Beyond by RS2, Mediengruppe Deutschland, and Nürnberg Ice Tigers Launch a Groundbreaking Digital Fan Ecosystem Integrating Payments, Loyalty, and Content
sports landscape, where clubs increasingly compete not only for athletic success but for sustained audience attention, loyalty, and long-term fan value, digital transformation has become essential. Sports organisations around the world are seeking new ways to modernise their relationship with supporters, streamline digital engagement, and unlock new commercial opportunities. In this evolving environment, the partnership between Beyond by RS2, Mediengruppe Deutschland, and the Nürnberg Ice Tigers marks a major step forward—one that brings together creativity, technology, and a deep understanding of fan behaviour.
The three organisations have joined forces to launch a next-generation digital fan ecosystem that unifies payments, loyalty rewards, exclusive content, and interactive engagement tools in a single connected platform. This solution is built around co-branded Ice Tigers Visa credit and debit cards powered by the Beyond by RS2 platform, establishing a new foundation for how fans interact with their favourite club both on and off the ice.
The initiative aims not only to simplify fan experiences, but to reimagine the entire commercial and engagement model for the Ice Tigers and, eventually, other sports organisations across Germany and beyond. Anchored in secure financial technology and enriched through agency-driven creativity, this ecosystem challenges traditional sponsorship models and opens the door for clubs to cultivate richer, more personalised relationships with their supporters.
Creating a Fully Connected Fan Experience
At the heart of this partnership is a shared ambition: to design a digital environment where fans feel closer to their club, enjoy relevant and personalised benefits, and engage through a seamless platform that reflects their evolving digital habits. The result is a fan ecosystem that links payments with loyalty, promotions with content, and technology with emotional engagement.
Through a new dedicated mobile app—developed by Mediengruppe and powered by the Beyond by RS2 fintech infrastructure—fans will be able to:
- Make secure in-app or in-store payments using their co-branded Visa card
- Access exclusive club content, including interviews, behind-the-scenes features, and updates
- View and redeem loyalty rewards that are automatically earned through card usage
- Receive real-time, personalised offers from the club and its partners
- Participate in interactive fan engagement tools and digital community-building features
The ecosystem is designed to bring multiple touchpoints into one cohesive digital entry point. Instead of navigating separate apps for payments, ticketing, content, and promotions, supporters will enjoy a unified mobile hub that streamlines every aspect of their fan experience.
This integrated functionality reflects a major shift in how sports organisations view technology—not as an add-on, but as a core driver of fan value.
Co-Branded Visa Cards as the Gateway to Engagement
One of the most distinctive components of the project is the Ice Tigers co-branded Visa credit and debit cards. More than a payment instrument, these cards act as a gateway to the digital ecosystem, unlocking access to an expanding range of benefits and exclusive experiences.
By using the card for everyday transactions, fans accumulate loyalty rewards or unlock special content within the app. Commercial partners, both regional and national, are able to plug into this ecosystem by offering exclusive discounts, perks, or event opportunities tied directly to card activity. The result is a continuously evolving network of value that benefits clubs, fans, and sponsors alike.
For the Ice Tigers, the adoption of co-branded payment solutions also represents an opportunity to strengthen emotional loyalty. Supporters can demonstrate their commitment not only during game days but throughout their daily lives—and the club can maintain an ongoing digital relationship that extends well beyond the season.
This payment-driven engagement model also offers new revenue channels for the club, which can partner with brands across retail, travel, food services, and entertainment to broaden its commercial footprint.
Underpinned by Scalable, Secure, and Modern Financial Infrastructure
The success of a project of this scale requires more than creativity—it demands reliable, secure, and regulation-ready infrastructure. Beyond by RS2, known for its next-generation payment and processing solutions, plays a central role in enabling the ecosystem’s operational backbone.
Beyond by RS2 manages the financial operations, transaction processing, compliance obligations, and technical integrations necessary to ensure that every card payment, loyalty update, or digital transaction within the app is executed seamlessly. Sports clubs often face limitations in adopting advanced financial products due to complex regulatory requirements. However, Beyond by RS2’s platform is built for scalability and serves as a stable foundation that meets the high standards of both the financial and sports industries.
This allows clubs like the Ice Tigers to benefit from sophisticated digital tools without needing to maintain their own financial infrastructures or navigate industry regulations alone. From KYC processes to payment security to data management, RS2’s technology ensures that the ecosystem operates efficiently and safely.
Mediengruppe Deutschland: Driving Creativity, Strategy, and Digital Experience
While RS2 powers the financial and technological components, the creative and user-experience side is led by Mediengruppe Deutschland, a multidisciplinary agency network known for data-driven strategy, modern digital commerce, user-centric design, and impactful content creation.
Mediengruppe’s contribution includes:
- App development and interface design
- UX research and user-flow optimisation
- Content strategy and digital storytelling
- Integrated communications and branding
- Partner onboarding and campaign development
The agency played a pivotal role in transforming the initial idea into a fully realised platform. Through close collaboration with the Ice Tigers and Beyond by RS2, Mediengruppe developed a product that reflects the needs of modern sports fans—one that is intuitive to use, designed for mobile-first consumption, and capable of evolving over time.
This partnership demonstrates a powerful connection between creative agencies and technology providers, showing how interdisciplinary collaboration can give rise to innovative, scalable solutions for the sports industry.
Leadership Perspectives: A Shared Vision for the Future of Fan Engagement
The launch has drawn enthusiastic support from leaders across all three organisations, each highlighting the importance of collaboration and long-term vision.
Oliver Winkler, CEO of Mediengruppe Nürnberg, emphasised the transformative nature of the initiative, noting that what began as a creative concept quickly expanded into a scalable digital infrastructure. Winkler acknowledged how the distinct strengths of all three partners—agency creativity, fintech expertise, and the Ice Tigers’ forward-thinking organisational mindset—enabled the creation of a platform that transcends traditional fan engagement. For him, the ecosystem is “more than a fan product” and represents a new model for building community through digital experiences.
Jens Mahlke, CEO of Beyond by RS2, reinforced this idea, highlighting the speed and efficiency of collaboration. Mahlke views the digital fan ecosystem as a blueprint that can extend far beyond professional sports. Any industry where loyalty, engagement, and digital transactions matter—such as entertainment, travel, or retail—could benefit from a similar approach. The ecosystem demonstrates how combining secure, adaptable financial infrastructure with strong creative strategy can unlock new growth opportunities.
Wolfgang Gastner, Managing Director of the Nürnberg Ice Tigers, offered the club’s perspective, expressing excitement about being the first to bring this initiative to life. Gastner noted that the club has long been open to modernisation and innovation, and the partnership provides a solution that ties payments, communication, rewards, and content together in one accessible place. For the Ice Tigers, the project not only enhances fan engagement but supports the club’s broader operational goals.
A New Model for Sports Clubs, Sponsors, and the Digital Economy
By integrating payments and loyalty into the fabric of fan engagement, the project signals a shift away from traditional sponsorship models—often static, campaign-based, and limited in measurement potential—towards a system built on long-term value and continuous interaction.
For sponsors, this ecosystem provides:
- A direct channel to connect with fans
- Precise targeting based on card usage and preferences
- Opportunities to offer personalised deals tied to real behaviour
- Enhanced ROI transparency through digital analytics
For clubs, the model enables:
- More consistent and measurable fan interactions
- New revenue opportunities linked to digital transactions
- Stronger loyalty driven by everyday engagement
- Greater control over data and insights
For fans, it delivers:
- A more convenient, personalised digital experience
- Exclusive content and rewards
- A sense of community and connection
- Practical value through discounts and promotions
In essence, the digital fan ecosystem creates a three-way value exchange—fans benefit from richer experiences, clubs strengthen their commercial and engagement strategies, and partners gain access to targeted, data-driven opportunities.
Scaling Beyond Ice Tigers: A Blueprint for the Future
The success of the initial rollout with the Nürnberg Ice Tigers is only the first step. Plans are already underway to extend the platform to other professional sports clubs across Germany. Each club will be able to customise the platform to reflect its brand identity, fanbase, and commercial partnerships while benefiting from the shared infrastructure built by Beyond by RS2 and Mediengruppe.
This approach allows for rapid scaling while maintaining flexibility. It also positions Mediengruppe and RS2 as key collaborators in the digital transformation of the sports sector—helping clubs evolve from fragmented engagement tools toward unified ecosystems that support long-term loyalty.
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