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smart stadium technology poll results

Top Smart Stadium Technology Innovations in 2025

Top Smart Stadium Technology Innovations for the Fan Experience

Smart stadiums are transforming the game-day fan experience by harnessing the power of cutting-edge technologies like the Internet of Things (IoT), artificial intelligence (AI), and advanced connectivity. These innovations go beyond traditional stadium features, creating a seamless and interactive environment for fans. By integrating systems for ticketing, crowd management, security, and entertainment, smart stadiums create a connected sensational fan experience that enhances every aspect of the fan journey.

Enhancing the Fan Experience

At the heart of smart stadiums lies the desire to create lasting memories for fans. Going beyond simply watching the game, these venues aim to provide an interactive and immersive experience that makes every moment count and ensures fans feel they’ve gotten their money’s worth.

Smart Ticketing and Seamless Entry

In a recent Wicket LinkedIn poll, 33% of respondents identified facial ticketing as their favorite fan experience tech. This preference reflects the growing demand for streamlined entry processes. Gone are the days of long queues and paper tickets. Smart stadiums are embracing biometrics and digital ticketing systems, allowing fans to link a selfie to their ticket or purchase and store tickets on their smartphones. These systems often utilize facial ticketing, QR codes or NFC (Near Field Communication) technology for seamless entry, reducing wait times and enhancing security. However, the future of entry lies in biometric solutions like facial authentication. By simply walking through a designated Express Entry gate, authorized fans can be instantly verified and granted access, eliminating the need for fumbling with phones or tickets. This not only improves convenience and fan accessibility but also enhances security by ensuring that only the rightful ticket holder can enter the venue.

Mobile Apps and Gamification

While traditional gameday experiences revolved around simply watching the game, smart stadiums, coupled with feature-rich mobile apps, are transforming how fans engage with their teams and venue. Wicket’s poll reflects this shift, with 17% of respondents choosing gamification as their favorite fan experience tech.  Mobile apps act as a one-stop shop for fans, allowing them to purchase tickets, access exclusive behind-the-scenes content, and even participate in gamified experiences that can earn them rewards or recognition. For example, fans might receive push notifications about discounts on their favorite snacks or exclusive offers on team jerseys. This level of personalization makes fans feel valued and enhances their connection to the event. This not only enhances enjoyment during the game but also fosters a deeper connection with the team throughout the season. These apps, combined with the seamless entry provided by facial-ticketing and real-time guidance and wayfinding features, empower fans to navigate the stadium with ease, maximizing their time and enjoyment on gameday.

Advanced Connectivity: The Foundation of Smart Stadiums

High-speed connectivity is the foundation of any smart stadium. With thousands of fans using their devices simultaneously and operations teams working to streamline operations, robust Wi-Fi and 5G networks are essential to ensure a seamless experience.

5G  technology has revolutionized stadium connectivity, enabling features like live streaming, instant replays, and interactive fan polls that enhance the matchday experience. With 5G, fans can share their excitement on social media without any delay, increasing the stadium’s online visibility. Notably, the Wicket poll revealed that 28% of respondents are eager for more AR and VR experiences in smart stadiums. 5G provides the necessary bandwidth to support these advanced applications, allowing fans to immerse themselves in the game through augmented reality overlays or even experience the match virtually through VR.

Concessions and the Future of Payments

The future of payments in sporting events is poised for significant transformation, driven by technology and evolving consumer preferences. While mobile wallets will continue to play a role, innovative solutions like Wicket’s facial authentication payment technology are gaining traction. The Wicket poll revealed that 22% of fans favored biometric payments as their preferred fan experience tech, reflecting a growing desire for seamless and secure payment options. This trend is evident in the rise of self-serve kiosks and grab-and-go concessions that incorporate digital wallets and facial payment solutions, such as Wicket’s recent integrations with Mashgin and AiFi-powered stores. These advancements not only streamline transactions but also enhance the overall fan experience by reducing wait times and providing a convenient and contactless payment method.

The Wicket poll results clearly demonstrate that fans are eager for innovative technologies to enhance their stadium experience. From the convenience of facial ticketing and the excitement of AR/VR to the ease of biometric payments and the engagement of gamified experiences, smart stadiums are poised to push the boundaries of innovation. By seamlessly integrating these technologies, stadiums will not only provide unparalleled entertainment but also cultivate a deeper connection between fans and their teams, creating the ultimate gameday experience. 

About Wicket

Wicket Software is a privacy-first facial authentication platform provider with patented computer vision AI technology that enables sensational event experiences for fans, guests, and employees with frictionless touchpoints that delight users and strengthen security.

Wicket has been in use since 2020 and deployed for facial ticketing, credentialing, access control, and payments in numerous sports stadiums, at major conferences, and in corporate office environments.

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