Abstract

Sports stadiums increasingly function as multipurpose venues, hosting large-scale live music events alongside sporting fixtures. Despite their technological sophistication, these environments often present barriers that limit participation and enjoyment for persons with disabilities. This study examines how digital technologies can enhance accessibility and inclusion in stadium-based music events, positioning digital systems as integral to how audiences navigate, orient themselves, and experience live leisure spaces.
Utilising qualitative informal conversations with persons with disabilities, the research explores lived experiences of attending concerts in English sports stadiums and outlines opportunities for user-informed digital interventions. While peer advice, staff support, and existing technologies shape how attendance is managed, challenges remain in usability, awareness, and reliability across digital and physical infrastructures. The study highlights the potential of personalised wayfinding with step-free routing, augmented-reality venue previews, real-time service alerts, and integrated accessible media, including live captions and audio description, to support more autonomous and inclusive participation.