Barcelona has unveiled its ‘Mobile Barca’ initiative as part of its ongoing stadium development project. Meanwhile, Inigo Martinez addressed his exclusion from the Spain squad, confirming a stern dressing down from manager Hansi Flick after Barcelona’s recent draw with Celta Vigo.
Barcelona Unveils’ Mobile Barca’ in Stadium Plan
FC Barcelona has revealed the next phase of its ‘Espai Barça‘ stadium redevelopment, introducing ‘Mobile Barca.’
The La Liga club has teamed up with New Era Visionary Group (NEVG), a connectivity and infrastructure integration company, along with the telecommunications giant Orange.
Barcelona aims for the initiative to offer services to fans, including mobile plans, data services, fiber optics, and more. Additionally, the Camp Nou stadium will be upgraded with 5G+ connectivity from Orange to ensure seamless connectivity for attendees.
The club aims for this technology to enable some fans to live stream using mobile services. It will also be further integrated into the club’s systems to ultimately improve operational efficiency.
Juli Guiu, FC Barcelona’s Vice President of Marketing, said: “Espai Barça must be the catalyst for the club’s digital transformation, and having the best connectivity in the stadium is essential to providing a unique match day experience for all our fans and visitors.
“At the same time, the launch of ‘Barça Mobile Services’ with NEVG and in collaboration with Orange will be a major step forward, offering all users a mobile service with a wide range of possibilities and many advantages for FC Barcelona members.”
As mentioned earlier, the integration is part of Barcelona’s ‘Espai Barça’ project, which carries the slogan ‘more than a stadium.’ The club believes that providing connectivity to its fans is crucial for delivering a one-of-a-kind experience at the stadium.
The Nou Camp is one of the most iconic stadiums in Spanish and global football, on par with Real Madrid’s Santiago Bernabeu. Recently, Barcelona has focused on development and improvements to enhance the stadium.
In August, the company formed a five-year partnership with ticketing technology firm Fever to improve online ticketing for Nou Camp events. This came after a June agreement with Hewlett Packard Enterprises (HPE) to integrate cloud-based technologies throughout the stadium.
Inigo Martinez Confirms Flick’s Dressing Down, Spain Absence
Before the last international break, Barcelona defender Inigo Martinez was considered one of the best central defenders in La Liga, yet he was left out of Luis de la Fuente’s Spain squad, even after Pau Torres of Aston Villa withdrew due to injury. Despite this, Martinez stated he understood the decision.
Martinez spoke after Barcelona’s draw with Celta Vigo and ahead of their Champions League match against Brest. The 33-year-old essentially confirmed that the players had been given a stern reprimand by manager Hansi Flick following the game.
“It was a game that we had under control, and you let two vital points slip away. It’s normal that the manager felt angry, and the team was angry. These are things that happen in football, and we all win and lose together. Considering the minute that it was and how the game was going, we let an important opportunity slip away.”
The Basque defender acknowledged that he was thoroughly enjoying this year, crediting Flick for playing a key role in that.
“From the first minute, Hansi showed me that he wanted to see me and give me that opportunity. I didn’t want to be here being an annoyance if the manager doesn’t want you or doesn’t trust you. He gave me the opportunity in pre-season, and when it finished, we saw that he wanted me as a starter.”
“It’s the work of someone who can’t be seen and who tries to fight for what’s his. The manager has a lot of influence in that because he has to give you that confidence. Let’s hope that things go well and that this year we end up winning titles.”
After being excluded from the Spain squad by de la Fuente, Martinez was asked for his thoughts on the decision and whether he felt it was performance-based. The former Athletic Club and Real Sociedad defender remained calm and composed about the situation.
“It’s totally understandable. I’m 33 years old, and the level of the young players is exceptional. It’s not that it’s something strange, it’s the coach’s decision, he is thinking about a younger team and wants to give opportunities to those who are pushing hard. I don’t feel I should be indignant about him not taking me. I’m of a certain age, and it’s normal that the coach wants to see other players.”
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