How Telstra and Populous will make Game 1 at State of Origin 2015 even better for the fans

Populous has reimagined the role of the corporate suite with the Telstra Connected Lounge at ANZ Stadium in Sydney. Today the teams were announced for the first game in what many think is  Australian sport’s greatest rivalry –  the State of Origin rugby league football match series between two state representative sides New South Wales “The Blues” and Queensland “The Maroons”. And the first game of this year’s series at ANZ Stadium on 27^th May will see the Telstra Connected Lounge alive with action once again.

The Populous-designed ‘Connected Lounge’ is an imaginative and immersive game day experience for fans attending a live sporting event. Using what was previously a standard hospitality suite at ANZ Stadium, the space has been converted into an interactive technology centre delivering content simultaneously using several platforms.

Telstra’s Connected Lounge is the first such environment of its kind in Asia where a sponsor’s customers, NRL fans and partners all have a chance to be part of a new type of live game experience. The converted suite features a myriad of interactive technology providing fans with live stats, social media feeds and on-field replays.

The first two games of the 2014 Origin series were the highest rating television shows of the year in Australia, each drawing more than 4 million viewers. The increased accessibility at-home television viewers have to the game means stadium operators, tenants and sponsors are constantly trying to find ways to draw fans to the live game. We believe technology can play a huge part in this. The Telstra Connected Lounge is just the beginning…