AFC Wimbledon launches RFP for IT Infrastructure

The expectation of the average fan is now heightened through the technological transformation they experience at home – smartphones, wi-fi, Netflix, social media consumption, etc. AFC Wimbledon are alive to the concept of technology as a key enabler to unlocking match day potential. At the very least, it is a critical part of retaining a fan. Proactively, it is a driver for best in class fan engagement.

It is for this reason that the club have put technology at the heart of delivering an outstanding experience for consumers, corporate and partners alike.

Technology at Plough Lane is viewed as a facilitator for data collection. Data is the insight lead for any business, and technology is the collection mechanism.

Aiming towards a Smart Stadium can mean a smart business future. The times of fans attending physical events is slowly passing with the advent of new streaming/online consumption channels; typically, a more cost-effective method to see your team or event. Keeping Plough Lane in line with their technological demands and providing an augmented match day experience are two core prongs leading the fight back to the classic attendance model and through the filter of ‘keeping it simple’ AFC Wimbledon aim to make this accessible for all.

Using the overarching vision and business priorities set by the group the following conceptual design was formulated;

• The core infrastructure should be transparent and able to be consumed as a service by departments of tenants
• All services will have a defined and documented Service Definition that provides a resilience, performance and retention metric along with a defined Service Level Agreement
• System monitoring should be pervasive to the infrastructure allowing automation and self-remediation where possible
• System management operations should be automated where possible and allow self-service provision for departments of tenants
•  Connectivity should provide flexibility to varying changes in demand of the stadium and its guests and tenants with minimal reconfiguration or cost
• The core infrastructure and Line of Business applications should allow simple integration to the cloud

AFC Wimbledon are inviting proposals for all elements outlined in this strategy. There is a clean technology estate to be considered.

An outline timing for this process is as follows:

AFC Wimbledon confirmed back in July 2017 that Andrew Scott Ltd had been appointed as the preferred contractor for building the club’s new community stadium at Plough Lane.

Established in 1870, Andrew Scott Ltd has a long history of building community facilities and sports stadia in the UK, including Cardiff Arms Park back in the 1960s. In more recent times, Andrew Scott has built Parc y Scarlets, home of Llanelli Scarlets, and substantial developments at Hampshire CCC’s The Rose Bowl, and Stoke City’s stadium.

The appointment follows a lengthy and thorough process conducted by the club.

In order to get a clearer understanding of the likely cost of the new stadium, the Club’s board decided to enter into a two-stage tender process, which included inviting three companies to apply. The club had several meetings with each company and site visits to the stadia they had built or developed. After a formal assessment of the tenders against three principal criteria of commercial, technical quality and added value, the two leading contractors were invited to further interviews and to enable them to clarify aspects of the tender.

Following the submission of the bids, Andrew Williams, the Club’s project manager for the stadium development, submitted a report to the Football Club Board (FCB). As a result, and following further enquiries, the Club selected Andrew Scott as the preferred contractor. This decision was reviewed and endorsed by the DTB.