**BACKGROUND** Can you describe your company? I am part of a real estate development firm that constructs residential and commercial buildings across the United States. Our flagship project is the prestigious Barclays Center in New York City, which serves the Brooklyn Nets after they relocated from New Jersey. We acquired the team in 2003 and aimed to build the arena in 2006, but due to delays, ground was finally broken in 2010. Our goal is to create the most technologically advanced arena, outfitted with top-tier components. What are your role and responsibilities? I oversee all our vendors, numbering in the hundreds. **OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE** How did you choose WillowTree Apps for your project? I spent considerable time researching in the App Store, examining other venue applications. There are template apps available, such as Mobile Roadie and YinzCam, that venues often opt for due to their lower cost. However, since Barclays is a new venue with a fresh identity and logo, we were looking for a unique, customized app. We needed a developer, and after discussing with Funware—which designed a custom app for the Florida Hurricanes—my contacts at Carbonhouse introduced me to WillowTree. Carbonhouse specializes in hosting for venues and has recently been acquired by AEG. I connected with Tobias Dengel, the CEO of WillowTree, and we quickly established rapport. His team grasped our vision well; we provided a design overview rather than a full design, seeking a company that could take initiative without requiring extensive management from us. They engaged with us through a proposal/RFP process and presented a strong preliminary design. **SOLUTION** What was the scope of their work? The primary goal was to enhance the fan experience. We developed two apps: one for Barclays Center and the other for the Nets, our main tenant. While the Nets host 41 games, we accommodate a total of 220 events, including concerts and shows. The app aims to assist users while inside the venue, offering navigation, food ordering, and delivery options. Our stadium features StadiumVision Mobile, which allows multicast streaming through Wi-Fi—a first for any venue—thereby elevating the fan experience. The Nets app connects with fans by providing statistics and updated seating options during games, allowing fans in the upper concourse to upgrade their seats for a fee. This connectivity is enhanced by our robust Wi-Fi and cellular systems. I engaged WillowTree to create the Barclays Center app and the Nets apps. There's also an iPhone/iPad app to control suite TVs via StadiumVision Mobile, allowing fans to order food and view menus on an iPad. I provided them with a wish list for the Barclays Center, a list of features for the Nets app, and requirements for the suite iPad app. They refined this wish list into organized wireframes and layouts, and I was very pleased with the initial design. My boss requested a user-friendly interface similar to in-flight entertainment systems. When accessing the app via Wi-Fi, users are prompted to make food selections and can enjoy interactive features that communicate with the scoreboard and facilitate text alerts. Every feature from my wish list was incorporated into their wireframes and integrated into the apps. Some integrations included the unique StadiumVision Mobile feature, which required cooperation with Cisco’s team, leading to our trip to their San Jose headquarters to integrate the SDK. We take pride in being the first venue to launch StadiumVision Mobile, streaming content to users' mobile devices while they are in the arena. We also integrated the Bypass Lane SDK for food ordering and 3D mapping software from another provider, alongside ticketing via Ticketmaster's SDK, which is typically complex. Throughout, WillowTree maintained structuring and organization, ensuring an intuitive app experience for the Barclays Center and the Nets, while the iPad app was designed specifically for controlling the suite TVs. Remarkably, one iPad can manage all TVs in the venue simultaneously, a feature made possible by their custom development. The design and functionality were all crafted by their team. Does the app support Android? Yes, we needed to accommodate our entire audience. On nights when we have 4,000 to 5,000 people connected to our public-facing Wi-Fi, I can track app usage, user actions, and device types. We see around 30 percent iPhone users, while the majority use brands like Samsung, Motorola, and Nexus. Given the size of the Android user base, we developed the app for both iOS and Android, whereas the iPad app remained exclusive to iOS due to its custom nature, managed through our mobile device management system. Can you estimate the financial scope of their work? The project fell within the low- to mid-six figures range. When was the last milestone achieved for this work? The project is complete, and we have a maintenance contract for ongoing support, especially for iOS 7 upgrades. I also retain their services as our mobile app evolves, particularly in the sports and entertainment sector, where we plan to introduce new features. **RESULTS & FEEDBACK** What distinguishes WillowTree from other firms? I collaborate with numerous vendors throughout the arena, including those for IT, audiovisual, and broadcasting. My time with WillowTree was limited, but they excelled due to their initiative without needing constant oversight. The effectiveness of the team behind the project was significant—they are not a large development company that outsources work; they did everything in-house, which fostered a strong sense of trust and familiarity with their team. Their design team was especially commendable. Looking back, are there areas you believe they could improve on or that you would approach differently? I’m constantly considering enhancements I wish I had incorporated into the app, and we're now focused on establishing ROI, which necessitates engaging with them early in the design process. We have specific goals aimed at enhancing the fan experience as a sports/entertainment venue, including exploring sponsorship opportunities related to the StadiumVision Mobile service. Collaborating with them from the outset to create packages would have better supported my sales and sponsorship teams in promoting different aspects of the app. That’s an approach I wish we had pursued earlier in the project, such as developing a GEICO/Barclay Center app. Overall, I’m very satisfied and often hear other venues cite the Barclays Center as a benchmark for app development in balancing team and venue functionalities.