Arena of IoT
Eintracht’s IoT center
The digital center ‘Arena of IoT’ delivers added value for Deutsche Bank Park and Eintracht Frankfurt’s network of partners through the use of innovative ‘Internet of Things (IoT)’ solutions in areas such as smart stadium technology, facility management, energy management, logistics and mobility, all of which are designed to optimize efficiency in stadium operations, improve visitors’ experience, support sustainable practices and increase revenue through new IoT business models.
Eintracht Frankfurt sees itself not only as a professional football club. Through EintrachtTech, it plays an active role as the region’s driving force in the field of digitalization. The stadium offers the perfect environment to implement IoT solutions alongside its technology partners and provide a real-life test environment for innovative IoT projects.
The key role of Deutsche Bank Park in the Frankfurt Rhine-Main area
Deutsche Bank Park is the only place in the Frankfurt Rhine-Main region where such a large number of people congregate on a regular basis, in a restricted space and at a specific time – whether it’s for Eintracht matches or other major events, such as concerts. Industrial, digital solutions that operate in that kind of environment are also capable of functioning in transport hubs, shopping centers and other public spaces, provided they are used correctly. As such, the Arena of IoT is an ideal platform to showcase the innovative power of the partners involved in a visible, tangible way. The collaboration of numerous partner companies makes the digital center ‘Arena of IoT’ the most ambitious IoT ecosystem in European sport.
IoT solutions created in the digital center are designed to deliver added value beyond the stadium, for people in the city and the region. Eintracht Frankfurt and EintrachtTech are thereby playing an active role in boosting Hesse’s status as a digital center and creating a digital lighthouse. Prof. Dr. Kristina Sinemus, the Hessian State Minister for Digital Strategy and Development, has been patron of Eintracht’s digital center since its foundation.
Under the patronage of:
Areas of innovation
As part of the Arena of IoT, practical IoT use cases are put into practice across eight different innovation areas:
The Smart Stadium area focuses on creating a digital twin of the stadium and its surrounding premises. Displaying the stadium in 3D models and via dashboards not only makes it possible to simulate adjustments to stadium operations but also navigate the virtual world, thereby allowing these adjustments to be tested before being implemented in practice. The aim of this area is to cut costs and increase the efficiency of operating processes.
Multimodal and interconnected mobility on arrival to and departure from the stadium, including the integration of public and private transport, is at the forefront of the Mobility area. The aim here is to use data-based IoT solutions to optimize the arrival and departure of visitors on event days. Under the leadership of the digtal center ‘Arena of IoT’ at Deutsche Bank Park, the stadium premises is to be used as a test site for deploying autonomous robotic vehicles in a practical environment.
The Facility Management area deals with the intelligent networking of premises, equipment and facilities as well as the automation of processes involved in the administration and management of the stadium premises. Through data-based facility management, building management systems and operations are optimized through more efficient use of resources, a reduction in maintenance and repair work, and a dynamic waste disposal system.
The Energy Management innovation area focuses on the implementation of a holistic energy management system. State-of-the-art stadium technology helps control energy consumption, identify hidden savings potential and promote a sustainable improvement in energy efficiency. Data-based findings also help optimize energy consumption at Deutsche Bank Park in a systematic manner while reducing the stadium’s carbon footprint.
This area comprises two main areas: the management and maintenance of the Deutsche Bank Park pitches on the one hand, and enhancing the matchday experience with the help of immersive technologies on the other. With the help of data-based analysis, Deutsche Bank Park greenkeeper are able to use machines and equipment more precisely and maintenance resources – such as fertilizer and water – more efficiently. Immersive technologies offer potential for new virtual services, whose primary function is to improve visitors’ experience.
Deutsche Bank Park has more than 20 kiosks and around 200 points of sale that need to be run, depending on the size of the event in question. As such, the Logistics innovation area deals in the optimization of inventory, order and invoice management through automation solutions. Robotic solutions also support the distribution of goods and merchandise, relieving employees of heavy loads. Furthermore, the optimization of logistics processes saves an enormous amount of time and makes life easier for specialist departments.
Security plays a particularly important role during major events. Using technology to inspect rescue equipment and reduce response times increases the safety of visitors and stadium operators.
Data-driven, anonymized analysis and the digital control of visitor flow rates are at the forefront of this area. As well as reducing waiting times by providing timely, proactive information about queues (e.g. at entrances, kiosks and car parks), location-based event notifications (including safety instructions) also improve visitors’ stadium experience.
Project portfolio
The digital center implements IoT projects in the aforementioned eight areas of innovation alongside industry and research partners. See below for examples of current and completed projects:
Autonomous driving
The construction of a test site for the practice-oriented trial of autonomous robotic vehicles in the areas of passenger transport, logistics processes and facility management.
Smart defibrillators
Improving cardiac safety at Deutsche Bank Park through IoT defibrillators capable of status monitoring, GPS tracking, and web dashboard, app and notification management in real time.
Demand-based irrigation
Installation of soil sensors and a weather station on the training pitches and selected green spaces at Deutsche Bank Park in order to monitor irrigation levels and weather changes.
Queue management
Installation and networking of cameras at stadium kiosks, entrances etc. in order to count the number of visitors, measure and predict waiting times and recommend alternative meeting points.
Retail analytics
Installation and networking a camera in front of the fan shop in order to count the number of visitors and measure and predict waiting times.
Digital stadium navigation
Location-based, indoor and outdoor orientation and navigation options for visitors via the mainaqila app.
IoT Garage
Another Arena of IoT project is the IoT Garage – a physical part of the digital center where innovative solutions are created and experienced in practice. A multifunctional space, it is used as an event venue, provides partners with an exhibition area and serves as a co-creation workspace where joint innovation projects are brought to life. IoT solutions designed in the IoT Garage can be used at Deutsche Bank Park at a later date. It is located in the EintrachtLab, adjacent to the ProfiCamp on the Deutsche Bank Park premises. If you’re interested in organizing an event at the IoT Garage, you can find more information here.
Impressions
Scroll to the right for impressions from Arena of IoT events and projects:
If you have come across any topics of interest for your company, please feel free to send us a concrete project proposal – including a project description and the added value it will bring to the Arena of IoT:
Important: A finished product or service is no prerequisite for participation. Eintracht Frankfurt has its own IoT specialists within the framework of the digital center ‘Arena of IoT’ who come up with, define, implement and undertake projects alongside partners. For partners, the key attributes are innovation and drive, the willingness to invest in joint research projects and the desire to help create a digital beacon for the Hessian economy.