Smartphones are becoming an indispensable part of fans’ experience at sporting events. But this spiking demand for wireless technology has meant teams have had to find new ways to provide wireless coverage inside stadiums.
One such example is the Carolina Panthers’ ongoing renovation of Bank of America Stadium, a renovation that included a complete removal and installation of new DAS and WiFi systems.
The renovation began in 2014, reports mobilesportsreport.com, with the removal of the stadium’s old DAS system occurring during the 2015 offseason.
“We chose to perform a rip-and-replace on both DAS and WiFi and take ownership in-house,” James Hammond, director of IT for the Panthers, told mobilesportsreport.com.
The removal and installation of a new DAS system was “pretty quick for a ground-up project,” said Hammond in mobilesportsreport.com. The decommissioning and construction took 90 days.
The Panthers selected CommScope’s ION-U DAS system, a “cutting edge” network capable of withstanding the stadium’s outdoor climate, said Hammond. Optical Telecom installed the DAS gear, and Beam Wireless Inc. designed, integrated and will perform ongoing maintenance of the system.
The system debuted in July 2015, with fans noticing an immediate improvement in the quality of their cell experience, notes Hammond. AT&T, Verizon and Sprint are carriers currently providing coverage through the system, with the prospect of T-Mobile joining the lineup during the 2017 off-season.
Bank of America Stadium is divided into 48 DAS zones—16 for the upper bowl; lower bowl; and suites, clubs and offices, respectively. The system currently has 256 DAS remotes and more than 600 DAS indoor and outdoor antennas mobilesportsreport.com said.
The Panthers addressed WiFi upgrades in early 2016, relying on the installation of 1,225 underseat AP enclosures that provide wireless coverage to the stadium’s thousands of fans. The enclosures are strategically placed to minimize water damage, a risk posed by an outdoor stadium.
In total, the upgrades cost the Panthers about $16 million—the DAS improvements accounting for just under $10 million of that total, with the WiFi costing just over $6 million.
But the team is looking to continue to expand wireless solutions inside the stadium with “location-awareness” technology. Bluetooth beacon technology as part of the team’s mobile app can direct select messages targeted to an individual’s location. “Your nearest restroom/hotdog stand/gift shop is in Section 358,” is a possible message Panthers fans might receive.
“My goal during the upcoming season is to look at options for location-aware services,” Hammond said to mobilesportsreport.com.
Hammond hopes this last round of stadium renovations will optimize the team’s app for push notifications, providing fans with practical information like restroom and concession location information.
Download a free copy of Stadium Tech Report Q3 which looks at new technology at Bank of America Stadium and Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
November 10, 2016
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