Stadiums and Digitalization: An Exploratory Study of Digitalization in Sports Stadiums

ABSTRACT While we have seen many technological innovations in the way most sports are administered or played, stadium interaction had been largely unchanged till recently. However, with increasing technological intervention in stadiums, it is natural to ask questions on the initiatives that spectators prefer. This paper attempts to create a comprehensive study of such technological initiatives in modern stadiums across different sports. We have collected data from stadiums, categorised them and analysed spectator willingness to pay for these initiatives. We find that age and frequency of stadium visits are the most important characteristics that define the willingness of spectators to pay for high technology initiatives in stadiums. Our study is one of the few in the domain that presents both spectator and stadium side issues in enhancing digital initiatives in stadiums. It would enable future managers of stadiums to better plan and target right initiatives.