AGF Aarhus gets set to debut world’s first virtual grandstand

There will be no fans or audience when football reopens for business in Denmark later this month and due to the current Coronavirus pandemic, the games will be played behind closed doors. However, at AGF Aarhus’ first game, fans will be able to take part in the game and enjoy the togetherness with the fellow fans – even though they are not allowed into the stadium.

It sounds like utopia in these COVID-19 times, but in Aarhus – where the local 3F Superliga club Aarhus Gymnastikforening af 1880 (AGF), which translates to Aarhus Gymnastics Club of 1880 will play the first game after the lockdown in the best tier against local rivals Randers FC – AGF is planning to celebrate the reopening of Danish football with a world premiere of a new digital football experience that is set to bring the fans and the community together like we have never seen before in football. 

The new digital initiative, which requires no less than 23 men to execute during the match, is being run in collaboration with the international digital video platform, Zoom. 

It will be a kind of virtual stadium to which you pick up a free ticket – and as the match begins, you will gather with those who have a ticket to the same virtual grandstand section. And there are no less than twenty-two different sections to choose from – just like a regular football stadium. So, there will be room for both home fans, neutral spectators and away  fans – but only virtually, of course. 

The digital initiative will see several screens set up around the pitch at AGF’s home-stadium, Ceres Park. Here, the fans watching from their ‘virtual grandstand’ section will be shown, meaning that the players will be able to see and feel the support emanating from the fans’ living rooms directly at the stadium – all at a safe distance, of course, but still close at heart and close to the football.   

Jacob Nielsen, CEO of AGF, said:

It will be the first tournament match in a long time. We are celebrating that with a historic digital initiative, and we are proud to be the first club in the world to use it. Now it seems that we have to do without spectators for a while, so maybe we can inspire a similar initiative at other clubs that can also benefit from it in the coming time.

Get your tickets to the virtual grandstands here >>>

Images, courtesy: AGF

#football #sports #sportsbiz #sportsindustry #sportstech

ALSD International – Europe’s leading event for the Premium Seat & Sports Hospitality sector – taking place at Liverpool FC’s Anfield Stadium this October, 12-13, will examine how to increase revenue through new builds, renovations, service expansions and the latest technology, and how to recoup lost revenue post COVID-19.

The next edition of ALSD International – organised and delivered by the Association of Luxury Suite Directors in conjunction with Sports Venue Business – will feature a high-level conference, an exhibition hall showcasing the latest products, services & solutions, tours of Anfield, Everton’s Goodison Park and M&S Bank Arena, and numerous networking events, ensuring optimised opportunities to knowledge-share, network and do business.

#ALSDInternational – Europe’s leading event for the Premium Seat & Sports Hospitality sector

#ALSD – Leading the Premium Seat sector for the last 30 years

#sportsvenuebiz

#sportsvenuebusiness – The leading platform for sector news, views & developments