Wireless Signage in Stadiums

Wireless Signage in Stadiums

Posted by Sam Churchill on November 12th, 2010

Digital Signage, showing information, advertising and other messages, seems to be growing like crazy. A variety of vendors are now interacting with mobile phones via SMS messaging and Bluetooth. According to Digital Signage Weekly, the trend seems likely to grow with the smartphone market.

The NBA’s new Orlando Magic stadium is one example. The $380 million arena, now called the Amway Center, opened its doors on Oct. 1st.

The 42-foot by 41-foot, center-hung scoreboard in the new Amway Center is the largest in the NBA. Daktronics provided the multimillion dollar integrated scoring, video and advertising display, 46 feet high by 54 feet wide. A curved 8-foot high by 80-foot wide LED display on the building’s corner tower, displays the latest attractions.

Harris provided the bulk of the broadcast and IPTV technology. Video displays entice customers for all advertisers, thanks to Harris’ InfoCaster Digital Signage Solution. CenterVision’s monitors all contain some form of advertising element.

Cisco provided switching gear, wireless access points and security measures.Combining IPTV and digital signage over the same Cisco network allows the Magic to address more than 1,100 individual screens throughout the arena with tailored content.

In the 68 loge boxes, 12.1-inch AccuView touch screens (720p) powered by Enseo set top boxesenable fans to order food as well as select TV programming, stats and map directories.

Crown Castle installed about 150 cell-boosting antennas and allows individual wireless carriers to piggyback on the Crown Castle system. Stadium cell phone coverage is a focus for many carriers, especially as they begin to roll out Wimax and LTE networks.

Neutrally hosted DAS systems are analogous to tower sites that support multiple antennas for different carriers. ADC’s FlexWave Prism distributed antenna systemsprovides wireless services for major mobile operators in stadiums. FlexWave Prism, unlike a Cell on Wheels, breaks the stadium into dozens of microcells, providing more throughput for users.

By some estimates, approximately 25% of the attendees at last January’s Super Bowl game were using iPhone or Droid devices. AT&T, for example, says it installed a Distributed Antenna System with 150 antennas inside the Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium as well as others.

Harris’ InfoCaster, using its own Punctuate software, manages the scheduling and placement of promotional content on the network.

Punctuate automatically distributes any custom mix of ads to an individual monitor or group of monitors. For example, displays near beer concessions will have a higher percentage of Budweiser ads in regard to the duration/frequency of video loops or on-screen presence (size and location) and can be easily adjusted for other variables (such as pricing).

Amway Center’s video control room is based on Harris’ Platinum router and Nexio servers. Harris’ Inscriber G7 graphics system and NetVX encoders optimize the look and timing.

MICROS Systems used its 9700 HMS point-of-sale solution (right) to read “loaded tickets”—sales that package entrance fees with extras like food coupons. Approximately 75 miles away, employees at Harris headquarters monitor the network 24/7 via a Network Operations Center.

source : dailywireless.org