Technology innovation is enabling a new future across the entire ecosystem of motorsports. It is driven by a relentless pace of change in how fans want to watch and...
The MotoGP fan experience is continuously evolving because of our drive to innovate. This is essential to bring the action as close to our fans as possible and keep them coming back season after season. A key part of this is harnessing the power of the latest digital technologies that complement every interaction fans have with the sport – whether they are at the racetrack, at home or on the move. Innovations like Internet of Things and augmented reality (AR) applications could transform how fans at each grand prix are able to immerse themselves in the action – but they all require a robust wireless network to give fans the powerful and high-quality experiences they crave.
Connecting the live experience In a sport like MotoGP, fans at the circuit never have a full view of the race as it unfolds. That’s why giving fans the ability to stream different points of view on a mobile device, or access dozens of real-time data points on-demand to add insights to the race, could be game-changing. After all, live sports shouldn’t be just about watching snippets from an assigned seat. To enable us to offer fans at the circuit more ‘connected’ experiences, we are looking at rolling out on-track Wi-Fi to underpin different digital applications. The first step towards this new kind of connected MotoGP experience was a proof of concept, which we did together with Tata Communications at the
Valencia Grand Prix last weekend. The scale of the wireless network was huge, covering for example grandstands, hospitality lounges, team and paddock areas – keeping up to 3,000 people connected at the same time. It allowed fans to interact and share their experiences on social media and seamlessly access extra content to complement the live action.
Endless opportunities The proof of concept offered a tantalising glimpse at a range of new experiences that trackside Wi-Fi could eventually enable for fans on race days. Local services both at the circuit and outside it could be integrated into a bespoke fan app, including maps, information on parking, restaurants, and so on. Because of the security of the network, fans could also use it to easily carry out mobile payments for food and merchandise at the circuit. With the wireless network as the foundation, we could also look at enabling fans to customise the grand prix experience using Internet of Things sensors either worn by the fans on a wristband, or placed on beacons throughout the venue. These could be used to power up location-based experiences such as AR avatars of the riders or data points on key race moments. Other potential applications include live 360-degree replays, behind-the-scenes VR content, AR mobiles games, and panoramic photos featuring every single fan in attendance. On-track Wi-Fi opens a whole new world of opportunities. Following the success of our proof of concept, we’re excited about the potential to make the MotoGP fan experience even more thrilling than it is today.
Read one of our previous blogs on innovation in F1.
Featuring
Admin
Leaders In Our Own Right
Explore related solution
In my role as the director of customer service and operations for our F1® business, one question I’m asked over and over is, ‘how do you do it – how do you manage IT and...
Alex Gibson and Ben Lambert won last year’s F1 Innovation Prize. Their winning idea was a mobile solution that would allow fans at each Grand Prix to connect to dozens...
What’s next?
Explore Our Solutions
Explore our solutions through immersive platform demos or engage with our surveys and pricing calculators
Explore Our Solutions
Explore our solutions through immersive platform demos or engage with our surveys and pricing calculators
Explore Our Solutions
Explore our solutions through immersive platform demos or engage with our surveys and pricing calculators