Crystal Palace has announced a partnership with GiveVision and Shared Access, becoming the first English football club to offer a vision enhancement system for fans with sight loss.
Entering use on 21st September 2024 during the Crystal Palace vs Manchester United game, this technology will allow both home and away supporters to experience the game with greater clarity at Selhurst Park.
GiveVision has supplied headsets, powered by a private 5G network designed and installed by Shared Access, streaming live match footage directly to fans in real time. The system delivers a stereoscopic feed to the working part of the user’s retina, improving remaining vision to give fans a clearer view of the game.
The private 5G network installed at Selhurst Park gives the headsets an uninterrupted live feed, delivering content in sync with action on the pitch in real time alongside other spectators.
The 5G network operates on its own radio band to counter congestion from the thousands of mobile devices in use on match days, covering the entire stadium for both at home and away supporters.
Joanna Liddington, head of operations, GiveVision, commented: "At GiveVision, we are incredibly proud to partner with Shared Access and Crystal Palace FC, the first football club in the world to permanently implement our innovative headsets for fans with low vision. This ground-breaking step not only highlights the club’s commitment to inclusivity but also showcases the transformative potential of assistive technology in sports. Thanks to the 5G network provided by Shared Access, Palace fans with low vision can now enjoy the game in real-time, from any seat in the stadium, alongside their friends and family.”