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Why DAS Solutions Are the Key to Reliable Cell Service in Stadiums and Arenas

Why DAS Solutions Are the Key to Reliable Cell Service in Stadiums and Arenas

February 7, 2025

College stadiums and arenas are more than just venues for sporting events. They are also frequently used for concerts, festivals and other types of entertainment. Regardless of the event, however, consistently reliable cellular connectivity is a must.High user density and large physical spaces can cause significant strain on cellular networks during events, and building materials like concrete and steel that were used to construct the venue have a tendency to obstruct signal transmission.That‘s why venue owners are installing Distributed Antenna Systems (DAS) to ensure consistent and robust mobile reception. Cellular connectivity in stadiums is critical to:
  • Enhancing the spectator experience – With robust wireless connectivity, attendees can stay connected to fellow fans and feel more connected to the event via social media—texting, sharing photos and videos, streaming replays, and participating in interactive fan experiences through mobile apps and online communities.
  • Facilitating stadium operations – DAS solutions ensure that stadium employees can stay connected to coordinate maintenance, cleaning, mobile ticketing, and food and beverage transactions.
  • Ensuring security and safety – Maintaining a secure and reliable cellular connection at all times is critical so that emergency personnel and first responders can respond and act quickly in the event of an emergency.

Active DAS for Stadiums and Arenas

Active DAS, which is particularly well suited to large expanses like stadiums and arenas, offers the most robust and infrastructure-intensive cellular connectivity solution.It’s designed to accommodate large areas where thousands of users access the network in a confined space. An active DAS creates cellular signal to provide coverage and then distributes the signal between a centralized signal source and remote nodes placed throughout the stadium structure.Active DAS solutions can scale to support tens of thousands of devices simultaneously without degradation in service and provide full venue coverage, including areas where signal is typically weeks, including concession areas, restrooms, and underground spaces. And it is designed to integrate seamlessly with future technology.

Boosting Cellular Reception for the Pepsi Center in Denver

A multipurpose sports and events venue, the Pepsi Center is home to the NBA’s Denver Nuggets and the NHL’s Colorado Avalanche, hosting 100 sporting and entertainment events per year.The 45-square acre facility, which seats 19,000 for sporting events and 21,000 for concerts, also houses three restaurants, TV recording studios, retail outlets and conference areas.Verizon Wireless recognized the importance of wireless service to fans at the arena and sought to improve commercial cellular coverage inside the facility. Verizon selected WilsonPro’s in-building wireless solution because of its flexibility and ability to support all the required frequencies on a single hardware layer.WilsonPro’s Zinwave Active DAS is the only true wideband, active in-building wireless solution available that supports all frequencies between 150MHz and 2700MHz regardless of protocol or modulation scheme, helping customers achieve true future-readiness.The DAS installation included 16 primary hubs, 18 secondary hubs, and 140 remote units (used to optimize signal output) placed throughout the arena and seamlessly integrated with existing fiber cabling infrastructure.The advantages of the flexible WilsonPro system were apparent within just a few months of project completion. Verizon’s original specifications included 700MHz LTE, 850MHz CDMA and 1900MHz EVDO. While Verizon decided not to install the 850MHz CDMA service during the initial build, it elected to add 1900MHz and 2100 MHz LTE soon thereafter.Both of these changes were made without costly infrastructure upgrades.

DAS Solutions For a Range of Sports and Entertainment Venues Worldwide

WilsonPro Zinwave technology is performing in stadiums, arenas and conference centers throughout the world, including the Harpa Concert Hall Conference Center in Reykjavik, Iceland, the Convention Center Dublinin Dublin, Ireland.To learn more about our DAS solutions for large venues and what they can deliver for your organization, contact our team.

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