Wittenborg Amsterdam Students Visit Home of Football Club Ajax

22.02.2020

Johan Cruijff Arena is One of Europe's Most Innovative Football Stadiums

The Johan Cruijff Arena is one of the most recognisable landmarks of Amsterdam, and while it may not look strikingly unique from the outside, it is one of the most innovative stadiums in Europe - which is why it was such a privilege for 15 students of Wittenborg Amsterdam's double-degree programme to go on an excursion to the stadium this week as part of the People & Systems module.

The Arena hosts football matches for its home team AFC Ajax and the Dutch national team to a capacity of about 55,000 people. It also doubles as a concert venue with a capacity of about 68,000 people. The activities held at the Arena necessitate a framework for efficient energy consumption and mobility management.

This excursion was intended to give students an insight on operations management at work. The Johan Cruijff Arena’s mobility management during events has proved so successful that the City of Amsterdam has asked the arena to help design a solution for traffic congestion in the city centre.

The students enjoyed a private tour of the pitch, which is watered and lit by remotely operated machinery allowing for sustainable and cost-effective management of the pitch all season long. Students also had a chance to visit the energy storage unit, which stores at least three hours of back up energy in the case of a power failure. On days where there are no events running, the electricity is distributed to the Arena’s neighbours, such as Ziggo Dome and Afas Live. Finally, students also visited the Ajax trophy room and changing rooms.

The students really enjoyed the tour and were happy to have an opportunity to see an example of what they have been learning in the classroom applied in an organisation.