Northampton Saints has announced a new partnership with Elonex that will greatly enhance the match day experience at Franklin’s Gardens, starting with the Aviva Premiership clash with Saracens on Saturday, November 7th.
As the club’s new Official Visual Technology Partner, Elonex will be responsible for bringing the very latest digital display technology to Franklin’s Gardens. This new deal, which also sees Elonex become exclusive sales partner for digital advertising, coincides with the multi-million pound development of the new Barwell Stand that will help maintain Franklin’s Gardens’ place as the best dedicated club rugby facility in the country.
The most striking aspect of these new partnerships is the introduction of two new big screens to Franklin’s Gardens, one of which, at 63 square metres, is the largest in the Aviva Premiership. These have been developed to provide supporters with the best broadcast-quality match action, replays and TMO decisions, while also presenting new and innovative advertising opportunities to brands who want to target audiences at top flight rugby union.
Elonex is a market leader in sports stadium visual technology, and subsequent developments will include numerous digital display screens in and around Franklin’s Gardens, including in car parks, at the main entrance, corporate areas and stadium concourses, which will all broadcast informative match day content.
Saints chief executive Allan Robson said that this new partnership will help take Franklin’s Gardens into a new era.
“Over the past few years the big screen has become a popular part of the matchday experience for our supporters and an integral part of the sport, not least by giving people in the stadium replays of the action and keeping them involved with television match official decisions,” he said.
“Having Elonex on board is an important part of the development of the Barwell Stand. For the first time everyone in the stadium will be able to see a big screen, and the technology that we will have will be second to none in the Aviva Premiership.
“It is certainly an exciting partnership for us to build on in the future.”
This new partnership is the latest in a string of high profile agreements Elonex has struck in professional sport, including many Aviva Premiership clubs, Warwickshire County Cricket Club, and the British Basketball League, and chief executive Nick Smith added: “Franklin’s Gardens is set to become a truly digital stadium, which will only add to the enjoyment of supporting one of the best teams in European club rugby.
“The high quality broadcast capabilities, fast moving and interactive attributes of the digital display equipment we're installing at the stadium really does fit with the demands of the modern day sports spectator, who wants to consume information live at the game in the same way as they can do when watching on TV.
“It's a privilege to be associated with Northampton Saints, especially at a time when the new stadium is due to be completed and we look forward to playing our part in the club's success over the coming years.”
Supporters will be able to enjoy the big screens at Saints' Aviva Premiership clash with Saracens on Saturday, November 7th, tickets for which are available online 24/7 at www.northamptonsaints.co.uk/buytickets
