Few things are more traditional than the Opening Day first pitch at a Major League Baseball game and standing to sing the song of America’s pastime during the 7th Inning Stretch. While the game has remained largely the same over the past 120 years, the fan experience has transformed to incorporate the technological innovations we’ve seen over the past century, making the trip out to the ballpark a marvel to behold. Here’s how Extreme Networks has contributed to this digital transformation in ballparks across the country.
As the Official Wi-Fi Solutions Provider of MLB, Extreme Networks’ cloud-managed wireless access points and ExtremeAnalytics are deployed across all 60 dugouts and bullpens. By the end of 2026, more than half of MLB parks will feature Extreme Wi-Fi helping to improve in-stadium fan experiences and enable teams to leverage the valuable insights the network holds.
ExtremeAnalytics provides insights into fan activity, network stability, application usage, and much more. “Every day is game day” in the Big Leagues and having a reliable network for fans to seamlessly connect to on game day is critical.
Ballpark operators rely on point of sale (POS) technology to accept digital payments on a secure network. Fans can also easily submit orders for their favorite baseball food from their seats to concessions and purchase memorabilia from the pro shop. In a hands-free world, the network must touch every transaction in the ballpark.
Capturing memorable moments to share on social is all part of the game-day experience. As the moments intensify, so does social media usage and traffic on the network. While fans are busy posting on Snapchat, Twitter, TikTok, etc., ExtremeAnalytics is providing data to organizations to ensure that social applications are prioritized on the network so that fans continue to come back to the ballpark.
The home team and visiting team have iPads in the dugouts and bullpens that are connected to the secure ExtremeWireless access points. Each team can access near in-game video and performance metrics that can be used to make in-game adjustments. Access to such information is as valuable of a tool to the players as the bats they’re swinging.
Every pitch that is thrown can change the outcome of the game. Whether it results in a walk-off home run or strike three to end an inning, fans will soon be able to place bets on the outcome all while in the ballpark. Enabling an effective sports betting strategy is top-of-mind for sports technology leaders.
The implementation of Extreme’s Wi-Fi and analytics solutions at MLB ballparks have impacted how players perform, how organizations make personnel decisions, and how ballpark operators create great fan experiences. Avoiding a strikeout in these key areas is critical to an organization’s success.
Baseball is one of America’s favorite pastimes, and in recent years, it has been transformed with technology advancements. Every part of the game relies on data and analytics to make smart decisions on the field and around the ballpark. Iconic venues such as Fenway Park have upgraded their Wi-Fi network to meet fan expectations while holding onto the rich history that has transpired for over 100 years. The old ball game remains while the ballpark advances with technology.
Play Ball!
Learn more about Extreme’s work with Major League Baseball here.
