Should we be ready to deem next year’s NFL Championship Game the first ever “Mobile Super Bowl”? On January 15th Extreme Networks announced their partnership with NFL live from NFL Headquarters in New York City. It is no secret that stadium attendance in major NFL markets have been down in recent years. A major reason for this is that stadiums are not meeting the demands and expectations of next generation fans. With the ability to interact through mobile applications and social media live from the comfort of their own home many people are opting out of live stadium experience.

While it might be difficult for die hards such as myself to neglect the thrill of an in stadium experience, I can understand why many fans are spending more Sundays at home couch-gating. For example, last season while tailgating in the Metlife Stadium parking lot for a Jets game I noticed that I had forgot to set my fantasy team line up. I raced to start up my ESPN Fantasy Football application to only notice that my connection was much like the Jets offense, WEAK! What if there was a way for the mobile fan to get the best of both worlds? A way where we can enjoy the excitement of NFL action live at the stadium while still being able to stay interactive within our mobile communities. Enter Extreme Networks and their vision for a “connected experience.”

To better understand how to maximize the fan experience, this February, Extreme Networks will be using their Data Analytics Technology to monitor the mobile activity of everyone attending Super Bowl 48 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. With Extreme’s most recent implementations at Lincoln Financial Field and Gillette Stadium, it seems that the NFL is serious about meeting the demands of their invaluable fan base. While it may take time for all 31 stadiums to catch up to speed, this is a big win for the NFL and its fans alike.

“Enhancing the fan experience is one of the NFL’s top priorities and the decision to team-up with Extreme for Wi-Fi analytics is a great step forward in achieving our goals. We were impressed with Extreme’s implementations with the Patriots and the Eagles and we believe this agreement will help our clubs deliver on the high standards we have put in place to give our fans the type of experience they deserve.”

– Michelle McKenna-Doyle, CIO, NFL

WATCH the Extreme Networks & NFL Fan Experience Panel Round Table



READ the Extreme Networks Named Official Wi-Fi Analytics Provider of National Football League Press Release

Do you need help making sure your venue can support the Wi-Fi demand of everyone attending? If it’s not holding as many people as the Super Bowl, TTI can find the best solution for what you need.