Features

Wasps aim for fan buzz with app initiative

English Premiership Rugby club Wasps has unveiled a new fan experience initiative with commercial partner Vodafone to coincide with the team’s first home game at Coventry’s Ricoh Arena since the 2019-20 season was halted due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Under the project, called ‘Seyu – Together for victory!’, Wasps fans will be able to support their team from home, by uploading ‘selfies’ and sending messages via the free-to-use Seyu mobile application that are then shown in near-real time on the stadium’s screens and LED boards. As per UK government guidelines, no fans will be allowed in the venue itself.

Seyu is an artificial intelligence-assisted solution that allows fans throughout the world, via a moderated channel, to become part of the matchday experience – albeit remotely – whilst being able to share their messages and pictures on social media platforms in branded frames. Supporters will receive a push notification informing them that the upload or post is ready to be displayed at Ricoh Arena.

Seyu will also upload a gallery of all supporter photos being displayed at Ricoh Arena after the game against Worcester today (Friday).

It was announced earlier this month that Ricoh Arena had secured £5.3m of funding to enhance its conference and exhibition facilities – a move that will also benefit the staging of the 2022 Commonwealth Games, with the multi-sport event set to take place in neighbouring Birmingham.

Image: Ricoh Arena CC-by-SA/2.0 – © Julieanne Savage – geograph.org.uk/p/901396