Cincinnati Bengals

NFL Stadium Tech Reviews — AFC North

October 27, 2015 by Paul Kapustka Leave a Comment

Editor’s note: The following team-by-team capsule reports of NFL stadium technology deployments are an excerpt from our most recent Stadium Tech Report, THE PRO FOOTBALL 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.

AFC NORTH

Reporting by Paul Kapustka

M&T Bank Stadium. All photos: Baltimore Ravens (click on any photo for a larger image)

Baltimore Ravens
M&T Bank Stadium
Seating Capacity: 71,008
Wi-Fi – Yes
DAS – Yes

Extreme Networks picked up another NFL win this offseason, being selected to provide the Wi-Fi network gear for the Baltimore Ravens M&T Bank Stadium.

According to press releases from the team and Extreme, Extreme will install approximately 800 Wi-Fi APs to provide wireless service to the seating and concourse areas of the stadium. The $6.5 million network will be designed and deployed by integrator PCM Inc. of El Segundo, Calif., and the team app will be developed by YinzCam. According to the Ravens M&T Bank Stadium has a seating capacity of 71,000 for football.

The Ravens are also unveiling a new 3-D video system called freeD that the team said shows replays from every possible angle, like the replays seen on newscasts that can circle around the field of view.

Cincinnati Bengals
Paul Brown Stadium
Seating Capacity: 65,515
Wi-Fi – Yes
DAS – Yes

After putting Wi-Fi from Extreme Networks into Paul Brown Stadium for last season, the Bengals announced an additional $20 million in improvements for 2015, including newer, larger video boards. A TE Connectivity DAS in already in place, and the Wi-Fi network went through some upgrades especially in the stadium’s canopy level.

Cleveland Browns
FirstEnergy Stadium
Seating Capacity: 73,200
Wi-Fi – No, planned for 2015
DAS – Yes

While the Cleveland Browns continue to add improvements to FirstEnergy Stadium, Wi-Fi is not yet installed; according to news reports it should be available by the end of the 2015 season.

Pittsburgh Steelers
Heinz Field
Seating Capacity: 65,500
Wi-Fi – Yes/limited (club and suite areas only)
DAS – Yes

With room for 3,000 more fans in Heinz Field this season thanks to some offseason construction work, more Steelers fans than ever will be able to cheer on the Black and Gold.

Wi-Fi access, however, remains limited, not available in the full bowl but only in the FedEx Great Hall and the West Main Concourse. Clubs and suites also have free Wi-Fi, and the team said customer service reps will be available to deal with issues.

Filed Under: 4G LTE, AT&T, Cleveland Browns, DAS, NFL, Verizon Wireless, Wi-Fi Tagged With: 4G LTE, AT&T, Baltimore Ravens, Cincinnati Bengals, Cleveland Browns, DAS, Mobile Sports Report, NFL, Paul Kapustka, Pittsburgh Steelers, Stadium Wi-Fi, Wi-Fi

Stadium Tech Report — NFL stadium technology reports — AFC North

November 3, 2014 by Paul Kapustka Leave a Comment

Editor’s note: The following team-by-team capsule reports of NFL stadium technology deployments are an excerpt from our most recent Stadium Tech Report, THE FOOTBALL 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.

AFC NORTH

Reporting by Chris Gallo

Baltimore Ravens
M&T Bank Stadium
Seating Capacity: 71,008
Wi-Fi – No
DAS – Yes, 856 antennas
Beaconing – No

The Ravens are in the midst of a $35 million renovation to update their 15-year-old stadium. The focus of the enhancements is on aesthetics, with new video boards and more LED displays being installed. No Wi-Fi at the stadium yet, but fans should have no problem getting a cell signal via the now 2-year old Corning MobileAccess DAS system.

Cincinnati Bengals
Paul Brown Stadium
Seating Capacity: 65,515
Wi-Fi-Yes
DAS-Yes
Beaconing – No

The upgrades on the field over the last two seasons have been significant for the Cincinnati Bengals. And soon you’ll be able to say the same about Paul Brown Stadium. Wi-Fi from Extreme Networks is in place for all home games this NFL season.

Cleveland Browns
FirstEnergy Stadium
Seating Capacity: 73,200
Wi-Fi – No, planned for 2015
DAS-Yes
Beaconing – No

Less than a year ago, the Cleveland Browns were awarded $62.5 million from the NFL to improve FirstEnergy Stadium. Upgrades for the 15-year-old stadium include Wi-Fi, video boards, and a new sound system. With two first-round draft picks, a Heisman trophy winner potentially under center, and another new coach – the stadium is not the only thing experiencing a makeover. But Browns fans will have to wait a year to have Wi-Fi and Johnny Football at the same time.

Pittsburgh Steelers
Heinz Field
Seating Capacity: 65,500
Wi-Fi – Yes, 193 access points
DAS – Yes, 339 antennas
Beaconing – No

With plans to increase its capacity over the coming years, it’s important for Heinz Field to continue to be one of the best home field advantages in all of football. The easiest way to do that is to keep fans happy. And as a Steelers fan, what sounds better than waving your Terrible Towel whilst taking a selfie? Steelers faithful can do just that thanks to 193 Wi-Fi access points and 339 DAS antennas outfitted from AT&T and Verizon. Now can Pittsburgh return to the playoffs after a 2-year break?

Filed Under: 4G LTE, AT&T, Cleveland Browns, DAS, NFL, Wi-Fi Tagged With: AFC North, Baltimore Ravens, Cincinnati Bengals, Cleveland Browns, DAS, Mobile Sports Report, NFL, Paul Brown Stadium, Paul Kapustka, Pittsburgh Steelers, Stadium Wi-Fi, Wi-Fi

Bengals tap Extreme for Wi-Fi, TE Connectivity for DAS at Paul Brown Stadium

September 10, 2014 by Paul Kapustka 2 Comments

Even though the NFL season is barely underway, there’s one organization that already has a multi-win streak going: Extreme Networks said it will provide a Wi-Fi deployment for the Cincinnati Bengals at Paul Brown Stadium, the fifth NFL team deal for Extreme and the third announced this year.

The Wi-Fi network at Paul Brown Stadium is scheduled to go live this Sunday for the Bengals’ home opener against the Atlanta Falcons. According to the team and Extreme, the Bengals will also utilize the Extreme Wi-Fi coaches strategy, where knowledgeable network types roam the stands to help fans connect. Prior to this year, Extreme won Wi-Fi deals for the New England Patriots’ Gillette Stadium and the Philadelphia Eagles’ Lincoln Financial Field. In addition to Cincinnati, this year Extreme has announced Wi-Fi projects for the Tennessee Titans’ LP Field, and a joint deal with SignalShare to bring Wi-Fi to EverBank Field, home of the Jacksonville Jaguars.

And while we haven’t seen a press release yet we also know that TE Connectivity is in charge of installing a DAS at Paul Brown Stadium, meaning that cellular reception should improve as well.

We haven’t yet spoken to the folks at Paul Brown Stadium, but here are some prepared quotes from the press release to tell you how happy they are to be joining the NFL Wi-Fi fraternity:

“Our fans are of the utmost importance to our organization, and as technology continues to provide new possibilities, it was crucial that we identify a way to provide fans a truly differentiated in-person game day experience,” said Michael Kayes, Bengals director of technology. “The partnership with Extreme Networks provides the foundation to do just that, affording fans the connectivity they’ve grown to expect. We’re also excited to be able to offer our fans the opportunity to get field-level action through NFL RedZone.”

Here’s a Twitter pic of the press conference today:

.@normanrice3 talks Wifi coaches who deployed Paul Brown Stadium to help fans connect @bengals pic.twitter.com/sEOZWnDCpS pic.twitter.com/bofiQqVQkm

— Extreme Networks (@ExtremeNetworks) September 10, 2014

Filed Under: DAS, NFL, Wi-Fi Tagged With: Cincinnati Bengals, DAS, Extreme Networks, Mobile Sports Report, NFL, Paul Brown Stadium, Paul Kapustka, Stadium Wi-Fi, TE Connectivity, Wi-Fi

NFL Stadium Tech Reviews — AFC North

AFC NORTH

Stadium Tech Report — NFL stadium technology reports — AFC North

AFC NORTH

Bengals tap Extreme for Wi-Fi, TE Connectivity for DAS at Paul Brown Stadium

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