Site icon Business Manchester

Transforming Premiership Rugby Matchdays with Innovative Tech

Transforming Premiership Rugby Matchdays with Innovative Tech

The Kingsholm stadium, home of Gloucester Rugby, is set to undergo a technological transformation designed to enhance the matchday experience for fans. This change promises to introduce a suite of digital features tailored to elevate how fans interact with the game.

The cornerstone of this initiative is a new mobile application, offering conveniences such as half-time quizzes, children’s games, live audio feeds, and pre-order options for food and drinks. These developments aim to lay the groundwork for a future-focused and digitally connected sports event.

A Digital Uplift for Rugby Enthusiasts

Gloucester Rugby is embracing the digital age, enhancing every aspect of the spectator’s experience at Kingsholm stadium. With the introduction of a new fan-centric mobile app, supporters can dive into interactive elements like half-time quizzes and live audio feeds. This modern approach aims to bring the game closer to its fans.

The app also features an option for fans to pre-order refreshments, view exclusive content, participate in discussions, and even vote for their Man of the Match. This amalgamation of services underscores a commitment to delivering a comprehensive and immersive experience.

Collaborative Efforts in Technology Integration

The successful rollout of this digital upgrade is a result of a strategic partnership with Landways and Clock, firms renowned for their expertise in technological infrastructure and digital experiences, respectively. Landways, championed by Columbia Capital, is spearheading a new high-capacity Wi-Fi network at Kingsholm.

This network is built upon innovative technical foundations that ensure resilience against future data demands and integration capabilities for new digital services. Such forward-thinking infrastructure is crucial in maintaining connectivity and digital interaction within densely populated venues. Gloucester Rugby’s collaboration with these tech leaders signals a transformative change in how fans engage with their beloved sport.

Ensuring Seamless Connectivity

A critical part of this digital evolution is the deployment of an extensive optical fibre network throughout the stadium. This fibre network is essential for managing the forecasted exponential increase in wireless data usage in upcoming years.

Chris Smedley, CEO of Landways, emphasises, “We will be monitoring the network closely… working with Gloucester Rugby to install upgrades to ensure that the Wi-Fi system does not run out of capacity.” This assurance safeguards Kingsholm’s position as a leading, well-connected venue for sports enthusiasts.

This connectivity not only supports basic internet usage but facilitates multiple audio and video streams, thus enhancing real-time fan engagement. The implementation of such a robust digital network fosters an interactive and inclusive matchday atmosphere.

Opportunities for Brands and Businesses

As part of this digital initiative, Gloucester Rugby provides a platform for forward-thinking brands to engage with fans in new, meaningful ways far beyond traditional sponsorships. This initiative creates significant opportunities for unique brand partnerships.

Brands can leverage the focused digital channels within the app to provide targeted and interactive content, enhancing their visibility and interaction with the audience. This dynamic environment promotes a new form of marketing synergy between brands and fans.

Such collaborations promise to redefine brand engagement within sports, providing a richer and more diversified spectrum of promotional activities that are integrated seamlessly into the overall fan experience.

Innovations in Fan Experience

The newly developed digital infrastructure and strategic partnerships aim to deliver a fan experience that rivals the best in the world. Gloucester Rugby’s digital strategy is centred around creating ease, enrichment, and uniqueness for its supporters.

Ben Silcox, Chief Strategy Officer of Clock, articulates this vision: “We are excited to bring to life Gloucester Rugby’s vision for a truly connected stadium… a fan experience… richer and more unique than any other rugby club.”

These deliberate efforts are imbued with a commitment to enhancing spectatorship, crafting an environment that is interactive and engaging, and setting a benchmark in digital fan experiences.

Future-Proofing the Stadium Experience

Gloucester Rugby is not just innovating for today but is also laying the foundation for future advancements in stadium tech. The new infrastructure ensures that Kingsholm can evolve with technological advances, seamlessly adapting to new types of digital services and upgrades.

This approach is crucial in a rapidly changing digital landscape, where fan expectations continuously evolve. By future-proofing its stadium offerings, Gloucester Rugby remains at the cutting edge of sports technology, consistently exceeding fan expectations.

It is this proactive strategy that allows the club to offer a modern, dynamic, and tech-savvy experience, securing its place as a pioneer within the realm of sports entertainment.

Committed to Enhancing Audience Engagement

The partnership and investments made into these technological advances underscore Gloucester Rugby’s commitment to enhancing audience engagement. Fast connectivity and interactive tools are now at the forefront of the Kingsholm experience.

By leveraging the full capability of modern digital technology, the club provides its fans with a matchday experience that is not only engaging but sets new standards in spectator interaction. This initiative marks an exciting chapter in the ongoing narrative of sports entertainment evolution.


The digital transformation at Gloucester Rugby’s Kingsholm stadium illustrates a significant shift towards integrating technology into sports events. By embracing these advancements, the club is enhancing fan engagement and setting new standards in matchday experiences.

This fusion of technology and sports illustrates the potential for continued innovation, ensuring that Kingsholm remains a beacon of modern sports entertainment.

Exit mobile version