Samantha Calimbahin
Fans can access special features from Digital Seat Media by scanning the tag on their seat.
TCU fans attending Saturday's season opener against Duquesne will notice some new tech installed into their seats — metal tags with a QR code that leads to downloadable coupons, player stats, merch, and more features meant to enhance the game-watching experience.
The seat tags come from Fort Worth-based company Digital Seat Media, which installed all 45,000 tags by hand this week at Amon G. Carter Stadium. While Digital Seat developed its first prototype in 2018 and launched in a few university stadiums in early 2020, TCU marks the company's first entrance into the city that the brand calls home.
"We're from here; I grew up in Fort Worth, went to school down the street, and honestly live across the road so I can walk here, which is great," Digital Seat Media CEO Cameron Fowler says. "We've always wanted to be in this stadium. It was a big goal of ours. It's our hometown."
Other venues that utilize Digital Seat Media include Baylor University, University of Washington, Virginia Tech, and the Rose Bowl. Schools can customize which features they want for their portal, allowing fans to do things like report incidents or order food from their seat — and even play mobile games to win prizes or coupons.
Fowler says the company also plans to install tags at TCU's Schollmaier Arena and Lupton Stadium. The company's goal is to install 1 million tags by the end of the year.
“We are proud to welcome Digital Seat Media to the TCU family,” TCU director of intercollegiate athletics Jeremiah Donati said in a statement. “With their location right here in Fort Worth, Digital Seat is a perfect fit to help us accomplish our goal of continually enhancing the game day experience for our fans in Amon G. Carter Stadium. Digital Seat is an industry leader in technology and delivering targeted and engaging content. I am very excited and looking forward to seeing TCU fans take advantage of all the offerings Digital Seat can provide.”
Kickoff against Duquesne is scheduled for 7 p.m.
