Yesterday, Bayer 04 Leverkeusen announced that they will work with Deutsche Telekom and Cisco to install Cisco Connected Sports solutions -StadiumVision, Connected Stadium Wi-Fi and StadiumVision Mobile, to make BayArena the most technologically advanced football stadium in Germany.

In BayArena, video and mobility offerings will be core to delivering one the most connected and interactive fan experiences in international football, and all of sports. StadiumVision will centrally manage high definition video and digital content delivery to approximately 500 high-definition video displays, Connected Stadium Wi-Fi will give thousands of fans reliable and fast access to the Internet, and StadiumVision Mobile will deliver live video to those connected fans' mobile devices, through the planned Bayer 04 app.

Wolfgang Holzhaeuser, Bayer 04's managing director, stated, "The project heralds a new dimension in communication between the club and its fans -one that will boost fan loyalty and offer more information and entertainment. We're blazing a trail for the Bundesliga."

Bayer 04 is leading the way for sports venues in Germany, and embody what Rob Lloyd, Cisco President, Development and Sales, said recently; "leaders recognize the new fan experience must be a connected one, capable of delivering new experiences and enabling fans to use their personal mobile devices to interact at all times."

This next generation fan experience is coming to BayArena, and fans attending Bayer 04 Leverkeusen games. It is immersive, exciting, and just the beginning. As Cisco CEO John Chambers wrote, we are looking ahead to the possibilities for sports and entertainment as part of the Internet of Everything -the convergence of data, people, and things.

StadiumVision Mobile is the perfect example of what the new fan experience will look like. This video from Fast Company showcases how the solution allows fans to connect to the action through their personal mobile device at Barclays Center during Brooklyn Nets games.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kTP_8n-_ddY

At Cisco we are committed to delivering for leagues, venues, teams, and ultimately the fans. Because we are fans; and we want this experience at the games we attend.  Bayer Leverkusen and Deutsche Telekom are helping make this a reality in Germany.

Left to Right: Dirk Backofen, Deutsche Telekom; Wolfgang Holzhaeuser, Bayer 04 Leverkusen; and Michael Ganser, Cisco; at the press conference announcing the installation of Cisco Connected Sports Solutions at BayArena.