The Dallas Cowboys’ new stadium in Texas is the United States’ largest and most spectacular domed venue. Befitting a site of this stature, it operates what is claimed to be the most sophisticated, high-performance and world-class communications infrastructure of any sporting facility in the world, courtesy of CommScope.
CommScope was chosen to provide network infrastructure and cellular coverage and capacity solutions for the stadium. Through its Enterprise Solutions and Andrew Solutions businesses, CommScope has installed advanced connectivity solutions that support the stadium’s core operations and communications requirements for fans, staff and public safety officials.
“The Dallas Cowboys’ new stadium has become one of the most visible buildings in the world and, as a part of that, we needed the most advanced communications network we could find - not just for today but also looking into the future,” said Jerry Jones, owner and general manager, Dallas Cowboys Football Club.
“CommScope helped us craft one of the finest high-performance networks on the planet. We have a vision for a place that reflects the emotion and competition encapsulated by the stadium, and CommScope has helped bring that to life.”
The state-of-the-art venue uses CommScope’s Systimax high-performance network solutions to create one of the world’s largest internet protocol television (IPTV) installations and operate the stadium’s data centre and other technical operations. In addition, the stadium features an extensive in-building wireless communications network from Andrew which provides complete cellular coverage in the stadium and its surrounding property for all spectators and team officials, coaching staff, employees and public safety agencies.
“We are extremely proud that this first-class stadium will be a showcase for CommScope and its advanced network connectivity solutions,” said Brian Garrett, President and CEO, CommScope. “This is the one of the most prominent examples to date of CommScope’s capabilities to support customers with multiple application requirements, in this case wireless and enterprise connectivity infrastructure.”
In addition, the converged CommScope network provides streaming video to the one-of-a-kind, four-sided scoreboard featuring the world’s largest LED high-definition video displays and the stadium’s 2800 TV monitors.
The Systimax products harness the new stadium’s technology and links building systems over a converged network infrastructure in order to supply more efficiency, higher productivity and increased comfort. Network convergence brings a host of opportunities. The same IP network that provides video content to the high-definition LED video displays controls air conditioning, the phone and data systems, roof movement, lighting and many other applications that help complete the ultimate fan experience.
The stadium also uses the Systimax iPatch Intelligent Infrastructure Solution to strengthen stadium and network security. The stadium IT staff rely on iPatch to eliminate the blind spots in the network, detect unauthorised network access in real time and the location of the breach, monitor all network moves/adds/changes, eliminate documentation errors and quickly solve network troubleshooting. With the Cowboys utilising VoIP phones in the new stadium, iPatch also handles E911 calls, aiding emergency responders in finding a person in need when emergency numbers are dialled.
