The Chicago Cubs are the defending World Series champions, and tickets at historic Wrigley Field are as hard to come by as ever. Fittingly, fans taking in a game at the more than 100-year-old ballpark don’t have access to Wi-Fi. However, the Friendly Confines are in the process of getting a technology-filled facelift with the help of Cubs Vice President of Technology Andrew McIntyre, and Wi-Fi is on the docket for 2018.
McIntyre joined the Cubs in 2012. The vice president of technology is in the midst of adding modern amenities to Wrigley Field as part of the organization’s 1060 Project. The four-year, $750 million undertaking began in 2014. After a series of upgrades, the Cubs are gearing up to bring Wi-Fi to fans at Wrigley.
“Adding those types of technologies that have become a little more commonplace these days, is also that much more challenging when you’re in a 100-year-old facility,” McIntyre said in a recent interview with SiliconANGLE at Informatica World 2017. “Nowadays that is almost unheard of that you have one of the major league ballparks without it.”
Extreme Networks together with partner PCM were tapped to help the Cubs implement this large new network undertaking by 2018. The companies will help the club add “pervasive and secure high-density Wi-Fi.” More than 1,000 access points will be added to Wrigley Field and the surrounding area, Wrigleyville, by the time the project is complete.
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McIntyre told SiliconANGLE the Cubs looked to the San Francisco Bay Area’s Levi Stadium and AT&T Park for some technology inspiration. Currently, Wrigley does not have any fan-facing Wi-Fi, but it does have a back of the house system for things such as ticket sales. “But Wi-Fi is going to be a huge push for us because then we see that as that foundational layer, then we can really bring some new exciting engagements and enhancements to that fan experience,” McIntyre said.
“Things like mobile applications, like our ballpark app, other things we can do with proximity marketing. And then really driving what that experience is going to look like.
According to McIntyre, Wrigley Field’s cellular coverage is adequate, but the Cubs are looking to overhaul that infrastructure as well.
First, the Cubs deployed Extreme connectivity in Wrigley’s renovated clubhouse so that staff, players, coaches and media could have coverage underground.
“It was both challenging and exciting to create a customized implementation strategy that would support the one-of-a-kind underground clubhouse, ensuring that coaches, players and staff would have their wireless needs met without interruption,” John Brams, Director of Sports & Entertainment at Extreme Networks, said in a statement. “We look forward to continuing this partnership and extending our efforts into Wrigley’s in-stadium seats to provide even better Wi-Fi support for fans.”