Extreme Networks will provide US NHL ice hockey club Philadelphia Flyers and Canada's Winnipeg Jets with Extreme Wi-Fi 6 and Wi-Fi 6E-ready solutions in their stadiums. With the Wi-Fi, the NHL clubs will give their fans a better match experience, streamline IT teams' operations and get analytics on fans' network data at matches. Fans thus get a more personalised match experience and sponsors benefit from new commercial opportunities.
Extreme Networks is a leader in cloud networking and is Official Wi-Fi Analytics Provider and official Wi-Fi partner of the NHL ice hockey league in the US and Canada. Extreme's Wi-Fi networks are at the heart of NHL clubs' strategic initiatives, helping them with an enhanced match experience for fans and greater operational efficiency for club staff.
The Wells Fargo Centre, home of the NHL team Philadelphia Flyers and the NBA basketball players of the Philadelphia 76ers, and the Canada Life Centre, home of the Winnipeg Jets, have now opted for Extreme Networks' Wi-Fi solutions. Fans and staff will get super-fast wireless connectivity with high capacity and low latency. At the Wells Fargo Centre, the implementation is being carried out in partnership with Comcast Business.
Improved fan experience
The enhanced fan experience in the stadiums is made possible by Extreme's fast and reliable Wi-Fi solution with nearly 800 Wi-Fi 6 and Wi-Fi 6E access points, in addition to Extreme Universal Switches. Consistent and reliable connectivity is thus guaranteed at every location in the Flyers' and Jets' stadiums. Wi-Fi6/6E provides high bandwidth to fans, giving them seamless access to mobile ticketing, social media, online apps such as for betting and hospitality. Staff in the stadiums use the enhanced Wi-Fi for ticket scanners, portable card readers, intercommunication, security cameras and location services such as visitor flow.
Analytics from wireless data
The Flyers' and Jets' IT teams have access to ExtremeAnalytics, the network analytics feature in Extreme's Wi-Fi 6/6E, which allows them to quickly analyse data on network usage by frequently used applications. This is important at , peak usage times as it gives insight into performance and potential problems on the Wi-Fi network. The NHL clubs can then make quicker decisions about places in the stadium that need more staff, which applications are beneficial for marketing and which programme during breaks increases fan engagement, among other things.
Foundation for future investment
Stadium services that rely on technology, such as mobile ticketing and self-service box offices, are becoming more common. But stadium operators are also increasingly adopting new technology such as biometrics, AR and VR and mobile concessions per seat. Extreme's Wi-Fi solutions provide a foundation that supports and scales the network so that clubs can meet these new demands and usage scenarios. With Universal Switches, IT teams can switch operating systems depending on changing usage scenarios with minimal equipment investment.
Backbone of operations
According to IT director Dan Gill of the Winnipeg Jets, the network is important for fans' experience at games. Wi-Fi6/6E will be the backbone of mobile ticketing, mobile hospitality, video streaming, interactive engagement and security. "The bandwidth and performance of Extreme Wi-Fi 6E provide us with the backbone through which current and future initiatives can make an impact," Gill said. "We are very excited about the potential of the insights from the analytics allowing us to be more responsive to fans' needs while working more efficiently and tapping into new revenues."
New sponsorship deals
In the eyes of president and CEO Ed Meyercord, the Wells Fargo Centre and Jets are taking a huge step forward with Extreme Networks. "Wi-Fi 6 and 6E are the way to enhance fans' matchday experiences," Meyercord said. "The network is more than connectivity, it is the critical enabler of new technology, safety and security, and innovation. Wi-Fi insights and analytics are a strategic choice towards new sponsorship deals and revenue. Together with the Flyers and Jets, we will push the boundaries of the network and drive the next generation fan experience."
