Atlanta Falcons Smarter Stadium

Atlanta FalconsSmarter Stadium

IBM Delivers First-of-a-Kind NFL Fan Experience with New Mobile Wireless Support for Atlanta Falcons

January 2015

IBM Global Technology Services

Atlanta Falcons | Smarter Stadium |

Sports fans are demanding a better fan experience while at the game.

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Sports fans are demanding a better fan experience

o The at-home experience for fans has gotten better and cheaper over time and the stadium experience needs to improve to keep fans engaged and coming to games

Sports fan demographics are shifting

o The younger demographic expects a constant Internet connection to be able to post photos and videos of their experience while at the big game

Sports teams are seeking ways to boost revenues

o Always on connectivity allows additional capabilities for boosting in game (e.g. in seat ordering, mobile commerce)



The IBM Smarter Stadium solution provides the technology required to deliver a better fan experience for the Atlanta Falcons.

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IBM is the lead technology integrator for the Atlanta Falcons New Stadium Project

The IBM Smarter Stadium solution for the Atlanta Falcons new stadium project includes:

o Passive Optical Networking (PON) and HD WiFi for LAN connectivity

o Neutral Host Distributed Antenna System (DAS) for in building cellular connectivity

o Telecommunications systems including IP Telephony, structured cabling, and conduit

o Video distribution systems (IPTV) for video displays, ribbon boards, and HALO scoreboard

o IBM Flash Storage, Blade servers, and Core networking components

o Audio Visual systems including video displays and audio speakers throughout the stadium

o Access Control systems including physical security, video surveillance, and Intelligent Video Analytics

o IBM Intelligent Operations Center software for event operations management

o IBM Interactive Mobile app development to improve the fan experience



The IBM solution leverages a shared fiber cabling plant for all services providing significant cost savings over legacy copper based designs.

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The IBM Smarter Stadium Network

o uses a single fiber-based network for all services (PON, Cellular/DAS, HD Wi-Fi)

o which requires far less cabling saving install time, materials cost, and space

o and uses far fewer wiring closets than a legacy copper/coax based design (28 vs. 70)

o and requires far less power and cooling than a legacy switched network design

o which helps with LEED certification

o Smarter!

PON OLT’sDAS Head End

Core Router/Switch

Fiber PatchPON splitters

Power Injectors

Fiber TerminationDAS Remote Unit

PON ONT’s



High Density (HD) Wi-Fi will be deployed throughout the Falcons stadium for high capacity Internet connectivity.

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The IBM Smarter Stadium Network for the Falcons will provide pervasive Wi-Fi coverage throughout all parts of the stadium (bowl, concessions, retail, restrooms, office space)

802.11AC technology will provide high capacity and throughput

Wireless access points will be mounted under seats in the bowl for HD Wi-Fi coverage

Under Seat Access Point Enclosure

HD Wi-Fi Coverage Model



A neutral host Distributed Antenna System (DAS) will provide in building cellular connectivity over the shared fiber infrastructure.

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The IBM solution for the Falcons includes a neutral host DAS to provide 5 bar cellular coverage for the fans

The DAS leverages the same fiber plant as the PON saving the Falcons duplicate cabling costs and space

Our fiber based DAS also eliminates the need for frequent rip and replace cabling upgrades which are common with legacy DAS systems

As cellular frequencies change, simply swap out a card in the Remote Zone Location and easily upgrade to a new frequency without replacing your cabling infrastructure

IBM is also designing and building out the DAS head end room inside the Falcons stadium for all the carrier base station equipment

DAS Head End Remote Zone Location

Remote Zone Location



Various other infrastructure components will provide a high performance data center core for the stadium.

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IBM Flash storage and controllers will provide high speed storage capacity for the video distribution system as well as the security systems and video analytics solution

A traditional switched and routed network infrastructure will provide core switching and routing functionality for servers and storage and will work in conjunction with the PON

Firewalls and DNS/DHCP appliances will provide necessary services for the network

Blade servers will provide the compute power in the core

IBM Flash Storage



The Video distribution, IP Telephony, and Point of Sale systems will leverage the PON and shared fiber infrastructure.

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Video distribution components in the stadium will leverage the shared fiber infrastructure and PON including over 3000 video displays, menu boards, and the new Halo scoreboard system

IP Telephony systems will be deployed over the shared fiber infrastructure and PON

Point of Sale systems will be deployed over the shared fiber infrastructure and PON

Falcons Halo ScoreboardThe NFL’s largest scoreboard will be running over a IBM Smarter Stadium Network!



IBM is providing an integrated suite of physical security capabilities for DVS, Access Control, Intelligent Video Analytics, and Intelligent Operations.

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Surveillance cameras, managed doors, and video intercom systems will leverage the PON and shared fiber infrastructure

IBM Intelligent Video Analytics (IVA) identifies events, attributes or patterns of behavior through video analysis of monitored environments

Active vehicle barriers, bollards, and Under Vehicle Inspection Systems provide physical security for the new stadium

The integration of Intelligent Operations Center (IOC) & Intelligent Video Analytics (IVA) is key to gaining actionable insights from the volumes of data and video which are captured by the systems

Advanced crowd control management with geospatial intelligence and audiovisual notifications, supports security personnel to immediately shift the flow of fans to minimize crowding

IOC and IVA Integration

Active Vehicle Barriers



IBM is providing all the Audio Visual systems in the new stadium which will leverage the shared fiber infrastructure.

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IBM is providing a complete AV solution for the new stadium

Locations include bowl audio, plazas, clubs, concourse, suites and more

IBM is providing

o speakers, subwoofers, synergy horns, and amplifiers

o paging systems, microphones, mixing consoles, and touch panel control displays

The amplifiers, touch screen displays, and signal processors will leverage the shared fiber and PON infrastructure

Signal Processor

Speaker

Touch Screen Display



IBM is also developing a mobile application for the Falcons designed to enhance the fan experience.

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IBM, through its work with major league sports teams and entertainment brands worldwide, has proven that there are four primary drivers to the fan experience enabled by technology

Our mobile application will allow the Falcons to interact with fans in multiple ways:

o Engage the fan before, during, and after the event

o Ability to provide replays, stats, video, game-tracker visualizations, head-to-head matchups, and sharing in context

o Receive other game scores

o Integrate gamification, trivia, and cognitive computing capabilities

o Find seats, restrooms, shortest lines

o Personalize offers and information based on user context

o Deliver traffic, parking, weather, and retail information in real-time

Components to optimize the fan experience



Contact IBM today to find out how we can help you develop a Smarter Stadium solution.

Darold Conklin

Sales Manager – Smarter Stadium Networks

[email protected]

716-870-4324

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mailto:[email protected]

Documents

Atlanta Falcons Smarter Stadium