When you consider that most NFL stadiums are at least 22 years old, it should be no surprise to hear that many sports venues are in the process of receiving major digital overhauls to keep up with new technologies, the demand for connectivity everywhere and the current standards of the modern fan experience. That was the topic to talk about in today’s INTX Talk: The Ballpark Goes Broadband.
The San Francisco Giants were one of the first teams to incorporate Wi-Fi in their stadium. At first there was little use for it – very few of us were working from the game. But within a handful of years, the need for that Wi-Fi signal multiplied dramatically. Now fans expect to be able share their experiences in the form of pictures and videos with their personal networks. And the people behind the scenes at the stadium itself have needs as well, as they send live video feeds from one area of the facility to the other over the internal network. Kiss Cam anyone?
At live events, experience is everything. As people attend more and more sporting events, the game is becoming just one of many factors that stadiums must consider when it comes down to the overall experience for attendees. Technology providers and strategists are realizing that people are looking for an experience at a venue, not just the score or outcome of the game. More than ever, it is essential that venue operators understand and anticipate the needs of today’s tech-savvy fans. With every enhancement, the chances that a fan lingers at the stadium increases. Give them a reason to come early. Make sure fans are catching the action via livestream while waiting for a hot dog, and chances are they’ll get up out of their seats more often, and spend more time at the concessions.
“Fans expect to be able share their experiences in the form of pictures and videos with their personal networks.”
And with all of this focus on technology, the need for increased bandwidth is always present as the amount of device usage at games increases. Recently, the Dallas Cowboys discovered that their fans were consuming record-breaking amounts of data at games – up to 6.2 terabytes! That’s a lot of selfies.
Of course with massive use of tech happening at live sporting events, there is a huge opportunity for stadiums to collect more and more fan data – both to continue to optimize and enhance the live experience, but also to find additional revenue streams and opportunities to monetize various parts of the live experience and ultimately increase profitability.
These stadium technology strategists are ready to take us out to the ballgame, as long as we take our smartphones with us.