Markus Nispel, CTO of Extreme Networks EMEA, how he thinks AR, VR and more will be used in stadiums
Technology has already repositioned the way we enjoy the game in Europe, and it’s about to reposition a lot more. Football stadiums used to be bleachers and a field. That was it. Now, there are screens above the stands showing instant replays, VAR decisions, and more. There is goal-line technology. Cameras fly inside the stadium. We use our phones to show our tickets, pay for food, check queues, place bets, and most importantly, share this experience online (depending on how the game goes, of course).
And now, 6GHz Wi-Fi expands the possibilities with connectivity. From Manchester United’s Old Trafford to Borussia Dortmund’s Signal Iduna Park, sports stadiums across Europe are installing fast and secure Wi-Fi to accommodate the next wave of technology.
This is what he does and will do for the fan experience.
Things That Are Already Underway
Europe has already begun to integrate generation into the fabric of the sporting experience, and there is still more to come. To get a sense of what’s going to happen, just take a look at the United States. Many enthusiasts will argue that the United States is the king of sports. sports entertainment — from basketball’s Jumbotron to the spectacle that is the Super Bowl — and that U. S. sports venues tend to be one step ahead of their European counterparts when it comes to embracing new trends.
A good example is the San Francisco Giants’ Oracle Park, which recently became the first major stadium to adopt Wi-Fi 6E, giving enthusiasts a much faster and smoother connection. This might seem insignificant at first, but it means that even a crowd of over 40,000 enthusiasts can now stream videos simultaneously, whether it’s highlights or slow-motion replays of the game or even other game streams.
Of course, high-quality transmission isn’t the only or the main advantage. Outside of the stadium, today’s enthusiasts need to stay connected to multiple fantastic games, sports, people, stats, and groups simultaneously, and to a powerful Wi-Fi connection. The net makes this imaginable inside the stadium. This is already underway, as football teams such as Manchester United, Liverpool, Borussia Dortmund and many others have prioritised upgrading their network, allowing enthusiasts to interact seamlessly from inside the stadium to create an immersive and interconnected experience. Improve the sports experience.
Things That Will Happen Soon
Moviegoers will remember what it was like to see a 3-D movie for the first time: you put on a pair of glasses, and suddenly the movie takes on another dimension.
Well, live sports are already in 3-D, but imagine if you had a pair of Augmented Truth (AR) glasses that displayed fit stats like athlete names, distance traveled, tackles made, goals scored, top speeds, and dunks. any stat you want, essentially), directly overlaid on your vision of the game. You can also watch replays of incredible plays or debatable calls from other angles without taking your eyes off the action or burying your face in your phone.
Then comes the commitment side. Soon there will be a million things to do, from ordering food and drink from your phone to participating in polls, voting for the player of the match, betting, creating content and chatting on the spot, and sharing reports on social media, friends. and family outside the stadium.
Sports venues may even offer foreign enthusiasts a virtual reality experience in the stadium. Of course, nothing would update the real sports, but European sports have enthusiasts from all over the world who would appreciate a more immersive experience being offered without the costs. .
All of this happens. It’s just a matter of time.
Streamlined Site Operations
Having next-generation Wi-Fi in stadiums and sports venues is also a goldmine for the host venue, and this knowledge is a game-changer for their operations.
By analyzing how other people move around the venue, they can determine where to place staff, concessions, and anything else enthusiasts might need. This makes it less difficult for them to manage crowds and everyone’s experience.
By leveraging those real-time network analytics, venues can manage and optimize network usage data, troubleshoot potential issues, and track Wi-Fi functionality and usage trends across the stadium. This affects more informed decision-making when it comes to site operations. , improving the fan experience either digitally or in-person at the stadium.
The Final Score
In conclusion, a generation is transforming the way Europeans play, and we’re just getting started. From sleek video feeds and real-time stats overlaid on the action via AR glasses to interactive experiences and personalized services, the long-term of game viewers is all about creating a more connected and immersive experience for fans, whether in the stadium and around the world. To achieve this vision, a robust, next-generation network infrastructure is essential, ensuring uninterrupted connectivity and enabling high-speed data transmission. , which is critical to the good fortune of those groundbreaking innovations.
Markus Nispel is CTO, EMEA, for cloud networking company Extreme Networks
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