Stadium fans get look into locker rooms

NEW YORK >> Hey, NFL fans, here’s a new view for you at the stadium: the locker rooms.

The NFL has ordered all teams to have cameras in their locker rooms next season, with video shown only on stadium scoreboards. It’s part of Commissioner Roger Goodell’s initiative for “enhancing the fan experience in our stadiums.”

The videos will be available on team apps as well.

Each team will operate the cameras and will determine what is shown on the video boards and apps. The Cowboys already have been making such videos available to fans.

“Our philosophy is to always look for ways to improve,” Goodell has said. “Our goals are to continually evolve the game to make it better and safer, serve our fans in new ways, and represent the NFL with integrity. We do that by emphasizing quality and innovation, including the latest technology as it applies to everything from equipment to medical care to the stadium experience.”

NFL vice president of business operations Eric Grubman said last summer that the cameras were coming. They have arrived.

“Then we will be offering unique content, as we already are doing with the video replays involving referees,” Grubman said. “I can see cameras in locker rooms or tunnels or coaches’ facilities before games. Fans want it, and clubs can do it.”

Teams also will be required to show all replays available during a video review on the video boards, not just those the home team would choose — ones that might be favorable to the host club.

Grubman has predicted more in-stadium improvements for fans, especially in the use of videos.

“We’re thinking of really advanced video in concourses and parking lots,” he said. “Fans want to know what is going on around the league, they don’t want those areas to be a zone of less information and it doesn’t need to be.”