Melbourne’s Etihad Stadium has undergone a major tech upgrade in preparation for round one of the AFL season, with Telstra and Etihad partnering to make Etihad “one of the most technically advanced stadiums in the world”.Under the deployment, Etihad and Telstra have partnered to provide a network of in-stadium wireless access points and IPTV screens, with the installation having commenced at the end of the 2014 AFL season.
The deployment encompasses 1,448 IPTV HD TV monitors, which will display match day information to fans on all three levels of the stadium, while 704 recently installed high-density Wi-Fi access points will provide free internet connections.
Etihad tenant clubs – Essendon, the Western Bulldogs, St Kilda, North Melbourne and Carlton – will be able to take advantage of the new tech, with Etihad and Telstra stating the upgrade will take “fan engagement and match day technological theming to an unprecedented level”.
“Etihad is now at the forefront of spectator experience, giving fans reliable network connectivity, with personalised, high-definition content,” commented Telstra retail group executive Gordon Ballantyne.
“With enhanced connectivity and streaming content, fans at Etihad Stadium can access social media, game day coverage, event information and statistics, taking match day experiences to the next level.”
The Melbourne Cricket Ground is also undergoing a tech overhaul throughout 2015, also encompassing the rollout of a high-density Wi-Fi network and an IPTV system.
