National Football League

New handheld device enhances stadium experience

Published Oct. 25, 2010 10:50 p.m. ET

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Fans in a dozen NFL cities are using a new handheld device at games that allows them to see replays from angles not available on television, follow their fantasy lineups in real time, check out other games via NFL Red Zone and see updated stats from the game they're attending.

FanVision is a wireless device that streams live football on a digital TV channel. It retails for $200 and is not quite half the size of an iPad, with buttons on the side to navigate between football games, features and functions.

It's one of many ways teams are trying to enhance the stadium experience, which includes live updates from other games on jumbo scoreboards, smart phone apps that provide exclusive behind-the-scenes looks at their teams and hot lines that urge fans to text security about boorish behavior.

While TV ratings of NFL games are better than ever, some teams have experienced sagging ticket sales in the tough economy. The San Diego Chargers' first two home games this season were blacked out on local television, as was a Buffalo Bills home game earlier this month.

''This is the latest effort in making sure that coming to the stadium is the best way to watch games,'' said Mac Freeman, senior vice president of business development for the Denver Broncos. ''Obviously, fans have a lot more technology in their homes now, big TVs and man caves and things like that. And we're making sure that the best way to consume football is here at the stadium.''

The FanVision devices work in the parking lots where fans tailgate and inside the stadium, but not elsewhere.

FanVision CEO Robert Mimeault said the instrument allows fans to get more than just the director's point of view.

''When you're at home, you're going to get your 60-inch display and you're going to watch the programming. You'll see the analysis they provide you is quite detailed and very thorough. So, you've got all of that information while you're sitting at home. What you don't have is actually control of what information you want to see,'' Mimeault said.

Mimeault hopes to add another dozen teams next year and be in all 32 NFL cities by 2012. For now, it's available at home games for the Cardinals, Bears, Vikings, Eagles, Rams and Redskins in the NFC and the Bills, Browns, Broncos, Jets, Seahawks and Dolphins in the AFC, where cameras have been installed throughout the venues, all coordinated in onsite production rooms.

It's also available at University of Michigan football games, and Mimeault also foresees growth potential at other powerhouse programs at the college level.

FanVision started with NASCAR, then added Formula One races and then the PGA, but in those sports, the company used a rental model. Now, they're moving to a retail model in the NFL, which is viewed as the holy grail for business growth because of the league's unparalleled popularity, Mimeault said.

This season, there are no per-game charges but that will change next year.

''The goal for this device is to be a universal device, no different than your phone is,'' Mimeault said.

''And when you go in and out of areas, it just activates and it says 'OK, do you want to go into this game and watch it?' You answer yes and it just says, 'OK, I'm going to take $5.95 off your credit card' or whatever is the activation fee to light it up and give you the service during the game.''

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Online:

www.fanvision.com

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