One of the many truths about human life is that we live in a world of outlooks that are always in motion, and in response, we have no option but to adapt to them. When such a dynamic is in place, you have to think about whether the new versions on the horizon are equipped with enough value to add to the picture, and that was what motivated the creation of technology. As a society, we understand the importance of change, but it’s in our hands to decide how much benefit we can have out of making the switch to a fresh stance. Hence, we used technology to create an environment across the board that opened up endless opportunities to improve. The results were instant, as every major sector out there was suddenly experiencing a level of growth that wasn’t even considered realistic before. This was, of course, made possible by technology’s ability to optimize the existing setup, and when we talk about optimization, there are few areas where it happened more than the sports sector. If you have kept an eye on the sports world lately, you would have noticed teams becoming increasingly reliant on data for maximizing individual performances, thus preparing their bid to have every possible ounce of advantage over their opponents. It’s a revolutionary take by all means, but there is still a lot more to this tech journey, and what Seattle Kraken is doing gives us an idea about the next stop.
National Hockey League side, Seattle Kraken is out to transform the fan experience with their newly-launched app, which is created in collaboration with the team’s home base, Climate Pledge Arena. Kraken’s app sets a whole new precedent for the sports teams, as it tries to shift the focus from content-dominated platforms that the fans often have to suffice with.
Instead, it starts off with elevating your game-experience by allowing you to generate free passes at King County Metro and the Seattle Centre Monorail. For people arriving at the arena with personal vehicles, the app suggests and lets you reserve a parking spot of your choice. You don’t even to have to worry about the parking passes. They are securely stored in the app for the purpose of quick scanning. Once you have reached, an embedded virtual assistant on the platform is there to guide you through every step from arena policies to Covid vaccine protocol. Furthermore, having to stay in line for extended periods to buy some merchandize is a big issue for the fans, but with Kraken’s app, you can place your order right from your seat. All you have to do is designate your seat location and the merchandize will be delivered to you.
Apart from that, the platform simplifies the ticket booking process through the integration of Trickmaster, which makes it easier for you to buy, sell, or transfer your ticket to a game or any other event, such as concerts, taking place in the arena.
When talking about this new addition to the franchise’s fabric, Kraken’s Director of Digital & Fan Experience, Becca Elliott revealed that the intention to develop such a link between the team and the fans was first talked about almost three years ago. She went on to share their vision for the future:
“As technology, sports, and entertainment continue to evolve, we’re looking forward to being central to that innovation.”