Global Fútbol

The Mobile World Congress is a leading international event in the field of connectivity and the mobile ecosystem. This year, from February 26th to 29th, more than 100,000 attendees and 2,600 journalists from 205 countries gathered in Barcelona to learn about the latest technological trends, products and services. Telefónica had a stand, where the company presented a demo of the pioneering 5G Multicam project, which allows Atlético de Madrid supporters to enjoy a new way of experiencing football.

The innovative 5G Multicam experience was created by Atleti Lab, the innovation division of Atlético de Madrid, and by Telefónica, the club’s technology partner, and it was launched at the last two home games the team had in the 2022/23 season. Fans using tablets or Meta Quest Pro VR headsets were able to enjoy a 360º experience in real time during the match.

The location of the cameras in exclusive spaces that are not usually accessible is one of the features most appreciated by the fans. Alejandro Ugarrio, the director of Atleti Lab, was present at the Mobile World Congress and explained: “What the fans value the most is being given the freedom to choose how they want to watch the match. The exclusivity, and the fact that it is an immersive experience, thanks to the Virtual Reality glasses, is what has been most appreciated.”

The biggest challenge, though, is offering the images in real time so that there is almost no delay between what is happening on the pitch and the experience available to the fans, who used these devices in Club Telefónica, a VIP area the technology partner has at the Estadio Cívitas Metropolitano.

Ugarrio added: “The visibility that the project has obtained has been spectacular and shows the level of interest that exists in the sector for these kinds of opportunities that new technologies make possible. Our value proposition within Club Telefónica at the Estadio Cívitas Metropolitano Stadium is to provide differential experiences that, thanks to technology, enrich the way in which fans experience a matchday.”

Improving the fan experience on matchdays is the ultimate goal, and Atlético de Madrid continue to commit to this by using technology wherever possible to enhance any stadium visit. For example, the Estadio Cívitas Metropolitano is also one of the stadiums in Spain with the best connectivity, meaning fans can use their mobile phones without any problems when attending a match.