10 December 2015
Free Wi-Fi aims to improve the “supporter experience” at the club.
Albion Rovers has become only the third football club in Scotland – after Rangers and Celtic – to bring high density free Wi-Fi to spectators at its stadium in Coatbridge, Lanarkshire.
It’s claimed that the club’s home ground at Cliftonhill Stadium, which opened on Christmas Day 1919, has created the "ultimate, fully-connected, match day experience" for its fans, with full, instant access to content-rich media and instant information about other games.
Locally-based 802 Event WiFi says it has installed a state-of-the-art system which brings instant Wi-Fi coverage to the complete stadium, including the main stand, the away fans’ area, the boardroom and director suites.
802 Event WiFi chief executive Felix Gibson says: “Albion Rovers’ far-sighted commitment to their supporters and their willingness to embrace innovation shows the way for other football clubs in Scotland, and indeed the UK, to improve the supporter experience.
“Wi-Fi installation also allows a much greater degree of communication between clubs and their fan bases, creating the opportunity to interact with each other in a way that they never have before.”
802 Event WiFi’s Felix Gibson believes Albion Rovers’ willingness to embrace innovation shows the way for other football clubs in the UK.
Gibson adds that the deployment will introduce a much richer social engagement, with Wi-Fi allowing fans to take selfies and immediately post their experiences on social media platforms.
Patrick Rolink, community development director at Albion Rovers, says fans can now take advantage of free Wi-Fi at the ground and hopes this will encourage engagement and interaction directly with the club.
“The installation itself was straightforward and hassle-free,” says Rolink. “Not many companies want to work with the lower league clubs, as most want the association with the glamour teams and a measurable return on investment before they will consider engagement.
“It was refreshing and encouraging to see a company like 802 Event WiFi put football and the community first, ahead of financial gain or revenue generation.”
