4 - FIFA/CIES International University Network
4 - FIFA/CIES International University Network
4 - FIFA/CIES International University Network
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SPORTS APPS<br />
CLUB/TEAM/ATHLETE AWARD:<br />
MERCEDES MCLAREN F1<br />
TOP OF THE LEAGUE TABLE in this category<br />
is the Vodafone McLaren Mercedes F1 team<br />
app. It packs a huge amount into a tiny space<br />
and for a free app offers great value for iPhone<br />
users and the team sponsors alike.<br />
Navigation is clear and the information<br />
comprehensive with some beautifully produced<br />
video interviews with drivers Jenson Button<br />
and Lewis Hamilton. There is some useful<br />
background on tracks and standings and the<br />
obligatory news feed, but the app really comes<br />
alive on race days when users benefit from a<br />
unique real-time feed of the in-car telemetry.<br />
Nothing like this has so far appeared<br />
elsewhere and the feature is a significant<br />
enhancement for racing aficionados who<br />
can see RPM, gear selection, speed and<br />
breaking force. A couple of tiny niggles:<br />
accessing video takes the user out of the<br />
app and multi-tasking on the iPhone can be<br />
irritating. Finally, fans could have been given<br />
more information about the car.<br />
It should be noted that the Vodafone<br />
McLaren Mercedes F1 team also launched a<br />
bespoke app for individuals using hospitality<br />
facilities at this year’s British Grand Prix at<br />
Silverstone. On arrival at the racetrack, those<br />
1. Vodafone Mercedes McLaren F1<br />
2. Chelsea FC<br />
3. Istanbul 05: LFC Glory<br />
4. Real Madrid<br />
5. England<br />
6. FC Barcelona<br />
7. AC Milan<br />
8. Tottenham Hotspur<br />
9. Arsenal FC<br />
10. Liverpool FC<br />
guests with the app, designed for the Android<br />
platform, were able to download exclusive<br />
team content and access a guide featuring a<br />
number of bars and on-site attractions.<br />
Despite a plethora of club and team apps<br />
there are precious few that stand out from the<br />
crowd. By no means do the majority of clubs<br />
or teams have an official presence in the App<br />
Store and the ones that do bear a striking<br />
similarity to each other. The winners, however,<br />
are worthy of the prize, each displaying<br />
an originality and flair that lives up to the<br />
reputation of the teams they represent.<br />
This category’s second placed app is<br />
Chelsea FC’s download (CFC, £1.79), which<br />
stands head and shoulders above the rest in<br />
the genre. Its landscape orientation and glossy<br />
design are immediately striking and much<br />
more reminiscent of its Flash-rich website.<br />
The app scores well across the range and<br />
has some nice added extras including chants,<br />
ticketing information and travel assistance<br />
to away fixtures included in the price of the<br />
download. On match days there is a live text<br />
commentary and as we might expect with this<br />
most commercial of clubs, there is opportunity<br />
to purchase extras and merchandise.<br />
Taking an honourable third place is another<br />
football app, although one that is unique and<br />
shows the way for others to follow. Istanbul<br />
05: LFC Glory (Liverpool FC, £2.99) captures<br />
the memory of one of the team’s greatest<br />
ever moments when Liverpool came back<br />
from 3-0 down to AC Milan to steal their fifth<br />
Champions League title on penalties in 2005.<br />
C<br />
M<br />
Y<br />
CM<br />
MY<br />
CY<br />
CMY<br />
K<br />
60 SportBusiness <strong>International</strong> • No. 160 • 09.10
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