FC Barcelona and Hewlett Packard Enterprise join forces to offer fans the best customised Espai Barça experience
FC Barcelona and Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE) have signed a partnership agreement for HPE to become the new Espai Barça Official Edge-to-Cloud Partner for the next four seasons, until 30 June 2028. In a strategic alliance aimed at revolutionising the spectator experience in sport, Barça’s new facilities will be equipped with a world-class technology environment featuring HPE Aruba Networking and HPE GreenLake cloud, enabling real-time data analytics and integrated security solutions.
The partnership between the Club and HPE is based on a market-leading approach to edge connectivity and cloud technology, which will enable the entire Espai Barça to offer personalised services and experiences tailored to its fans, setting a new standard for the future of sports and entertainment events. This agreement is part of the sponsorship programme associated with the future Spotify Camp Nou and has been made possible thanks to the shared objectives of equipping the future stadium with state-of-the-art technologies.
Technological innovation enhancing the stadium experience
FC Barcelona is committed to making Espai Barça an international hub for innovation, and this deal with HPE is an example that underscores its commitment to adopting innovative technologies that will improve the experience of members and fans who visit the future ground. With the support of HPE, Espai Barça will be positioned at the forefront of technological innovation in the sports world, enhancing every aspect of the stadium experience, from arrival at the ground to the end of each match or event. New services to be made available to fans include gamification and virtual reality. In addition, teams from all sections of the club can benefit from advanced analytics to optimise game performance and strategy.
As part of this agreement, HPE will implement HPE GreenLake Private Cloud Enterprise with HPE data centre servers and storage and HPE Aruba Networking, including advanced campus and secure AI-ready data centre solutions. The network provides a common zero trust foundation for FC Barcelona’s networking and security teams, enabling end-to-end visibility and global security policies that can be enforced at the network edge. The data centre is equipped with the most advanced distributed services switches to provide a next level security framework for server interconnection, enhancing security protection and visibility.
HPE is also deploying an advanced high speed, secure wireless network in the Spotify Camp Nou to provide the best customer experience to the more than 100,000 fans while in the stadium, with further plans to incorporate private 5G in the future for core applications. Furthermore, HPE GreenLake Private Cloud Enterprise modernises the stadium IT infrastructure to provide simplified management of workloads, enhanced automation, increased data security, agility, and availability.
Espai Barça, more than a stadium
Espai Barça is a revolutionary project in the world of sport and entertainment that is redeveloping and expanding all the FC Barcelona facilities, including the emblematic Spotify Camp Nou, and turning it into the best sports complex in the centre of a major city. Being able to count on HPE’s experience with the implementation of the latest technologies will be essential part of the customised experience that visitors to the ground will be able to enjoy.
The agreement between FC Barcelona and HPE means the two parties will be able to join forces on the journey towards the club’s digital evolution, ensuring secure digital interaction and connectivity inside the stadium and making Espai Barça not just an icon of sporting excellence, but also a beacon for technological innovation.
Statement by Juli Guiu, Vice-President of Marketing at FC Barcelona
“The partnership with HPE is a step towards creating a digitally connected and secure environment for Espai Barça. Their extensive experience in connectivity and cloud technologies means we will be able to offer our members, fans and supporters personalised experiences, thus significantly improving their interaction with the club on match days at Spotify Camp Nou, as well as in the different activities that will be organised at the future ground.”
Statement by Alfredo Yepez, Senior Vice President and Managing Director, Latin America and Southern Europe, Hewlett Packard Enterprise
“Technology is integral to the growth and global expansion of sports, as well as to accelerating innovation. HPE is delighted to serve as the Official Edge-to-Cloud Partner of one of the world’s leading football clubs to enhance its visitor and fan experience, providing state-of-art technology for Espai Barça and the iconic Spotify Camp Nou.”