World's First Sports Arena With Personal Sat-Nav For Those in Need

‘The home of cricket’, London’s Lords (established in 1787), has been kitted out with a personal sat-nav for blind, partially-sighted and disabled fans.

Credit: WilkinsonEyre

Waymap, the company behind the app-based navigation tool, claims the 31,000-capacity cricket stadium is the world’s first sports arena to be fitted with a personal GPS that aims to offer a fine-grain version of traffic sat-navs for stadiums, shopping centres and transport networks.

Lords has teamed up with the indoor navigation pioneer to create step-by-step audio and on-screen instructions that guide visitors to seats, amenities and exits. Every walkway, staircase and door has been scanned with a specialist camera to create the map, which feeds into Waymap’s phone app. The tech calibrates to the individual user’s stride and uses motion sensors on their phone to inform instructions with remarkable accuracy.

It has been installed in advance of next month’s England v India Test match. The MCC believes it could also help other cricket fans find the most accessible routes around the complex.

Robert Ebdon, director of estates at Marylebone Cricket Club, which runs Lords, said: “Our partnership with Waymap allows us to lead the way in accessible innovation, ensuring that every visitor - regardless of ability - can experience the magic of Lord’s with greater ease and independence.”

Waymap hopes to extend the innovation to other sports grounds. Company founder Tom Pey, who lost his sight suddenly at the age of 39, said: “It’s wonderful to see MCC setting such a great example of how to make accessibility happen.”