THE PRIMARY MOTIVATORS TO INSTALL HIGH-DENSITY W-FI WAS TWO-FOLD
1 . Continue to be on the cutting edge of technology and deliver the best game day experience for their 71,000 + fans
2 . Fulfill the NFL league requirement that all NFL stadiums have Wi-Fi installed by the end of 2016
As the Ravens investigated the deployment of a high-density Wi-Fi solution they worked with the NFL and talked to other teams in the League who had installed a similar solution . Their top concerns were the speed of the installation — it needed to be fully installed and operational in time for the 2015 football season — and ensuring there was enough bandwidth , throughput , and redundancy built in to support high user and device usage in critical situations during game day . With a small IT staff , the Ravens also needed help with the ongoing network management and maintenance .
To quickly socialize users to the new network , the Ravens deployed a patented Wi-Fi Coach Program . This mobile IT help desk provides real-time assistance and in-person troubleshooting with the fan base to ensure all network-related questions , including gaining access to the Wi-Fi , is immediately addressed in realtime . It also provided another touchpoint with Ravens ’ fans in-venue . Furthermore , the ongoing network management support provided by PCM Managed Services made it possible for the Ravens to allocate just one IT person to help coordinate between stadium operations and PCM Managed Services , all the while empowering the Ravens IT team with the institutional knowledge and best practices to apply to future seasons .
Scoring Points with Fans and Management
In just one year , the Ravens went from a DAS system that provided fans with the baseline mobile ability to make phone calls and send text messages , to a unified and robust network with high-density Wi-Fi that enable fans to be fully connected while they are in-stadium , allowing them to enjoy uninterrupted access to social media , fantasy stats , streaming of live video , team content , and much more !
Based on usage averages from the 2015 season , the new Wi-Fi network was able to fully support 23,912 peak unique users and 17,259 concurrent users , with a peak adoption rate of 44 % of in-venue fans connected to the Wi-Fi at one point during the season . The secure and reliable Wi-Fi connectivity at M & T Bank Stadium has dramatically improved the mobile experience for Ravens fans , allowing them to experience and share the game ’ s excitement with family and friends – both instadium and out . Fans are able to receive unique in-game content such as access to the Red Zone channel , instant replays of any play with different camera angles , while also staying updated on what ’ s happening outside the NFL .
The Ravens now use the network to further enhance the fan experience and support game day operations at M & T Bank Stadium . Supporting game day functions have been augmented , as services such as mobile POS for Hawkers have optimized and mobilized the sale of food and beverage items . The Wi-Fi network has also improved event management with the introduction of tablets and smart phone devices used by the security and guest services team to identify , track , monitor and document event incidents .
Baltimore Ravens and M & T Bank Stadium – Case Study 3
Case Study