Sports are becoming a lucrative field for vendors as venues searching for new and inventive ways to attract fans to events and engage them during games through digital technology.
According to Extreme Networks, there is a pile of technology that a digitalised sports event needs and venues could be just waiting for the right pitch.
John Brams, Director, Hospitality, Sports and Entertainment, Extreme Networks said: “Mobile connectivity is at the heart of today’s game day experience. If you don’t design your network with the ‘second screen’ in mind, your fans won’t stay ‘fans’ for long.”
For example, Extreme recently scored a contract from the University of Pittsburgh’s Petersen Events Center has taken a significant step forward by choosing Extreme to deliver a professional-grade, high-density Wi-Fi network capable of simultaneously supporting venue operations and the digital appetite of 13,000 attendees.
The idea is to build a foundation for next-generation fan experiences like augmented reality.
The Petersen Events Centre hosts more than 100 events each year, including basketball games, concerts, and graduations, and the network is essential to powering its wireless ticket scanners, merchandise sales and myriad connected devices.
The pressure on venues to develop in this direction is causing huge network issues. For example, in the Petersen case, the University’s campus network was unable to provide enough Wi-Fi access.
Working with Extreme Networks and deployment partner, Ideal Integrations, Petersen Events Center built its separate network, which seamlessly sends traffic back to the campus network to authenticate users rapidly.
The new network supports the high bandwidth demands of spectators and media and quickly resolves bottlenecks to ensure a quality, interactive fan experience.
Heather Lyke, Director of Athletics, University of Pittsburgh, pointed out that the venue experience is was significantly measured by connectivity. Visitors worry about their phones working in the venue, and access to social media.
“This isn’t considered a luxury anymore—it’s an expectation. Through our partnership with Extreme Networks and Ideal Integrations, our fans can now enjoy seamless connectivity at ‘The Pete.’ This was an essential step in helping us make the Petersen Events Center a contemporary, tech-driven venue, which will significantly enhance the experience for all.”
