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Barclays Center Utilizes Cisco To Transform Fan Experience

Sep 19, 2012

BROOKLYN – Barclays Center, Brooklyn’s new sports and entertainment venue, will feature Cisco’s Connected Sports and Entertainment solutions – Connected Stadium Wi-Fi and StadiumVision. Together, these solutions will allow Barclays Center to deliver a next-generation fan experience, and make this venue one of the most technologically advanced arenas in the world.

Connected Stadium Wi-Fi will enable Barclays Center to deliver a mobile experience that today’s fans increasingly demand. Barclays Center will provide a mobile app that will bring fans closer to the action than they have ever been – regardless of where their seats are located. Via their smartphones or other mobile devices, fans will be able to quickly access Barclays Center’s custom app that will provide a variety of content – from artist and event information, to transportation information, to a guide to Brooklyn. Future versions will include real-time video viewing, the ability to order concessions from your seat and pick them up without standing in line, and more. With Cisco’s Connected Stadium Wi-Fi platform every fan will be able to easily access his or her favorite social networks to view, capture, and share content from Barclays Center’s unparalleled sports and entertainment experience.

In addition, Cisco StadiumVision®, an innovative digital video and content distribution platform that centrally controls and delivers targeted high-definition video and highly relevant digital content to fans, will power 700 HDTV’s and approximately 100 concession menu boards throughout the venue. This technology will provide fans with an all-encompassing multimedia experience ranging from action on the court, to concession specials (all boards update simultaneously and are integrated with point of sale), to out-of-town games and scores, to traffic updates, and much more.

Enabling all these solutions will be a Cisco Connected Stadium intelligent network, a single innovation platform that allows Barclays Center to control wired and wireless access, security, surveillance, ticketing, and point of sale transactions. It is designed to support large volumes of high-definition video and Wi-Fi traffic, and has proven successful at venues hosting major international sporting events. The installation of the Network and Cisco solutions at Barclays Center was completed by High Point Solutions, a partner of the arena and the Brooklyn Nets, and a Cisco Gold Certified Partner. 

Supporting quotes

  • David Holland, general manager and senior vice president, Cisco Sports and Entertainment Solutions Group
    “Barclays Center and the Brooklyn Nets are embracing the arrival of the new fan experience, and through the Cisco Connected Sports and Entertainment Solutions portfolio they will be able to deliver a more interactive, social, and connected experience for their fans. Brett Yormark and Chip Foley, at the Nets and Barclays Center, had the foresight and vision to understand that HD video and high-density Wi-Fi would allow them to create a dynamic and memorable experience for fans at concerts, Nets games or other special events.”
  • Chip Foley, director of building technology, Forest City Ratner Companies (Developer of Barclays Center)
    “When we began building Barclays Center, we knew that we had to work with Cisco if we wanted to make the venue a premiere location for sports and entertainment. Cisco is delivering technology that is new to consumers, providing an unforgettable fan experience.”

Fan Amenities

  • Barclays Center App
    Barclays Center’s official mobile app (available in iTunes and Google Play) will provide key arena information including artist and event information, transportation information, and a guide to Brooklyn. Future updates will include real-time video viewing and the ability to order concessions from your seat and pick them up without standing in line.
  • Connected Stadium Wi-F
    Free, fast and reliable high-density Wi-Fi that will allow fans to use the Barclays Center app, access the Internet, and share their game-day experiences via social media with the thousands of fans at Barclays Center, and with millions more around the globe.

    Ensures consistent and reliable connectivity to thousands of fans by efficiently off-loading all data traffic and freeing up the entire cellular network bandwidth for phone calls and text messages.
  • StadiumVision
    700 HDTV’s and approximately 100 concession menu boards throughout the venue will provide content ranging from action on the court, to concession specials (all boards update simultaneously and are integrated with point of sale), to out-of-town games and scores, to traffic updates, and much more.

    Barclays Center suites will include Apple iPads connected to the Wi-Fi network that will control the HDTV’s featuring 60 channels of HD content (Time Warner Cable) and NBA League Pass (DirectTV).