As the new Premier League season gets underway, Liverpool FC is betting on modern technology to improve the experience of its fans at Anfield. A partnership with Extreme Networks will give visitors a better matchday experience at the 150-year-old stadium.

How can Anfield be updated?

For football fans, there is nothing more exciting than watching a match live, for example in the heart of legendary Anfield. Home to Liverpool FC since 1892, this stadium is where history meets modernity. While Anfield is one of the oldest and most famous football venues in the world, it is not without its challenges in adapting to the demands of modern fans. In the digital age, an increasing number of fans expect stable mobile connectivity to enable them to share their experiences on social media or use club apps in real time.

Liverpool has partnered with Extreme Networks to meet the growing demands of its fans. As Markus Nispel, CTO EMEA at Extreme Networks, points out, the challenge is to provide connectivity for the thousands of fans who flock to the stadium.

Liverpool has an estimated 700 million to 1 billion fans they can connect with through their digital platforms. However, the challenge arises when fans come to the stadium - Nispel says. The lack of stable connectivity not only makes it difficult for fans to use modern technology, but also limits the club's ability to monitor fan activity and adapt to their needs. Extreme Networks has previously dealt with such things in the US in the NFL, MLB, NASCAR and NHL in particular.

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Technical challenges at historic stadium

Anfield has faced numerous challenges in upgrading its infrastructure. The process of implementing Wi-Fi at the stadium began in 2022, but was delayed due to the protracted expansion of the Anfield Road stand. In addition, the bankruptcy of Buckingham Group, the construction company responsible for the work at the stadium, in August 2023, further complicated the situation.

Nevertheless, thanks to the involvement of Extreme Networks, these obstacles were overcome and modern technology was installed, which includes not only the stands, but also concession stands, video surveillance and mobile ticketing areas.

Anfield currently has a capacity of 61,000 fans and Extreme Networks anticipates that around 50-70% of these will use the new Wi-Fi during matches. As a result, fans will not only be able to connect to the internet, but also use loyalty apps, communicate with other fans and even watch the game on their phones when they are off the pitch.

The new infrastructure also enables the stadium to be managed more efficiently. By analysing crowd behaviour, the club will be able to better deploy staff and optimise the flow of fans in real time, which will translate into an improved overall experience of a visit to Anfield.

© CP OVERVIEWFuture at Anfield

The collaboration with Extreme Networks is just the beginning. The company is working to optimise application design and network performance using real-time data. Future plans also include the implementation of augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) technologies, which could completely change the way fans experience matches at the stadium. Fans want a similar experience to watching from home with replays and data, but enjoyed within the stadium - Nispel notes. The introduction of AR and VR will allow fans to enjoy different camera angles and replays, which could become standard in the next few years.

Extreme Networks also draws attention to the sustainability aspects. As Nispel points out, although Wi-Fi access points already have low energy consumption, the company is exploring ways to further optimise energy consumption, especially in areas that are not used all the time. AI can also help optimise energy use specifically in venues not used all the time - Nispel adds.