Colombia. A stadium is like a small city that must function reliably before, during, and after an event that gathers thousands of people inside. The trick, according to the Schneider Electric company, is to make this moment an unforgettable experience for everyone involved in the event.
According to Marcos Matias, president of Schneider Electric for the Andean Region: "Stadiums have evolved at the pace of technological advances and the search for comfort of both players and attendees is now based on how automated they are and how well connected their infrastructure is, to offer with the best quality and efficiency, the best experience from start to finish."
Thus, a contemporary stadium must comply with the following elements that allow the maximum enjoyment of a sports event or a concert, among other activities:
1. Lighting: The lighting of the sports field that requires up to 2,000 lux of power, is achieved with special lamps. Meanwhile, inside hallways, corridors, restrooms, and even in parking lots, lights let people know where they are, shop, and evacuate the area when the event is over. The impact of lighting is also on sports broadcasts, on the photos of spectators and journalists.
2. Information: Television networks, loudspeakers, giant screens and advanced camera systems, some that run flush with the grass and others that float on the same stadium, are increasingly frequent demands that must be met to the satisfaction of the spectator.
3. Security: Undoubtedly, if there are cameras to see the plays, there must also be systems with closed circuit television that allow the recognition, control and prevention of suspicious activities.
4. Access: Access controls have also evolved quite a bit. Now, users can simply swipe their smartphones through a reader to identify themselves and go to the stands, without needing to print tickets or buy tickets.
5. Circulation: If the displacements are necessary, in a stadium they must be short and effective. Supporting attendees so they know where the elements they require are, such as restrooms, food courts, and even security and emergency care elements, is also part of the infrastructure a stadium requires.
6. Connectivity: Mobile communications have evolved and attendees of a sports show can both select their chair and pay for their ticket online, or order their food and drinks from an app. They will still be able to share their photos, comments and videos in real time. The challenge is to have a robust connectivity system that supports mobile networks, journalist data networks and audiovisual media.
7. Purchases: As we noted, an infrastructure is required to support connectivity, but at the same time that transactions are recorded without complications to avoid queues or congestion and prevent criminal actions. Mobile apps will allow purchases to reach the right chair without missing a second of the action.
8. Visibility: Attendees will be increasingly demanding and will want to see dubious plays, important facts and obviously goals in real time and from various angles. Then, they'll want to share that experience with third parties. The alternative will be to have the appropriate connectivity infrastructure for this purpose.
9. Air conditioning: Beyond lighting, there is a possibility that wind, sun or rain will damage the show. Something can be done by the stadium infrastructure to prevent it by using heating or cooling systems, depending on the case, to keep attendees comfortable.
10. Comfort: Everything is summarized in this word. The stadium must add all the above factors so that the attendee wants to be part of the moment and seeks to share it.
