches to its signed up Club members (Cityzens). The new app is part of a suite of club apps available across a range of digital platforms delivering club information.
At this point the Android Watch feels more like a gimmick than a serious piece of new technology, but these are early days, as Diego Gigliani, director of media and fan relationship management at the club, points out.
“CityMatchday Wear is another example of how we are constantly exploring and adopting new technology with the ultimate goal of improving the fan experience and strengthening fans’ engagement with the club,” said Gigliani.
“We recognise the smart watch market is still in its early stages but its popularity is projected to increase rapidly as new players come into the market. We’re thrilled to get in early and start discovering ways to tap into the devices’ potential.
“With millions of City fans worldwide, many won’t be able to watch all our matches live, whether in the stadium or on TV. For those fans who want to keep up with all the action but are unable to watch the game, having CityMatchday Wear on their Android watches will allow them to go about their busy days while receiving key updates related to our matches as they happen.”
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