by Bradley Parsons
Staff Writer
The Jacksonville Jaguars are calling their first step toward a wireless stadium a success, but fans are still at least a year away from statistics and replays at their fingertips, according to the team’s director of information technology.
Bruce Swindell said plans to install wireless “hot zones” inside Alltel Stadium had been delayed until at least following the 2004 season. Once in place, the network will provide wireless access to rosters, player and coach biographies and real–time statistics. Swindell said some of the network’s logistical requirements had been larger than anticipated.
“This is the same kind of technology you see in Starbucks, where people sign up and get on line through laptops and PDAs,” said Swindell. “But it’s a much bigger project. You need to get the hardware, you need to get someone to administer it.
“Because of a combination of factors, we’re putting phase two of the project on hold.”
Swindell said fans would likely see the network in place in 2005 or 2006. The technology is the next step toward providing an interactive experience inside Alltel. Using their own PDAs, fans within range of the hotspot’s could watch personally–tailored replays of game action or follow other games through real-time updates. Swindell said fans in the club levels could use the network to order concessions. Swindell said the network would likely allow about 5,000 fans to log on, although it could be expanded if demand dictated.
“If there’s demand for it, we’d look at expanding,” said Swindell. “As it is, I’m not sure we’d even have 5,000 fans bringing their PDAs to the game. We’d probably be overbuilding a little to start out.”
The network’s first phase was installed at the beginning of last season. Swindell said the network had performed to expectations, improving service to its season ticket holders and easing vendor accounting. The first phase installed wireless technology in Alltel’s portable concession stands. The upgrade linked the stands to a vendor network, making it easier to report inventory and sales information.
For the first time, season ticket holders were able to use discount cards at the portable stands, giving them more flexibility in where they bought food, drinks and souvenirs.
“We really put the network in for our customers. It provided really two main benefits. It improved the efficiency of vendor concessions, allowing them to better serve our fans.”
The network kept a running tally of concession receipts, providing a more accurate and timely account of money and inventory. Prior to last season, Swindell said the vendors counted their cash drawers by hand.
A Pennsylvania technology firm, WPCS, installed the system. Swindell declined to comment on the price. Firm vice president E.J. von Schaumburg said the network put the Jaguars at the leading edge of sports wireless technology.
“The Jaguars have taken a leadership role in the deployment of a sophisticated wireless network,” he said.