CITY SC becomes first Major League Soccer team to test Touch2See’s innovative technology
St. Louis CITY SC is looking to continue to make Energizer Park’s award-winning fan experience accessible to everyone through a gameday test with Touch2See, a France-based leading provider of assistive technology for the visually impaired. Another way to bring the beautiful game to more people in St. Louis, this pilot program, conducted during CITY’s March 15 match against Seattle Sounders, aimed to help blind and visually impaired fans experience soccer in a new immersive and accessible way through the integration of 3D printing, 5G real-time ball data and AI.
The Touch2See test introduced state-of-the-art technology to visually impaired fans through tactile and auditory experiences. CITY SC is the first MLS team and first U.S. professional sports team to pilot the breakthrough technology from Touch2See, which is currently used by European football clubs In Portugal, Italy and France. This initiative underscores CITY SC’s commitment to making Energizer Park a welcoming and inclusive environment for all fans, which includes accommodations for fans who are deaf and hearing-impaired or blind and visually-impaired, or those with physical disabilities and neurodevelopmental conditions and other hidden disabilities.
“Soccer is a sport for everyone, and this pilot program with Touch2See is a significant step toward ensuring that all fans – including our blind and visually impaired fans -- can share in the excitement and passion of the game at Energizer Park,” said Matt Sebek, Chief Experience Officer of St. Louis CITY SC.
To help test the technology, CITY SC worked with Belleville-based organization MindsEye to recruit 10 local blind and visually impaired soccer fans to test the technology during CITY SC’s match. Fans who participated in the program utilized specialized devices that provide real-time descriptions of the on-field action, as well as interactive touch maps of the stadium. Additionally, MindsEye staff were on hand to assist and ensure a seamless experience for all participants. MindsEye has partnered with CITY since 2023, providing audio experiences for blind and visually impaired guests at every CITY SC match.
“Up until now, we have primarily worked with European football clubs, and we are thrilled to bring this experience to the U.S.’ growing soccer fandom ahead of the World Cup,” said Touch2See Sales Director John Brimacombe. “St. Louis CITY SC and Touch2See are committed to continually improving and expanding the program based on fan feedback and technological advancements. Together, we are paving the way for a more inclusive future in sports entertainment.”
The Touch2See technology pilot is just the latest addition to Energizer Park’s commitment to accessibility, including closed captioning and ASL translation for deaf and hearing-impaired guests; sensory room and calming kits in partnership with KultureCity, ADA accommodations, and utilization of the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower program, the first professional sports team in the U.S. to adopt the training program to support guests with hidden disabilities. For more information about CITY’s accessibility features, including, please visit https://www.stlcitysc.com/accessibility.
