A much anticipated project aimed at enhancing the Tennessee football gameday experience has begun, as Tennessee Athletics has initiated the installation of a very high density (VHD) Wi-Fi network at historic Neyland Stadium.
In response to feedback and input from Vol Nation, Tennessee Vice Chancellor/Director of Athletics Danny White has prioritized connectivity in and around Neyland Stadium as the next step in modernizing the fan experience at the 102-year-old venue.
“We know Vol Nation has been looking forward to this,” White said. “And we appreciate everyone’s patience. This is a very big, complex project. The bones of Neyland Stadium date back to 1921, and as it grew over several decades, no one could have planned for how we’d deliver a strong Wi-Fi signal through tons of concrete and steel. But we have a great partner that knows how to get this done at a venue like this. It’s exciting to get the ball rolling, because this will elevate the experience of every single fan who visits Neyland Stadium.”
Tennessee, through the Christman Company, has partnered with M S Benbow & Associates (MSB) to plan/design, engineer and integrate a robust Wi-Fi network that will ultimately service the entire stadium and surrounding plazas. MSB has a strong history of providing digital and telecommunications solutions for airports, arenas, convention centers and campuses and has previously completed similar network projects at the Chase Center in San Francisco, Paycor Stadium in Cincinnati and Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, Nebraska. In addition to working with MSB, Aruba has been selected as the original equipment manufacturer (OEM) for this project.
Work at and around Neyland Stadium will progress through the duration of the 2023 football season, with limited Wi-Fi capabilities for fans during the fall. Work will extend into the summer of 2024. Connectivity improvements will be phased, as different areas in and around the stadium will realize coverage at different times throughout installation.
The project’s initial focus is connectivity at the gates and plazas surrounding the stadium to maximize efficiencies at digital ticketing entry points.
Work will then transition to the interior seating areas, with installation throughout the lower seating bowl, then the premium areas and upper deck. At the completion of the project, nearly all areas—including vomitories, concourses, concessions and plaza spaces—throughout Neyland Stadium will have reliable access to Wi-Fi.
Highlighting the scope of the project, requisite technology and hardware to service the stadium’s interior bowl includes the placement of 1,800 connectivity points. Each of those points, which will service approximately a 55-seat area, requires the installation of cabling.
As Tennessee works to capitalize and build on its success, the ongoing My All Campaign continues to fuel the pursuit of enhanced championship resources to support student-athletes’ academic and competitive pursuits. Regardless of one’s capacity for giving, anyone with a passion for Tennessee Athletics is invited to participate in the campaign’s push to propel Tennessee Athletics forward—every gift provides a winning edge, regardless of the amount.
-UT Athletics
