How Technology Gives the Sports Industry a Winning Edge

Sports are big business — huge, in fact. The NFL is a more than $9 billion industry. NASCAR is a more than $3 billion operation. Like any business — the successful ones anyway — sports franchises and venues are customer-focused and centered on optimal efficiency. And for sports businesses, it’s all about improving front-office operations and enhancing the fan experience. That’s where technology comes in.

The six organizations highlighted here teamed with technology services provider CDW to improve everything from switches to mobile apps. Read on to score the inside story on how the Washington Redskins, the Indianapolis Colts, the Georgia Dome, the International Speedway, the PGA Tour and the Trump National Doral Miami are playing the tech game to win.

With the rise of in-home high-definition televisions and home theaters, sports organizations must capitalize on what brings fans to the stadium — live game action. To enhance the fan experience, the Georgia Dome implemented a high-density wireless network on which 14,000 mobile devices can simultaneously connect to browse the Web, interact via social media and access scores, stats and video replays. During the Nov. 10, 2013 Falcons vs. Seahawks game, 9,968 concurrent users accessed the network, the highest capacity to date.

The Wi-Fi solution consists of Cisco Catalyst 3750 series switches, Cisco 5508 wireless controllers and 500 Cisco 3500-series access points with antennas designed for high-density environments. The IT staff monitors 500 access points and every connected device from a management console.

The International Speedway Corporation (ISC) is planning big, fan-friendly improvements at its 12 racetracks across the country. ISC increased network capacity, performance and availability at its headquarters as well as its flagship facility, the Daytona International Speedway. ISC worked with CDW to conduct a network assessment and then designed and implemented a solution that combined Cisco blade server and network technology, NetApp storage and VMware virtualization software. The converged infrastructure was built to enhance business operations and provide disaster recovery, as well as lower total cost and provide a stable platform for growth.

At the end of 2013, ISC completed upgrades to its 12 tracks with Cisco unified communications to ensure seamless telephone communications and messaging throughout the facilities.

The Trump National Doral Miami is undergoing a $250 million renovation to transform its campus, which includes five world-class golf courses.

After the conclusion of the 2013 PGA Cadillac Championship, the resort’s IT team worked on a technology overhaul and choose best-of-breed technologies to support the refresh, starting with a redundant data center that includes a Cisco Nexus N7K-C7009 Core switch; six APC racks, power and cooling; HP servers and storage area network; and a VMware vSphere virtualized server environment.

The team implemented a high-density Ruckus wireless network throughout the 800-acre property, enabling seamless connectivity for staff and guests. Staff can now respond to guest requests via Apple iPods. A Nomadix wireless billing system creates a convenient payment gateway for guests.