Reference Bayer 04 Leverkusen Fußball GmbH - Solutions for the Sports and Arena Market
Initial Situation
As the project started up in October 2008, the BayArena was already a construction site: the process of rebuilding and expanding it to accommodate over 30,000 spectators had begun. Alongside commencement of the construction operations came the decision to implement a completely new IT infrastructure with new IT systems, which – just like the reconstruction of the arena – had to be fully functional by August 2009, the start of the 2009/10 Bundesliga season. An independent and ambitious large-scale project, which parallel to the reconstruction of the arena brings the ideal information technology for Bayer 04 to fruition: Bayer 04 relies on a network which optimally supports the systems of the stadium and club. The active network components, telephone system, and application systems ERP, ticketing, web services, admission control, and payment were introduced in a fully integrated state.
“Everything runs smoothly – there is a reason why this is the motto of the BayArena ! Utilizing the experience and extensive IT know-how of UNITY, we completed our BayArena project just in time for the start of the Bundesliga (German Soccer League). The foundation for consistent usage of the arena had thus been laid and we can now focus on success – both athletic and business success.”
Wolfgang Holzhäuser, Managing Director, Bayer 04 Leverkusen Fußball GmbH
Tasks of UNITY
From the very start of the project, the IT- supported procedures were incorporated into the arena and club and vividly presented with the aid of process analysis. The needs and expectations of the spectators and fans were thus included as a definitive component. After having modeled the target concept, the requirements were documented in the system specifications. These were used as the basis for the independent selection of and final decision on the system. The passive network was also planned, and the specifications for the active network components and telephone system were prepared. The link between construction site and IT projects was established by professional consulting services to the specifications of the technical installations. During the course of the project, UNITY provided support in the decision-making, broke down barriers and created the prerequisites for introducing the system on time and on budget.
Benefits for the Client
The first Bayer 04 Leverkusen home game was played at the renovated BayArena right on schedule. The access and payment system enables all visitors to use the new functionalities of the BayArena card and the arena technology and benefit from the simplified procedure. Bayer 04 Leverkusen has high hopes for simpler procedures and significantly increased sales at the Bundesliga home games due to the improved services and logistics structure. The IT infrastructure opens up business potential for the club as operator of the BayArena for soccer and other events. The established sports management business is enriched and professionally supported. The BayArena is one of the most innovative arenas in Europe. This brings international acclaim with an intensity that is conveyed beyond the Bundesliga to Bayer AG itself.
Bayer 04 Leverkusen Fußball GmbH
It was back in 1999 that the soccer club TSV Bayer 04 Leverkusen founded Bayer 04 Leverkusen Fußball GmbH, into which the professional soccer division merged. Wolfgang Holzhäuser has headed up the company as managing director from the very beginning. The corporation organizes its business in the sectors sports, finance/personnel and communications and manages all of the company’s activities. Bayer 04 Leverkusen has established the real estate administration, travel and safety management, and sports promotion segments as independent companies.