Cardinals stadium offers Wireless Internet access

By Andrew Lippe

The NFL’s Cardinals Stadium has teamed up with Insight Enterprises to produce an IT solution that delivers uninterrupted wireless Internet access throughout the new $450 million Stadium. The IT game-changing technology is supported by a single converted network backbone. The converged network accommodates multiple users where all communications can be accessed via one antenna.

“The wireless network is the best option for the stadium,” said Steve Kedzior senior director of Insight’s Client Solutions organization. “We’ve worked diligently to make the Cardinals’ vision a reality.”

To become the first “pure IP” stadium in sports the state-of-the-art venue home to the Arizona Cardinals houses a network infrastructure that connects Cardinals Stadium with the Tempe training complex and Flagstaff training complex. Communication between these three locations becomes an essential tool in the direction of the team. “The convergence allows the exchange of video between the training facility and Cardinals Stadium,” said Kedzior.

The network also accommodates fans of fantasy football for internet access is available on any handheld device in the stadium. 1,000 IP phones can be found in the suites of Cardinals Stadium along with 700 HDTV sets. The phones have a touch screen for video conferencing. The single network eliminates multiple points of network administration and lowers administrative costs. “Cost is multidimensional for cooling devices and routers designed for product management of this size have never been done before.”

“We wanted someone who could provide the entire technology infrastructure for the stadium as well as our headquarters and practice facilities,” said Arizona Cardinals technology director Mark Feller. “But we also wanted someone who could support it all in the long term.”