GroundK ran the motorcade and VIP transport for the 2025 ICON MATCH at Seoul World Cup Stadium, where football legends including Thierry Henry, Didier Drogba and Rio Ferdinand gathered. Because these retired stars arrived with family and companions rather than as a single squad, we deployed more than 40 dedicated vehicles, including BMW sponsor cars, supported by a 24-hour transport team.
Why individual VIP transport, not a team bus
ICON MATCH worked differently from a typical team-based sports operation. The stars were retired legends rather than active squad members, and many travelled with family or close companions. A single team bus could not absorb their varied schedules and routes.
So GroundK chose to assign premium vehicles matched to each player's needs instead of one shared coach. From high-performance BMW sedans to multi-seat vans, we paired each car to the size of the party and the purpose of the trip. A round-the-clock standby fleet let the players move freely through Seoul during their downtime between event hours.
The On-Time strategy that protected VIPs in airport crowds
The airport was packed with fans and press as the world-famous players landed. Preventing incidents along the arrival route and keeping each player secure was the first priority.
We built an On-Time strategy to move VIPs through the crowds quickly and safely. An on-site manager stayed at the airport to monitor arrivals in real time, while vehicles waited ten minutes away and entered in sequence the moment each player landed. This brought waiting time close to zero and shut out the safety risks that come with congestion.
Real-time control with security teams through VMS
Keeping routes secure is central to any international event. To handle this, GroundK applied its own VMS (Vehicle Management System) to every vehicle in the fleet. Built on real-time vehicle location data, the system shared accurate arrival estimates with security teams and event staff, so that VIP care began the instant a car pulled in.
Heavy weekend traffic across central Seoul was another variable. We ran route simulations in advance to ease congestion at hotel entrances, and where needed, coordinated with hotels to secure curbside holding space — adjusting flexibly to conditions on the ground.
Connecting more than the sport itself
The 2025 ICON MATCH was more than a football match: it was a project where every hour the legends spent in Korea had to become a great memory. GroundK served as their feet, drawing on technology and a team that did not stop around the clock.
Through the roar of fans at arrivals and on quiet Seoul walks with family alike, we took responsibility for the safest, most comfortable journeys. GroundK will keep setting new standards for sports mobility.
