Deployed in partnership with Verizon Business. Extreme Networks became the club’s official Wi-Fi network solutions and Wi-Fi analytics provider in 2022.
Manchester United’s first home match of the 2023/24 EPL season kicked off on August 14, and the club will leverage the ExtremeCloud IQ platform to gain visibility into network performance and management across the venue.
Earlier this year, Extreme Networks completed the rollout of a new Wi-Fi 6 network at Old Trafford, the home of Premier League team Manchester United.
ExtremeAnalytics provides Old Trafford’s operations team with real-time insights into fan activity and network performance, which they can use to continuously improve digital fan experiences throughout the stadium.
Steeped in history
Norman Rice, chief operating officer, Extreme Networks, noted, “The network is at the heart of every organisation, whether you’re a hospital serving patients both in clinics and at home, a manufacturer leaning into warehouse automation or a sports franchise playing in a 113-year-old stadium,” adding, “The new network at Old Trafford will enable its operations team to improve experiences for everyone who visits the stadium while streamlining match day operations.”
Manchester United will also utilise the ExtremeAnalytics solutions to better understand fan behaviour and drive more personalised and informed decisions around both the fan experience and overall venue operations.
The new Wi-Fi 6 network supports modern experiences for fans, including updated digital signage throughout the historical stadium and mobile ticket scanning at the stadium entrances.
Manchester United’s IT team is leveraging ExtremeCloud IQ to monitor and optimise network performance, giving it a view into the entire stadium network through a single dashboard. This includes application usage insights, which can help identify areas and moments of increased usage to ensure better provision of services.
Extreme connection
The cloud-managed network also enables the IT team to easily scale operations based on event needs and automatically adjust traffic streams based on network traffic, helping ensure seamless experiences for fans and staff connected to the network.
‘We’re delighted to be supported by Extreme Networks to deliver world-class connectivity to our fans within the Theatre of Dreams,” said Attiq Qureshi, chief digital information officer at Manchester United.
“The next generation of connectivity at Old Trafford will provide the club with a great platform for future digital innovation as well as help the club better understand the wants and needs of our huge fanbase,” added Qureshi.
