Qatar excites fans with a new Digital Fan Experience for sports events

SAP SE, FC Bayern Munich, and Aspire Academy enhance fan engagement and team performance with real-time technology
DOHA, Qatar – 10 January 2017 – Technology leader in enterprise application software SAP, German record football champion FC Bayern Munich and Qatar’s Aspire Academy have announced that Qatar is set to enjoy the world’s most technologically advanced fan experience thanks to the innovative use of real-time technology.
In preparation for the mega sports events Qatar is set to host, and which are set to attract millions of visitors, the country is rapidly developing public-private partnerships for the construction of connected stadiums and the enhancement of national team competitiveness, youth development, technology and communications infrastructure.
“Worldwide, we are entering the age of the Digital Fan. Football fans are passionate and want instant connections with their favorite teams on mobile apps and social media. Qatar has the opportunity to deliver the ultimate fan experience – from planning their trip beforehand, to providing exclusive media content, and ordering and delivering concessions to their seats,” said Andreas Jung, Member of the Executive Board at FC Bayern Munich, one of the world’s most successful and valuable football clubs, with more than 400 million fans worldwide.
FC Bayern Munich has used real-time technology to react more rapidly to its 30,000 hourly fan dialogues through digital channels, keep players healthy, and deliver new products and services in response to fan demands.
Qatar’s Aspire Academy is also using SAP HANA, the real-time analytics platform, to drive youth development by sharing data from a network of clubs around the world with coaches, sports scientists, athletes, and management.
“Sports teams have long known the benefits of using real-time data during matches to enhance lineups and strategies. As the Middle East’s first youth sport academy to partner with a leading technology company, Aspire Academy is dedicated to using big data analytics to develop young talent in Qatar and enhance Qatar’s competitiveness,” said Ivan Bravo, Director General, Aspire Academy.
Driving innovation in sports thanks to real-time data analytics with the in-memory platform SAP HANA, SAP enables teams and organisations to manage players and engage more efficiently with their fans.
“Qatar’s vision and infrastructure puts it in an ideal position to deliver some of the most technologically advanced events. With the help of real-time technology, sports teams can deliver personalised and seamless fan experiences, proactively engage with fans on social media, and enhance training and performance,” said Bernd Leukert, member of the Executive Board, SAP SE, Products & Innovation.