Design consultancy kicks on with prestigious Paris brief

French football giants Paris Saint-Germain has unveiled its new ‘PSG Experience’, with the help of Wilmslow design specialist Mather & Co.

The new experience aims to offer fans of the club, and the game, a behind-the-scenes look at Parc des Princes, where they can engross themselves in everything the hallowed ground has to offer, from visiting the changing rooms to virtually flying over the stadium.

The experience on offer represents a global first for a football club, built on the latest virtual reality and immersive video technology, and is made up of three different parts: PSG stadium tour; a reinvented stadium Visit, history room and PSG VR arcade; a first for a Football Club.

Fabien AlleÌgre, PSG’s director of merchandising and brand diversification, said: “Our supporters have been eagerly awaiting these Parc des Princes tours, as have the millions of tourists who visit the French capital every year.

“In line with the club’s ambition, we took our time to build a project that exceeds their expectations, in order to offer an interactive and immersive experience that is the only one of its kind in the world.

“We want to make the Parc des Princes a must for tourists in Paris, as well as the Eiffel Tower or the Louvre.”

Mather & Co, a firm that specialises in museum, leisure, retail, entertainment and sports stadium experiences, was tasked with creating a new history room, which celebrates the most magical moments in the club’s rich history, along with some of the legendary faces that graced the pitch.

The Cheshire-based design consultancy worked in partnership with the cinematic group mk2, which has a wealth of experience in creating impactful cinematic experiences in unique environments across Paris, and was selected due to its experience in delivering world-class sports stadium experiences and museums.

Allan Trafford, senior designer at Mather & Co, said: “We’re delighted to be part of such an amazing project in the sporting world. It’s the first time we’ve worked on a project of this type in France, which makes the PSG Experience even more special to our team.

“Since work started in March we’ve worked hard to make the history room a truly immersive experience that offers PSG and football fans alike a glimpse into the spectacle behind this great club.

“Moreover, it couldn’t have been a more exciting time, as female teams from across the globe descended on France as part of the FIFA Women’s World Cup.”

The history room’s reimagined design includes a new trophy display, showcasing successful wins from the 1982 French Cup to the French Championship in 2019, a new graphic treatment exploring the history of the club, its legends and motto, plus a graphic and audio-visual timeline charting the history of the club from its origins to present day.

Fans will also enjoy the greatest goals touchscreen interactive, exploring the greatest goals from the club’s past, as well as the Legends of Paris Saint-Germain touchscreen interactive, spotlighting some of the club’s most notable players from over the years.

An immersive six-screen large scale audio-visual experience is also something not to be missed.

This art piece immerses people in all aspects of the club, from the players to the matches, to the fans and its place in the wider city. It uses state-of-the-art projection and an all-enveloping sound design, to give fans an authentic experience.