An immersive glimpse into the future
17 April 2025 – During the Bundesliga match between VfB Stuttgart and SV Werder Bremen, the DFL and VfB Stuttgart jointly tested a new media format, offering a glimpse of how German League football could be watched in the future. Three special cameras, two on the edge of the pitch and one inside the main stand, produced a stereoscopic 360-degree live signal. The high-resolution 10K stream was beamed to the high-tech glasses at a rate of 60 frames per second.
Guests at the Mercedes-Benz Business Centre in Stuttgart were able to test this immersive cutting-edge football experience live. They could switch between the different camera angles at will and enjoy a personalised panoramic view of the action. The optical brilliance gave test viewers the feeling that they were standing right behind the 360-degree camera. This was the first time that the combination of exciting live broadcasts of a match with exclusive behind-the-scenes insights was tested at a Bundesliga match.
The trial involving VfB Stuttgart and the DFL will provide further feedback and data which can be used to develop a possible cutting-edge media product in the future. The technology was first tested at the 2024 Super Cup in Leverkusen, where VfB Stuttgart faced Bayer Leverkusen. Since then, the technology has been further developed and tested in a variety of ways. Innovators at VfB Stuttgart and the DFL have agreed to continue working closely together in the future. At the next stage, additional camera angles will be tested and further work will be carried out to develop how the transmission signals are sent and received.
Alexander Wehrle, Chief Eexecutive Officer of VfB Stuttgart, said: ‘Innovation is part of VfB Stuttgart’s DNA. The media sports experience is undergoing a fundamental change – and we want to play an active role in shaping it. Data rates, cameras and wearables such as modern virtual-reality glasses open up fascinating possibilities for enhancing the stadium experience. Even though the live experience in the stadium remains irreplaceable, we see it as our responsibility to make good use of the opportunities offered by digital transformation. We have created the ideal conditions for this in our state-of-the-art MHP Arena – the current trials are a first, logical step towards innovative forms of fan interaction and media use.’
Dominik Scholler, VP Product Management & Innovation at DFL, said: ‘With a clear focus on the needs of Bundesliga fans and media partners, as well as our commitment to being “closer to the game”, disruptive innovations play a central role in our innovation and product strategy. We are therefore delighted to be taking another step forward in our series of tests together with VfB Stuttgart. In doing so, we have gained valuable insights into the production setup and user feedback when using immersive reality and virtual-reality glassses in the context of Bundesliga broadcasts.’
The proprietary technology comes from Berlin-based start-up Softseed Technologies, which realised the production in collaboration with DFL subsidiary Sportcast. In March 2025, DFL and Softseed Technologies received the Sport Tech Company Award at the ISC in London for the immersive reality production at the 2024 Super Cup.
