Crew SC knows the long-term success of the club after being saved from a potential move to Texas — even with a winning team — always hinged on the success of a new downtown stadium to appeal to a wide audience, not just the club’s loyal supporters.

It’s why the Crew announced Wednesday that it’s partnering with IBM iX technology to help personalize the fan experience for maximum impact on not just the season-ticket holders, but the casual fans that might attend one game a year at the new 20,000-seat, 430,000-square foot stadium set to open no earlier than July 2021.

IBM iX also partnered with Atlanta United and the Atlanta Falcons in the development of Mercedes-Benz Stadium and Los Angeles FC when developing the fan experience at Banc of California Stadium, which are two of the most revered soccer experiences in Major League Soccer.

""As we look ahead to our new stadium, creating and delivering the best experience possible for the Crew SC fanbase is a key objective for the club,” Bezbatchenko said.

In partnering with the Crew, IBM iX is responsible for creating a “unique, engaging environment for each individual fan,” the release said.

Not only the Crew use IBM iX technology to prepare for the opening of the venue, it will also be used to ensure the stadium is “future flexible,” meaning the venue can adapt to growing needs of the fanbase to ensure the stadium is an asset for decades in advance.

The Crew, with the help of IBM iX, will also ensure that the stadium become a “community hub,” and a destination for people to attend not only home games, but away-game watch parties, international friendlies, national team games, high-school soccer state championships and concerts.

To accomplish all of this, the Crew will use the information it obtained through its own research and focus groups, as well as information IBM iX and the league have collected.

“By collaborating with IBM, we will ensure that Crew supporters have a unique experience at every event, setting the bar for future sports and entertainment venues,” Bezbatchenko said. “We look forward to working with IBM as this investment is a continued reflection of the commitment from the Haslam and Edwards Families to make Crew SC a pace-setter for the fan experience in North American sports."

jmyers@dispatch.com

@Jacob_Myers_25

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