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White Paper
Cisco Connected Stadium Wi-Fi for Sports and
Entertainment Venues
Introduction
The first Wi-Fi networks installed in sports and entertainment venues were designed to support core back-office
services such as ticket scanners and mobile point-of-sale handheld devices. In many cases, separate Wi-Fi
networks were deployed to support different applications, each with their own security and connectivity
requirements. There was no need for public Wi-Fi access because few, if any, fans carried mobile devices with Wi-
Fi capabilities. But the emergence of smartphones with their integrated Wi-Fi radios is rapidly changing how Wi-Fi
is used in crowded areas such as sports and entertainment venues.
services such as ticket scanners and mobile point-of-sale handheld devices. In many cases, separate Wi-Fi
networks were deployed to support different applications, each with their own security and connectivity
requirements. There was no need for public Wi-Fi access because few, if any, fans carried mobile devices with Wi-
Fi capabilities. But the emergence of smartphones with their integrated Wi-Fi radios is rapidly changing how Wi-Fi
is used in crowded areas such as sports and entertainment venues.
According to the latest Neilson reports, almost one in three mobile phones in the United States is a smartphone,
and the percentage is growing. Smartphone subscribers have come to expect ubiquitous data service coverage in
public and private areas, and they now anticipate coverage while at sports and entertainment venues. The vast
majority of these smartphones support Wi-Fi, making Wi-Fi the preferred third-generation (3G) and fourth-
generation (4G) offload option. Additionally, fans may bring their Wi-Fi-enabled iPods, iPads, or other handheld
devices that are not counted in these smartphone penetration numbers (Figure 1).
and the percentage is growing. Smartphone subscribers have come to expect ubiquitous data service coverage in
public and private areas, and they now anticipate coverage while at sports and entertainment venues. The vast
majority of these smartphones support Wi-Fi, making Wi-Fi the preferred third-generation (3G) and fourth-
generation (4G) offload option. Additionally, fans may bring their Wi-Fi-enabled iPods, iPads, or other handheld
devices that are not counted in these smartphone penetration numbers (Figure 1).
Figure 1. Stadium Wi-Fi Applications