ums and arenas into hyper-connected hubs of fan engagement. It’s a revolution built on one crucial foundation: connectivity.
Gone are the days of clunky ticketing systems and frustrating concession lines. Today’s smart stadiums are powered by a symphony of technologies, all working in harmony to deliver an unforgettable fan experience. But this symphony can only play its best tune with a strong, reliable connection.
Why Connectivity is King in the Smart Stadium
Think of connectivity as the nervous system of a smart stadium. It’s the essential infrastructure that enables:
- Seamless Ticketing & Security Screening: Imagine walking straight into the stadium with facial authentication ticketing and AI-powered security screening. No more fumbling for tickets or QR codes, emptying pockets and waiting in long lines.
- Lightning-Fast Concessions: Craving a hot dog or beer? Experience the future of concessions. Wicket’s advanced facial payment technology enables seamless, rapid transactions at grab-and-go and self-serve locations, ensuring you spend less time waiting and more time enjoying the game.
- Immersive Experiences: Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR) applications have grown in popularity, providing interactive experiences and branded content. These require robust, high-speed connectivity to function flawlessly.
- Data-Driven Insights: Smart stadiums generate vast amounts of data, which can be used to optimize operations, personalize fan experiences, and drive revenue. This data relies on real-time connectivity for collection and analysis.
Uncompromising connectivity is the foundation of the modern stadium experience. A Boldyn Networks survey demonstrates that fans overwhelmingly demand instantaneous social sharing (87%), immersive AR/VR engagement (68%), and (81%) said they would spend more on food, drink and merchandise if ordering were convenient, all contingent upon a robust network. These figures underscore the necessity of seamless connectivity to deliver an experience that meets fan expectations – from the moment they enter a venue to when they leave.
Reinforcing this need, just this week MLS and Boldyn Networks announced a partnership, naming Boldyn as the league’s official provider of connectivity at all venues. Boldyn’s neutral host distributed antenna system (DAS), Wi-Fi, and private network solutions will enable critical ubiquitous 5G connectivity throughout MLS venues, as announced by Jason Caliento, Boldyn Networks US Business Chief Commercial Officer, and Chris Schlosser, MLS SVP Emerging Ventures, during SBJ Tech Week in New York City.
The Collaborative Power of Technology
The Wicket platform is deployed at over 150 venues with nearly 2,000 edge devices that rely on reliable connectivity. To deliver the expected fan experience, a cohesive network strategy is essential, ensuring interoperability and support for complex integrations. This hyper-connectivity extends beyond the game, yielding benefits like enhanced fan engagement, increased revenue through optimized sales, improved operational efficiency, and data-driven insights for informed decision-making.
The Future of Live Events
The stadiums of the future will be built upon a robust foundation of connectivity infrastructure. This infrastructure is not merely a convenience; it’s the bedrock that empowers companies like Wicket to deploy transformative technologies throughout the venue. These technologies are crucial for crafting the ultimate fan experience, streamlining operational workflows, and driving a substantial return on investment.
Venue connectivity, in conjunction with Wicket-enabled technologies, is not simply a passing trend; it represents the definitive future of live events. By strategically embracing this synergy, venues can cultivate immersive, hyper-connected experiences that redefine the standards of fan engagement.
The ongoing evolution of technology within live event venues transcends the mere introduction of “cool technology’ – it’s about orchestrating a truly sensational fan experience. And at the core of this experience lies the unwavering power of connectivity, which enables technologies to flourish and fundamentally reshape how we engage with live events.
