Atlético Mineiro turn to Huawei for Arena MRV technology overhaul
Atlético Mineiro have signed a five-year Huawei partnership to supply Arena MRV’s data infrastructure, with implementation beginning in November and potential applications extending into stadium management and football operations.
Atlético Mineiro have appointed Huawei to supply Arena MRV’s servers, data storage and backup systems under a five-year agreement, establishing a technology partnership that could support wider use of data and artificial intelligence across the Brazilian club.Implementation will begin in November, with Huawei’s Brazilian technology partner SYX-AI responsible for developing the solution, installing the infrastructure and providing operational support as the stadium moves entirely to Huawei technology for its data infrastructure.Atlético technology director Leandro Evangelista said: “We are always keeping up to date, and Huawei is far ahead when it comes to technology. We are very pleased with this opportunity.“It was a moment to get to know Huawei's facilities, the cities, understand what they are doing, and assess how we can bring these technologies into football and Arena MRV.”The agreement follows a visit to China by Evangelista and Atlético’s vice president of business Márcio Freire, who toured Huawei facilities and introduced the club to Chinese executives while examining technology already deployed in stadium operations.Their itinerary included Shanghai Stadium, which accommodates around 80,000 spectators and uses Huawei solutions for cameras, connectivity and data management, alongside an operations centre that monitors different aspects of the venue’s functioning in real time.Atlético expect similar solutions could be incorporated into Arena MRV over the coming years, expanding the role of technology in managing the stadium and developing the supporter experience beyond the initial data infrastructure installation.The Chinese visit also formed part of a broader effort to explore commercial relationships, with the executives meeting other businesses and examining opportunities involving technology, innovation and investment.Freire added: “Atlético aims to seek partnerships in China, where there is truly an abundance of technology, innovation, and, of course, investment.“We took advantage of the trip to visit companies such as BYD and see firsthand what is being developed in the country.”The executives also visited Huawei’s Ox Horn Campus, a research and development centre comprising 108 buildings and around 25,000 engineers, giving them exposure to the company’s research capabilities alongside its existing stadium installations.They attended Huawei Connect 2026, the company’s principal annual corporate event, where infrastructure and artificial intelligence solutions were among the areas explored during the trip.Beyond Arena MRV, Atlético see potential applications for the relationship in performance analysis, data and scouting, although these remain opportunities for future development rather than confirmed elements of the initial installation.The immediate delivery programme centres on servers, storage and backup systems, with SYX-AI overseeing implementation and subsequent operational support as work begins in November.