Wi-Fi plays a central role in America’s daily operations, from powering personal connectivity in the home to facilitating digital workplaces, education, healthcare, agriculture, manufacturing, and much more.
Without adequate spectrum for unlicensed use, America faces the possibility of Wi-Fi congestion, which would severely deteriorate the ability of small businesses or farms across the country to operate. Not only that, but America will lose out on significant economic growth, given how many critical sectors rely on Wi-Fi.
For today’s fans, digital connection is as essential as the actual event itself. Whether they’re posting from the stands, checking live stats, or streaming instant replays, fans now demand seamless connectivity as part of every live entertainment experience.
Stadiums across the country are responding by investing in high-capacity Wi-Fi networks built to support tens of thousands of devices at once. What was once a luxury is now a baseline expectation, and venues that deliver robust Wi-Fi are seeing greater engagement and higher satisfaction.
How stadiums are raising the bar
Leading stadiums are redefining the fan experience through intentional connectivity design.
- For example, SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles uses Wi-Fi 6 to support more than 70,000 fans simultaneously, enabling high-speed streaming and real-time sharing.
- Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas layers mobile ticketing and in-seat ordering through the Raiders app.
- Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta goes a step further – allowing fans to check bathroom wait times, order food, and rewatch key plays, all on a network engineered for uninterrupted service under pressure.
Connectivity begins at the hotel
For traveling fans, the game-day experience begins before they even reach the stadium or venue.
- At the hotel, Wi-Fi supports tasks like mobile check-in, streaming pregame coverage, or arranging rides to the stadium.
- Fast, secure connectivity is now a top priority when booking accommodations, particularly for major events.
- Hotels that meet this demand aren’t just offering an amenity—they’re ensuring guests can stay fully engaged from the moment they arrive.
Wi-Fi behind the scenes
Wi-Fi doesn’t just serve fans – it also powers the critical systems that keep events running smoothly.
- Staff scan digital tickets, process contactless payments, monitor security cameras, and so much more over wireless networks.
- Venue managers use real-time data to adjust staffing and crowd flow.
- Without dependable Wi-Fi, these operations can slow or fail, leading to frustrated fans.
Shared spectrum keeps fans online
With tens of thousands of connected devices active at once, stadium Wi-Fi networks face extreme demand. That’s why access to shared, unlicensed spectrum is vital.
- It allows networks to scale and adapt to heavy traffic loads without sacrificing performance.
- Absent sufficient spectrum, even the best-designed networks risk slowing down or dropping connections – just when fans and staff need them most.
Wi-Fi is the invisible infrastructure behind modern live events. From hotel check-ins and ticket scans to stadium streaming and touchdown replays, strong connectivity keeps fans engaged and coming back for more. Expanding access to shared spectrum ensures venues can keep delivering the seamless, tech-powered experiences today’s fans expect.
To learn more about the important role that Wi-Fi and unlicensed spectrum play in the broadband ecosystem, visit NCTA.com.
