The San Francisco 49ers are in the process of building a new $1.2 billion, 68,500-seat football stadium in Santa Clara. Official groundbreaking for the new stadium took place in April 2012 with completion time planned for the 2014 NFL season. With San Francisco housing many of the world’s largest tech companies, it should come as no surprise that one of the building blocks for the new 49ers stadium revolved around its technological prowess. On Tuesday, team owners announced a new multi-year deal with Sony which will see them provide electronics inside and outside of the new stadium and sponsor the Hall of Fame.
Under the new deal, Sony will become the teams “official consumer electronics partner” by offering their technology throughout the stadium. While details are still light, Sony will be providing their HD cameras for “interactive features for fans attending games at the new stadium.” Sony is said to also provide interactive online and mobile features for those without tickets. One can easily assume that this means Sony televisions/kiosks inside and out of the stadium which will provide video of the game and other social elements. 49ers Chief Executive Officer Jed York said;
“Together with Sony, the 49ers are committed to creating the ultimate game-day experience, as we are building a fan-friendly, technologically-advanced stadium that embodies the finest of Silicon Valley and the Bay Area. Sony’s experience in consumer electronics, professional products and entertainment will make the 49ers Hall of Fame and the New Santa Clara Stadium must stop destinations for fans and guests of all ages.”
The new 49ers stadium will also feature a 20,000-square-foot Hall of Fame which will also be powered by Sony tech. The goal for the new Hall of Fame will be to use technology to help illustrate the teams history. One can easily see the use of 3D technology from Sony to create an immersive experience. This also presents a perfect scenario for Sony to show off their beautiful 84-inch 4K television and other 4K endeavors which I’m sure we’ll hear more of during CES.
Using products and services from Sony’s consumer and professional business divisions, both the stadium and the Hall of Fame will deliver unique experiences, including Sony’s industry leading emerging technologies like 4K Ultra HD displays, providing visuals with four times the resolution of Full HD.
Though pure speculation, it’s also no stretch to assume the PlayStation 4 which should be out by the stadium’s opening to help power the kiosks throughout the stadium with games, media, and online connectivity features. It’s also worth noting that Sony’s professional line of cameras are used throughout the broadcast world, which include coverage of the NFL, NBA and World Cup 2010 to provide HD and 3D footage.
Discuss:
Do high tech stadiums make for a more compelling visit?
[Via Sony PR]