FC Bayern HackDays: Chasing innovation at the Allianz Arena

Almost all Bayern fans in Bavaria, Germany and throughout the world have internet access, and many follow the German record champions using their smartphones, laptops or tablet computers. Digitalisation, new technologies and football are inseparable these days. The digital world is expanding very rapidly and is becoming increasingly important both on and off the pitch. Innovations change the fans' behaviour and wishes and might prove decisive in sport.

Progress never stops, and the speed is phenomenal. And who knows best what to expect from FC Bayern tomorrow and in the future? The fans! FC Bayern would like to develop new fan experiences and innovations along with supporters, students and experts, and that's why the club is staging the FC Bayern HackDays from 19 to 22 January 2018.

HackDays or hackathons are events in which experts from several disciplines collaborate in teams to work on technical, business and design problems and develop innovative and creative software, build prototypes and come up with new ideas and approaches. Hackathons are staged on a regular basis in many companies, and also in the NBA and the NFL. Companies open up and receive new and valuable impulses from outside.

FC Bayern too want to break new ground along with partners Telekom, adidas, Audi, SAP, Siemens and DHL. UnternehmerTUM "Center for Innovation and Business Creation at TUM" will help organise the event and contribute its expertise.

Hackers from all over the world will work on innovations for FC Bayern and their fans in a unique setup at the Allianz Arena on the weekend including the Bundesliga home match against Werder Bremen on Sunday 21 January 2018.

Participants will take up challenges in teams of three to four. Subjects will include personalised fan experiences, data analysis, virtual reality, augmented reality and global fan networking.

The results will be presented in the individual groups and in front of a jury, and the best teams will be honoured. The prize for the top team will be a trip to one of FC Bayern's Champions League away matches. In addition, FC Bayern aim to further support the best ideas and approaches.

Inspiration, collaboration and fun will be the core of HackDays. Short presentations by leading experts will be organised, as will a few surprises for entertainment and fun.

In the context of the partnerships with Columia University (New York), Tongji University (Shanghai) and Tsinghua University (Beijing), FC Bayern will invite select students to Munich to add international creativity. In general FC Bayern are looking for fans, students, entrepreneurs, creative people, innovators, designers and hackers, be they from Munich, Bavaria or the rest of the world. 

You want to take part? Apply now on https://hackdays.fcbayern.com/!