Three-time football champions, the Kansas City Chiefs, refreshed their venue’s presentation technology at the start of the 2023 season, purchasing more than 600 of Sony’s professional BRAVIA BZ35J and BZ40H displays, and expanding their partnership with the company. With options ranging in size from 43-inches to 75-inches, the Chiefs are now able to take advantage of the power of Sony’s lineup of professional displays which combine flexibility, connectivity, ease of use, and superior image quality in their premium spaces, including all suites, and in the Club Level concourse.
With an expedited timeline to execute, the Chiefs worked with Sony and AVI-SPL, a leading professional audio/video solutions provider, integrator, and installer, to complete this multi-faceted project. Together they were able to secure a high volume of inventory, under budget, in time for the beginning of the season.
Aging technology made the Chiefs realize an upgrade was necessary. They chose to standardize on Sony’s professional BRAVIA displays due to their IP capabilities, the club’s familiarity with the Sony brand, and its reliable reputation. Pat Mitchell, Project Director MEP and Construction for the Kansas City Chiefs, explained, “We had some outdated screens, plus we’re trying to stay more flexible as we decide whether we’re going to keep our current SMATV distribution or move to an IPTV solution. It was important to have a product that was able to be upgraded to the IPTV.”
An added benefit of the new Sony display technology, when compared to the Chiefs’ previous generation Sony models, is its smaller footprint, lighter weight, and slimmer profile. They exude a premium feel and keep their venue fresh which aligns with the team’s desire to create an enhanced fan experience. Matt Diemand, Coordinator, Partnership Strategy, noted, “Having as up-to-date technology as possible enhances the game experience, which in a space where we’re hosting partners and clients, is a priority.”
Diemand also mentioned the importance of having technology that works, without issue. He stated, “From the fan side, especially the client partnership side, ease of use and reliability are paramount. When something is modern, easy to turn on by pressing a button or two and works seamlessly – that is great. We had our previous displays for so long because they just worked, and we expect these new Sony models will set us up well into the future.”
From a partnership perspective, Diemand has enjoyed a great working relationship with Sony. He also appreciates Sony’s focus on product lifecycle sustainability which has become a more prominent focus across the sports landscape.
With several hundred displays already deployed, the Kansas City Chiefs are only in phase one of their refresh project, with plans to build out the partnership even further in the coming seasons.
