Features

FC Cincinnati engages Venuetize ahead of stadium move

Major League Soccer club FC Cincinnati has teamed up with technology platform Venuetize to enhance the fan experience as it transitions to a new stadium in 2021.

The club will release a Venuetize-powered mobile application, which will be in operation during its final season at Nippert Stadium this year. The app will then offer expanded in-stadium experiences to support FC Cincinnati’s move to the 26,000-seat West End Stadium next year.

The app will launch later this month on iPhone and Android devices ahead of the start of the MLS season on March 1.

The first phase of the launch will include fans’ ticketing experience through a full SeatGeek integration. The app will allow ticket holders to manage, buy and transfer tickets to games, and offer team and league information, including Matchcenter and streams.

The second phase will include a venue-specific mobile experience for the $250m (£192m/€226m) West End Stadium, which is due to open next spring. Features will include mobile commerce, mobile ordering, augmented reality and virtual reality.

FC Cincinnati’s chief operating officer, Dennis Carroll, said: “We’re thrilled to be working with a partner like Venuetize, whose key focus is on creating customised fan experiences to enhance their engagement with the club 365 days a year.

“We’ve been very impressed by the thought and advances their team has made with other clients – both at the team and venue levels – and are excited about how we can build the mobile app to suit our unique fan base. We’re excited to be able to release an app customised to our final season in Nippert Stadium, then expand the app’s capabilities for our move to West End Stadium in 2021 to really create a fan-focused experience that is unique to every fan who uses the app.”

Jim Tobin, vice-president of sports and entertainment of Venuetize, added: “Venuetize is excited to partner with FC Cincinnati and to be a part of their next-generation mobile strategy. They have a loyal, digitally engaged fan base and are soon opening a state-of-the-art stadium that will showcase how technology and design can deliver memorable experiences.

“Venuetize has the platform that will support the needs of their fans today while also enhancing what their West End Stadium will provide fans in the future. By launching the club app in two phases, Venuetize will aid in helping position FC Cincinnati as a world-class sports and entertainment destination.”

Venuetize last month partnered with Boston’s TD Garden to launch a new mobile service for the arena, which serves as the home of the Boston Bruins NHL franchise and the Boston Celtics NBA team.

Other teams that hold partnerships with Venuetize include the New York Red Bulls, Memphis Grizzlies and Miami Dolphins.

Images: Populous