Real Madrid partners with Apple to unlock immersive virtual stadium experiences.
In collaboration with Apple, Real Madrid plans to expand the Bernabeu experience to fans around the world with "Bernabeu Infinito." Anyone, from the comfort of their own home, will be able to feel as if they are at the Madrid stadium.
Florentino Perez dreamed it, and it is close to becoming a reality, according to Diario AS (h/t Bernabeu Digital).
"Many years ago, I said that the internet had been invented for Real Madrid. I said it because it connects Real Madrid fans with one another and lets them follow us from anywhere in the world. That vision remains fully valid," Perez said in a recent interview with GQ magazine.
The Bernabeu Infinito, Closer Than Ever to Becoming a Reality
A vision that not only remains valid but has evolved into something increasingly tangible: "We are opening a new era in the digital transformation of the club, an era that allows us to connect with our fans without intermediaries and in a much more direct, immediate, and personal way," he added.
The new Bernabeu, with all its infrastructure and technology, will allow for an immersive experience never seen before: "A club member or a Real Madrid fan who comes to the stadium -- whether to watch a match, visit the museum, shop at the store, or simply eat at one of our restaurants -- must feel that they are part of something special. And technology allows us precisely that: to improve every interaction, personalize every moment, and strengthen the emotional bond with all our fans," Perez said.
"The closest thing to that experience will be the new virtual reality immersion we are developing with Apple. I call it the Bernabeu Infinito -- a place where anyone, from their home, will be able to experience a live match with a sense of presence and emotion that until now was impossible. It will be like opening the doors of the stadium to the entire planet, without limits, without barriers, and with a technological quality that will mark a before and after in the world of sport," he explained.
Apple's Role in Bringing Real Madrid's Idea to Life
The collaboration of a company of Apple's caliber is obviously essential: "Apple is a company that represents the union between innovation, design, and excellence. And for Real Madrid, it has been fundamental to find a technology partner that shares that same vision. Apple and Real Madrid are working together on a project I have been pursuing for many years -- allowing any fan to experience the emotion of the Bernabeu as if they were here, in the stadium itself."
An idea that promises to generate millions in revenue for Real Madrid from every corner of the world, leveraging the global reach of the Spanish club. Nevertheless, Florentino focuses on its utility more than on the money: "The economic impact is important, of course, but it should not be our short-term obsession. What is truly essential is to offer the one billion Real Madrid fans around the world the experience they want to live. I like to recall a concept very typical of Apple. Steve Jobs was not obsessed with financial results; he was obsessed with making products that were the easiest and most extraordinary to use," he said.
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