Bundesliga club Eintracht Frankfurt has claimed a first for German football by launching an Internet of Things space at Commerzbank-Arena.
The space, dubbed the ‘Arena of IoT’, will be used to develop digital industrial models relating to smart building, facility management, energy management, logistics and mobility projects.
The Term ‘Internet of Things’ refers to the increasing interconnectivity between intelligent, everyday objects via the internet. The patron of Eintracht’s new space will be Professor Kristina Sinemus, the state minister for development in Hesse.
Eintracht said the initiative makes the club the first in the Bundesliga to operate its own IoT structure.
Last week, Eintracht revealed plans to expand Commerzbank-Arena to a capacity of around 60,000 through an agreement that will see it become the operator of the stadium.
Eintracht and the City of Frankfurt, which owns the stadium, agreed on the key terms for the future use and development of the ground from July 1, 2020.
Eintracht board member Axel Hellman said: “We are happy to announce that after the agreement with the city about the use of the stadium we are opening the first chapter on the digitisation of the stadium and at the same time contributing to the strengthening of digital stadium locations in Hessen.
“The stadium is the ideal place to test future-proof digital industrial models for use in the market. At no other place in Hesse do so many people come together in a limited space at a certain time in games or at concerts than the Commerzbank-Arena. Industrial digital applications that work in such an environment will also work at all transport hubs if bandwidth is adequate.”
Eintracht’s deal with the City of Frankfurt will grant the club the right to sublet the stadium for the likes of concerts and other sporting events. Eintracht will also assume control of catering and the marketing of commercial rights to the stadium.
Image: Eintracht Frankfurt
