Sport
Giant inflatable crowd sphere for Olympique de Marseille
Digital Inflatables built a giant inflatable crowd sphere for Olympique de Marseille, sent over the fans at the Orange Vélodrome in Marseille during a Ligue 1 match in 2019. The white ball carries the club’s emblem and its motto, which translates as “straight to the goal”. Reinforced to withstand a packed and lively stand, it carried an onboard camera that filmed the match from the ball’s point of view.
Contents · 4 sections
What did Digital Inflatables make for Olympique de Marseille?
A giant inflatable ball, a large white sphere in the club’s colours, that travels over the stands of the Orange Vélodrome during a Ligue 1 match.
The sphere shows the club’s blue emblem, a stylised monogram in a circle, with a gold star above and the club’s motto below in gold letters. Other photos show the ball carrying the Orange logo, the name the Orange Vélodrome bore.
It works as a crowd ball: supporters pass it from hand to hand above the seats, so it drifts from one end of the stand to the other.
Why does a crowd ball need to be tougher than an ordinary balloon?
Because the crowd hits and pushes it throughout the match. Digital Inflatables reinforced the Olympique de Marseille ball so it could stand up to very lively supporters.
The Orange Vélodrome has more than 67 000 covered seats: the ball moves under the roof, above full stands.
The stadium hosts the club’s Ligue 1 home matches.
A similar project? Describe it to our team.
Request a quoteHow do you film a match from an inflatable ball?
By fitting a camera inside the sphere: the Olympique de Marseille ball carried a high-definition video system that filmed the stands from inside the ball itself.
Digital Inflatables published the onboard footage to show what a ball goes through in the middle of the supporters.
The workshop also reported a technical problem with the video system during one match, despite extensive testing. Onboard electronics therefore need careful preparation and a trial in real stadium conditions well before match day.
How can a giant inflatable sphere be used in a stadium?
It is sent over the crowd during the match or a pre-match show, printed in the colours of the club or a sponsor; spectators film it and share the footage.
The ball must stay light enough to fly from hand to hand and tough enough to take the knocks. The print covers the whole sphere, emblem and text included.
The guide to choosing an inflatable structure manufacturer lists what to compare between suppliers, and the guide to custom inflatable prices gives budget benchmarks.
Full specifications
| Client | Olympique de Marseille |
|---|---|
| Venue | Orange Vélodrome, Marseille |
| Competition | Ligue 1 |
| Object | giant inflatable crowd ball with onboard camera |
| Year | 2019 |
Frequently asked questions
What is an inflatable crowd ball?
A large inflatable ball that the crowd sends across the stands from hand to hand. The Olympique de Marseille ball carried the club’s emblem and motto.
Where was the Olympique de Marseille giant ball used?
At the Orange Vélodrome in Marseille, during a Ligue 1 match in 2019.
Did the Olympique de Marseille ball have a camera?
Yes, it carried a high-definition video system that filmed the match from inside the ball.
Can a club or sponsor logo be printed on an inflatable sphere?
Yes: the print covers the whole surface, emblem, motto and logos included, as on the Olympique de Marseille ball.
How much does a giant ball in a club’s colours cost?
The price depends on the diameter, the print and any onboard electronics; the guide to custom inflatable prices gives price ranges.
Credit to copy
To credit this project on your website or in an article: the line as plain text, then the same in HTML, ready to paste.
Plain text
Made by Digital Inflatables, https://digital-inflatables.com/magazine/en/projects/inflatable-crowd-sphere-olympique-de-marseille/
HTML
<a href="https://digital-inflatables.com/magazine/en/projects/inflatable-crowd-sphere-olympique-de-marseille/">Made by Digital Inflatables</a>Sources
- Digital Inflatables Instagram post (teaser) instagram.com
- Digital Inflatables Instagram post (in the stadium) instagram.com
- Digital Inflatables Instagram post (onboard video) instagram.com
- Digital Inflatables Instagram post (match video) instagram.com
- Digital Inflatables Instagram post instagram.com
- Digital Inflatables Instagram post instagram.com
- Wikipedia (fr): article on the stadium fr.wikipedia.org
- Wikipedia (fr): article on the club fr.wikipedia.org
Drafted with AI assistance from the company’s verified facts, reviewed and approved by Jodoc Elmiger, founder and managing director of Digital Inflatables.
