Bayern Munich, Siemens set to start sound-mapping the 12th-man effect at the Allianz Arena this season

The Bundesliga, quite arguably, produces some of the best atmospheres in Europe at its venues, and Bayern Munich’s Allianz Arena ranks as one of the largest of the lot. With an overall capacity of over 75,000, it was also one of the world’s first stadiums to introduce a full color changing exterior, which is made of a unique, fluorine-based plastic that has a strong resistance to weathering and corrosion. As visually impressive as the exterior shell of the stadium is when it’s lit up, though, what make the Allianz Arena so special is the fans inside of it who generate the boisterous atmosphere, particularly in the Südkurve.

In the latest technological endeavor for the Allianz Arena, they’ll be partnering with both Siemens and The Economist Group to implement sound mapping technology to try and convert energy into visual effects (per The Drum). In other words, the noise generated by the fans inside the stadium during matches will be measured by special recording devices, mapped into 3D models, and used to create visual data inside the stadium; bringing a whole new meaning to the ‘12th man’ concept.

The aim is to try and collect data to see how the results correlate with the events happening on the pitch, i.e, the loudest moments during any given match, players that are cheered for the most. Additionally, it’s going to be compared to the energy that’s actually being emitted on the pitch itself.

Johanna Prestele, who’s the campaign communications manager of Siemens, said that he feels audiences will benefit from this type of data analysis being introduced at the venue:

Data, analytics and IoT are dramatically changing the world we live in, and this project helps to further cement Siemens’ role as a data analytics thought leader. With our data analysis we want to make sense of technology and make the invisible visible. We want engaged audiences to benefit from and enjoy this type of innovation from Siemens.

Matthew Falla, managing director of the partnering Signal Noise said he was particularly excited to see how the results to come will show just how much of a difference the 12th man makes inside the stadium, showing how important the fan’s support is during any given match:

There has always been a lot of discussion around the concept of the ‘12th man’ and the role that fans play in a typical football game. For the first time we can quantify that by looking at what is happening on the pitch and the noise the 75,000 fans at Allianz Arena make and analysing the emerging patterns. This project is sure to spark lots of conversations about the support fans provide and how that can impact on a team’s performance.

Data was already collected during Bayern’s Bundesliga opener against Hoffenheim and it’s set to continue for the majority of home matches in the league throughout the course of the season. In a league like the Bundesliga where the fans are so passionately unwavering, and at a club like Bayern, the results are more than likely to show that the fans play an integral role in the club’s success during matches; a true bastion of the 12th man!