DAS – Page 48

Wi-Fi deal at Houston’s NRG Stadium looks like it’s going to 5 Bars… is Ruckus involved as well?

July 22, 2015 by Paul Kapustka

We knew the Houston Texans were getting Wi-Fi put in at NRG Stadium this year, but until we saw this report on HoustonChronicle.com by reporter David Barron we didn’t know that integrator 5 Bars will be leading the deployment, with stadium management firm SMG chipping in for some of the projected $2.9 million cost, according to the story.

The report from Houston, which apparently got its information from a meeting of the directors of the Harris County Sports and Convention Corp., says that the deal for 5 Bars still has to be ratified in August, so we may not be at the end of this story yet. Industry sources recently interviewed by Mobile Sports Report have tabbed Ruckus Wireless as the main Wi-Fi gear supplier for the 71,500-seat NRG Stadium deployment, which makes sense since Ruckus and 5 Bars worked together for the recent Wi-Fi deployment at Angels Stadium in Anaheim. Neither Ruckus nor 5 Bars would confirm any details, however (like the cost — does $2.9 million for Wi-Fi sound low to anyone?), so the Ruckus part of the story remains a rumor until we hear more.

We’ll try to round up more details on this story after we recover from a whirlwind couple days at the recent SEAT 2015 conference in San Francisco — according to another Houston Chronicle report, Verizon has installed a new DAS at the stadium, which will be the host venue for Super Bowl LI in February of 2017.

Filed Under: 4G LTE, AT&T, DAS, NFL, Verizon Wireless, Wi-Fi Tagged With: 4G LTE, AT&T, DAS, Houston Texans, Mobile Sports Report, NFL, NRG Stadium, Paul Kapustka, Stadium Wi-Fi, Super Bowl LI, Verizon Wireless, Wi-Fi

Ruckus Wireless looks like the ‘Golden 1′ for Wi-Fi at Sacramento Kings’ new stadium

July 19, 2015 by Paul Kapustka

Golden 1 Center in Sacramento taking shape. All photos: Paul Kapustka, MSR (click on any photo for a larger image)

According to several sources from around the stadium technology marketplace, it appears as though Ruckus Wireless has won a big stadium Wi-Fi deal, as the provider of gear for the Sacramento Kings’ new Golden 1 Center that is scheduled to open in October 2016.

There is no official announcement and representatives from the Kings and Ruckus would not comment on the matter, so at this stage it’s still a rumor. But since we heard this (pending) news from several different sources — all of whom we trust — it’s a good bet that you will see Ruckus gear at least inside the Golden 1 Center arena, and perhaps in the planned accompanying downtown-area construction, which is supposed to include new office and retail space, as well as apartments and a hotel. In case you’ve never heard of Golden 1, it is California’s largest credit union and is paying a reported $120 million over 20 years for the naming rights to the arena.

We’re no construction experts here but judging from a stroll we took around the Golden 1 Center construction site last week it’s probably a good bet that not all of the planned buildings will be finished by the time the arena opens, if it opens on time as planned for the start of the 2016-17 NBA season. Though buildings clearly scheduled for demolition surrounding the obvious planned construction site are still standing in many places, the arena itself is starting to take shape, with the metal skeleton of the outer walls already in place.

The new arena construction is butting up against existing structures on one corner.

Big focus on technology

Though Ruckus has won deals before in the sports stadium space (and famously lost them too) the deal in Sacramento, if our sources are correct, would be a big one for Ruckus given the high visibility of the new Kings’ stadium and the advance billing the Kings’ owner, Vivek Ranadive, is giving the arena’s planned technology deployments. At a recent sports ticketing conference, Kings president and COO Chris Granger talked about plans to bring bandwidth of a gigabit per second to each seat — which if we are to measure it correctly we may need a new version of Speedtest. (Gigabit? We’re gonna need a bigger boat!)

Gigabit promises aside, the Kings have made no secret of their desire for Golden 1 Center to be a technological masterpiece, with plans for all-digital ticketing just the start of the hoped-for new fan experience. Much of that will be riding on the Wi-Fi network, so if Ruckus is indeed the gear supplier it will have its work cut out for it just to meet the announced goals.

Construction work is everywhere surrounding the Golden 1 Center site.

Light rail is just a block away, good news for fans who don’t want to drive to games.

Artist rendering of the Golden 1 Center

Filed Under: Basketball, DAS, NBA, Wi-Fi Tagged With: DAS, Golden 1 Credit Union, Mobile Sports Report, NBA, Paul Kapustka, Sacramento, Sacramento Kings, Stadium Wi-Fi, Vivek Ranadive, Wi-Fi

All-Star Game has DAS Grand Slam: Four different DAS systems online at Great American Ball Park

July 14, 2015 by Paul Kapustka

Google Map screenshot of Cincinnati riverfront area, showing Paul Brown Stadium and the Great American Ball Park. Somewhere in between is a DAS headend.

Call it the DAS grand slam — to cover wireless customer demand, the Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati has four separate DAS deployments, one for each of the major U.S. wireless carriers, which are probably all getting a workout at tonight’s Major League Baseball All-Star Game.

Brian Keys, vice president of technology for the Cincinnati Reds, confirmed Tuesday that there are four separate DAS (distributed antenna system) networks in the ballpark, one each for AT&T, Verizon Wireless, Sprint and T-Mobile. Through several interviews Mobile Sports Report was able to confirm that Solid is providing the gear for the Verizon DAS, and another source said that ADRF is providing the DAS for Sprint.

We also had a long interview with the folks at TE Connectivity, who initially installed a 2G/3G/4G DAS in the venue in 2011, and recently upgraded that DAS, adding support for the 2100 MHz AWS spectrum. And while TE Connectivity was not at liberty to name the carrier for which it provides the DAS, by process of elimination we are fairly confident that their customer is AT&T. T-Mobile, which is also on its own DAS in the park, is also believed to be a Solid customer but we haven’t yet confirmed that fact.

Why are there four systems in Cincinnati? We haven’t yet had a chance to talk to Brian Keys (he’s been a little bit busy this week) but it’s fairly likely that it was just a fairly normal occurrence in the DAS world — one big carrier doesn’t want to join a DAS already installed by another big carrier, so it just funds its own. At the Great American Ball Park, Verizon’s decision to build its own DAS may have been in part because the carrier already has a DAS headend facility nearby, serving Paul Brown Stadium, the GABP’s riverfront neighbor. In fact, the Solid folks told us Tuesday that both the baseball DAS and the football DAS for Verizon are served out of the same facility, which makes sense.

The TE Connectivity DAS, for the client it couldn’t name (AT&T!), was also recently upgraded to cover areas outside the stadium, including the parking lots, a trend we are seeing more of as venues realize that fans want connectivity the moment they arrive, not just when they’re in their seats. We’ll try to get more details on this somewhat unique DAS situation — which was also apparently approved by the technical and business folks at MLBAM, which helped bring a Wi-Fi upgrade to the park this past offseason — but for the meantime, let’s just be glad that customers of all four of the major U.S. carriers had DAS support at Tuesday’s All-Star Game — in their own private and separate ways.

Filed Under: 4G LTE, All Star Game, AT&T, Baseball, Cincinnati, DAS, Google, Major League Baseball, Sprint, T-Mobile, Verizon Wireless, Wi-Fi Tagged With: AT&T, AWS, Cincinnati Reds, DAS, DAS headend, Great American Ball Park, MLB, MLB All-Star Game, MLBAM, Mobile Sports Report, Paul Brown Stadium, Paul Kapustka, spectrum, Sprint, Stadium Wi-Fi, T-Mobile, Verizon Wireless

MLB Stadium Tech and Wi-Fi Reports — AL Central

July 13, 2015 by Paul Kapustka

Editor’s note: The following team-by-team capsule reports of MLB stadium technology deployments are an excerpt from our most recent Stadium Tech Report, THE BASEBALL (And Soccer!) ISSUE. To get all the capsules in one place as well as our featured reports, interviews and analysis, download your free copy of the full report today.

AL Central

Reporting by Paul Kapustka

Kauffman Stadium during 2014 World Series

Kansas City Royals
Kauffman Stadium
Seating Capacity: 37,903
Wi-Fi – Yes
DAS – Yes (under construction)

Venerable Kauffman Stadium turned on its MLBAM-powered Wi-Fi network just in time for the Royals’ historic run to the World Series last year, where it was found and enjoyed by true blue fans even without any promotion. A new four-carrier neutral DAS is under construction for 2015.

Minnesota Twins
Target Field
Seating Capacity: 39,504
Wi-Fi – Yes
DAS – Yes

Host of the 2014 All-Star Game, Twins fans can now enjoy the Wi-Fi and DAS networks installed last year. MLBAM helped install the Wi-Fi network, while the DAS includes gear and expertise from InSite Wireless and TE Connectivity.

Chicago White Sox
U.S. Cellular Field
Seating Capacity: 40,615
Wi-Fi – Yes
DAS – Yes

One of the losers in the MLBAM program to bring Wi-Fi to all stadiums was Boingo Wireless, the previous provider of Wi-Fi at U.S. Cellular Field. For 2015, a MLBAM network will be in place with 550 new APs from MLBAM equipment provider Cisco.

Detroit Tigers
Comerica Park
Seating Capacity: 41,681
Wi-Fi – Yes
DAS – Yes (under construction)

Tigers fans are yet another group who have in-park Wi-Fi this season courtesy of MLB, with 600 APs installed for the 2015 season. A full-featured DAS is currently under construction, and is expected to be operational by mid-season with all four major wireless carriers participating.

Cleveland Indians
Progressive Field
Seating Capacity: 43,545
Wi-Fi – Yes
DAS – Yes

Recognized as one of baseball’s most Twitter-friendly teams, the Cleveland Indians have stepped up their game with not one but two social media areas inside the stadium that will take advantage of the Verizon-powered Wi-Fi. Formerly known as the Social Suite, the Indians now have #Tribelive, which will have its own seating section inside a right-field bar; Cleveland will also have a Family Social Suite, in a more kid-friendly environment.

Filed Under: 4G LTE, All Star Game, AT&T, Baseball, Cisco, DAS, Major League Baseball, Minnesota Twins, Wi-Fi Tagged With: 4G LTE, AT&T, DAS, Kansas City Royals, Minnesota Twins, MLB, MLBAM, Mobile Sports Report, Paul Kapustka, Stadium Wi-Fi, Wi-Fi, World Series

MLB Stadium Tech Reports — AL West

July 10, 2015 by Paul Kapustka

AL West

Reporting by Paul Kapustka

The iconic sign outside the “Big A,” aka Angels Stadium of Anaheim. Credit Terry Sweeney, MSR

Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
Angel Stadium of Anaheim
Seating Capacity: 45,050
Wi-Fi – Yes
DAS – Yes

Angel Stadium is now fully wired for Wi-Fi and DAS, courtesy of integrator 5 Bars, which used Wi-Fi gear from Ruckus Wireless and DAS gear from JMA Wireless.

Houston Astros
Minute Maid Park
Seating Capacity: 40,963
Wi-Fi – Yes
DAS – Yes

The Houston Astros were one of the beneficiaries of MLB’s program to bring updated Wi-Fi to all stadiums. The new network was scheduled to be live for the 2015 season.

Seattle Mariners
Safeco Field
Seating Capacity: 47,476
Wi-Fi – Yes
DAS – Yes

Finally, geeks of all stripes in Seattle can stay connected while at Safeco, thanks to a new Wi-Fi network with 560 access points that is scheduled to be live for the 2015 season. New LED lighting for the field should make it easier to watch games through the rain and mist.

Oakland A’s
O.co Coliseum
Seating Capacity: 35,067
Wi-Fi – Yes
DAS – Yes

With Wi-Fi already in place the Oakland A’s spent $10 million in the offseason to upgrade the video boards in aging O.co Coliseum. The two new HD Daktronics screens, 36 feet high and 145 feet wide, were joined by new ribbon LED boards to bring more info to fans.

Texas Rangers
Global Life Park in Arlington
Seating Capacity: 48,114
Wi-Fi – Yes
DAS – Yes

The team isn’t talking about it publicly yet, but according to MLBAM there is now a working Wi- Fi network and a DAS at Global Life Park in Arlington, one of the latest beneficiaries of the MLB program to bring Wi-Fi to all MLB parks.

Filed Under: 4G LTE, AT&T, Baseball, Cisco, DAS, Los ANgeles Angeles of Anaheim, Major League Baseball, Texas Rangers, Wi-Fi Tagged With: AL West, Anaheim Stadium, DAS, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, MLB, MLBAM, Mobile Sports Report, Oakland A's, Paul Kapustka, Stadium Wi-Fi, Wi-Fi

UPDATE: IBM: Sorry! No IPTV deal yet for new Atlanta NFL stadium

July 9, 2015 by Paul Kapustka

Artist’s overhead view of new Atlanta NFL stadium

Update, 7/9/15, 5 p.m. PT: Sports app developer YinzCam has apparently not yet won the deal to provide IPTV technology for the new NFL stadium being built for the Atlanta Falcons, two days after an IBM exec said that they had.

According to Jim Rushton, global leader and partner in IBM’s sports and entertainment practice, he made some “factually incorrect” statements during a panel presentation Tuesday at the Association of Luxury Suite Directors (ALSD) conference in San Francisco. During his talk Rushton provided some high-level details of IBM’s plans to provide wireless networks and other technologies inside the 71,000-seat, $1.4 billion stadium that is scheduled to open in 2017, and both in his talk and presentation said that app developer YinzCam would be the IPTV technology provider for the new stadium.

However, in a subsequent phone call Thursday evening, Rushton said his statements about YinzCam were “factually incorrect,” and that in fact no contract has yet been awarded for the IPTV technology to be used at the Atlanta stadium. Hence this update to a previous version of the story which led with the YinzCam news, which was mainly new to us since Rushton didn’t name any other potential subcontractors, including the vendors who will be supplying gear for the passive optical network (PON) at the heart of the network or the provider of the Wi-Fi and/or DAS gear that will provide the stadium’s planned wireless connectivity.

However, we will stick with our original speculation, which pegs the leading candidates for optical gear and Wi-Fi equipment as likely Corning and Aruba Networks, who respectively supplied those same technologies for the IBM-led network deployment at Texas A&M University’s Kyle Field, where YinzCam also provided IPTV technology as well as technology for the stadium app. (Daktronics has already been announced as the supplier of the new planned Halo Screen video board.) So if YinzCam hasn’t actually inked a deal for IPTV in Atlanta yet, we will still keep them at the “most likely to win the contract” status.

During his talk Rushton said that network technologies still hadn’t been picked for Atlanta, with “proof of concept” testing still taking place in labs on site at the already-active construction zone. He also would not say whether YinzCam would also be part of the Atlanta Stadium app. YinzCam CEO Priya Narasimhan did not respond to email inquiries about the Atlanta deal (and maybe now we know why). On the Wi-Fi side it will be interesting to see if IBM still chooses to work with Aruba now that Aruba is part of HP after a $3 billion acquisition earlier this year.

Like at Texas A&M, IBM came late to the Atlanta stadium development process, but is claiming that its plan to build an internal fiber backbone for both Wi-Fi and DAS deployments has already saved space, time and money. Rushton said that in Atlanta the DAS headend will be located off the stadium site, a switch that opened up 10,000 square feet of stadium space.

Filed Under: Apps, DAS, NFL, Wi-Fi Tagged With: ALSD, Atlanta Falcons, DAS, iBM, IPTV, Mobile Sports Report, NFL, Paul Kapustka, Stadium Wi-Fi, Wi-Fi, YinzCam