Verizon has announced a deal with MetLife Stadium, home of the New York Jets and New York Giants, to provide major network upgrades for 2024. Additionally, Verizon is extending their long-term cornerstone partnership with the Giants, Jets, and MetLife Stadium.
The investment and network improvements at MetLife Stadium will be anchored by Verizon’s new Distributed Antenna System (DAS), a wireless network of antennas throughout the stadium which allow for better performance and greater capacity to accommodate fans’ needs.
“As technology evolves, customers want to do more with their wireless technology at games, concerts and other events,” said Lynn Cox, SVP of Access Engineering and Operations for Verizon. “We are very intentional about upgrading technology and infrastructure in places like MetLife Stadium to accommodate our customers’ needs,” added Cox.
The new DAS system will provide 4G LTE service and 5G Ultra Wideband service using Verizon’s C-band spectrum, designed for high capacity and wide coverage. It will cover the field, bowl, concourse (including the four gate entrances), all clubs/suites, and the ticketing areas.
This is in addition to the 5G service it already offers in the stadium through its millimetre wave spectrum.
As part of the new design, engineers are also adding a performance enhancement technology that divides crowds into sectors. Each sector can be adjusted individually to handle wireless traffic.
This technology gives Verizon engineers more leeway to adjust performance based on where customers move and how they use data inside the stadium.
MetLife Stadium is having its busiest summer ever with over 1.2 million guests and a record 18 concerts, and that exponential increase in data carried into and out of the stadium will require upgraded fiber optic cable links.
Fiber optic cables are used to connect the stadium to the rest of the network. Verizon is also increasing the capacity on the fiber connections in and out of MetLife so they can carry 10 times the amount of data.
“Creating a memorable, positive experience for everyone who comes to MetLife Stadium is a critical part of our mission,” said Ron VanDeVeen, President and CEO of MetLife Stadium, adding, “The Verizon upgrades will enhance the overall fan experience and our stadium operations, and are integral to attracting future major events.”
