Latest News

Back to Latest News back

 

Stadiums Queensland chooses Aruba to deliver a Wi-Fi experience at the Queensland Country Bank Stadium

Stadiums Queensland chooses Aruba to deliver a Wi-Fi experience at the Queensland Country Bank Stadium
March 15, 2021

Stadiums Queensland has today advised that it has chosen Aruba to make Queensland Country Bank Stadium the most technically comprehensive stadium in Queensland offering extremely fast, high-density Wi-Fi to patrons, with speeds of up to 100Mbps.

The first design of its kind in an Australia stadium, the installation will see Stadiums Queensland and Aruba deliver an unrivalled fan experience for fans at the home of the Queensland Cowboys NRL team.

To do this, over 600 access points have been deployed throughout the Stadium in an under-seat small cell wireless design ensuring visitors can upload, download and use apps without struggling to use mobile internet in a packed venue.

Explaining that seamless connectivity is essential for a state-of-the-art customer experience, Angela Henderson, Group Executive, Technology Services at Stadiums Queensland advised “whether fans are watching our North Queensland Cowboys play or their favourite performer, we are offering a true VIP experience for our guests with a first-class Wi-Fi service offering, without the connectivity challenges often faced in a high-density stadium environment.

 “In an extremely competitive events environment, offering sporting clubs and associations as well as concert promoters a venue that encourages fans to participate, engage and share their experiences in real-time using technology is crucial, especially in the far north regions of Queensland.”

Working closely with Aruba’s Large Public Venue (LPV) team, and with local Aruba technical resources, the successful implementation was completed just prior to the venue being shut as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Since restrictions have eased, the venue’s team is online for major events and returned crowds in 2021.

Carlos Gómez Gallego, Chief Technology Officer of APJ, Aruba, a Hewlett Packard Enterprise company, noted “mobile devices are a key part of any live experience. By providing guests with the platform to view, locate, purchase, upgrade, share and upload in real-time, venues regardless of size can vastly improve visitor engagement.

“This collaboration with Queensland Country Bank Stadium has been fantastic, as each step of the journey has fit our customer-first, customer-last moto. Our large-scale and high-density deployment of access points throughout the venue ensures customers will have seamless connection wherever they go.”

“Customer experience has always remained the priority from ideation to implementation and we look forward to hearing positive feedback from patrons over the coming years.”

 Throughout the solution implementation, Aruba worked to ensure the high-density public Wi-Fi did not alter the performance of corporate and media wireless networks.

Using Aruba Airwave - a management platform designed for on-premises environments which can also be integrated with contact tracing and location tracking capabilities and ClearPass - producing real-time policies for how users and devices connect and what they can access on the network, this has been vigorously tested with much success.

Gallego added “these access points were a mixture of both indoor and outdoor, ensuring that no matter the event, a user’s device was able to bring them into the action. The system allows for seamless connection to the network without compromising security. It scales and solves for changing event capacities as well as potential future expansion.

“A venue of this magnitude requires a scalable, full featured management solution which supports visibility, control and the troubleshooting tools needed to manage the largescale environment.”

Aruba’s implementation partner for this project was Communications Design & Management (CDM), a long-term provider of networking technologies to Queensland Government.

Brett Kullman, General Manager for Queensland, at CDM, noted “we wanted to give fans the ultimate wireless experience we could. At the same-time we needed to make sure the operational support teams could readily gain access to perform ongoing maintenance as mounting AP’s off the venue roof is very expensive and can be dangerous too.”

 “The optimal wireless signal meant placing AP’s under seats in a picocell design, which being the first of its kind for an Australian Stadium, presented multiple unique implementation challenges. Our team custom designed a rugged and weatherproof housing to withstand Queensland’s extreme weather, protect against food and beverage spillage, and would be easy for venue managers to access AP’s for future servicing.

“Throughout the project, our team worked alongside Aruba and Stadiums Queensland to ensure a smooth handover to Stadiums’ operational team.”

Queensland Country Bank Stadium joins a list of venues around the world using Aruba technologies to bring guest experiences to new heights, including, Chase Centre in San Francisco, California, USA and Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, England.

Middle and lower images show Aruba's Wi-Fi installations at Queensland Country Bank Stadium.

Related Articles

26th February 2021 - Queensland Premier suggests new stadium and aquatic sport venue to be built if Brisbane secures 2032 Olympics

9th February 2021 - Queensland Government and NRL aim for 50,000 fans a day at Suncorp Stadium during 2021 Magic Round

29th January 2021 - Naming rights deal revealed for Redcliffe’s Dolphin Stadium

28th January 2021 - Hundreds of jobs promoted at Queensland Country Bank Stadium

7th December 2020 - COVID impacts fan numbers at Stadiums Queensland venues

14th March 2020 - Queensland Country Bank Stadium hosts first NRL fixture

21st February 2020 - North Queenslanders to take first look at new Queensland Country Bank Stadium

14th February 2020 - Queensland Country Bank Stadium to host its first Qantas Wallabies Test

16th January 2020 - North Queenslanders offered exclusive first look at Queensland Country Bank Stadium

10th January 2020 - New Townsville stadium selects Oracle as F&B technology provider

19th December 2018 - Taskforce sets out future for Stadiums Queensland venues

18th November 2018 - Wi-Fi alerts to keep Queensland beachgoers safe this summer

12th October 2018 - Cox Architecture announced as winning designer for new Sydney Football Stadium

20th December 2016 - Cox Architecture design announced for new $250 million Townsville Stadium

15th March 2016 - Metricon Stadium introduces state-of-the-art Wi-Fi connectivity

16th November 2015 - New centre to stimulate innovation in South Australia

17th September 2015 - Suncorp Stadium technology upgrades could cost a mere $15 million

11th February 2015 - How high density Wi-Fi is making sports fans winners

9th May 2013 - Wi-Fi Solution to meet the needs of sporting events

19th October 2012 - Ericsson launches stadium-optimised Wi-Fi solution


Support our industry news service
We hope that you value the news that we publish so while you're here can we ask for your support?

As an independent publisher, we need reader support for our industry news gathering so ask that - if you don't already do so - you back us by subscribing to the printed Australasian Leisure Management magazine and/or our online news.

 

supplier directory

The Complete Guide to Leisure Industry Products & Services.

See the directory see all

Jonas Leisure

Jonas Software operates over 110 independently managed software brands around the world, providing them with the strategic guidance and financial security required to be leaders in their respective…

read more

Aquatics / Billing / Fitness / Recreation / Sport

 
 

XBODY Australia Pty Ltd

PROVEN BUSINESS CONCEPTS WITH XBODY XBody’s goal is to see you and your EMS business succeed. That is why we don’t just sell equipment, we provide know-how, expert knowledge, business support…

read more

Fitness / Technology / Wellness

 
 

Tim Batt Water Solutions

Tim Batt Water Solutions are at the very forefront of the commercial aquatic business in Australia, with over 30 years specific experience supplying and installing chemical control and dosing…

read more

Aquatics / Environment / Recreation / Technology / Venues

 
 

Altitude Training Systems

ATS are global leaders in altitude training and research. From mask systems and inflatable tents to simulated altitude facilities, we help all athletes gain the competitive edge. Our…

read more

Fitness / Sport / Technology

 
 

Pricemark Pty Ltd

Pricemark supplies a wide range of custom branded membership & RFID access products for the Health & Leisure Industry. 

read more

Access

 
 

Gladstone MRM

Gladstone Health & Leisure (Gladstone MRM Pty Ltd Australia) is a leading supplier of leisure management and fitness software and is endorsed by leading health and fitness professionals and…

read more

Access / Billing / Fitness / Technology / Venues

 
 

Pico Play

Pico Play is a global leader in the planning, design, development and construction of world-class themed attractions and entertainment that deliver extraordinary and memorable experiences to millions…

read more

Attractions / Consultants / Design / Recreation / Tourism

 
 

iDwala Pty Ltd

iDwala is the Community Sports Facility Specialist offering the highest quality designs and technical expertise to Councils, Schools and Sporting Clubs looking to create sporting…

read more

Consultants / Design / Recreation / Sport / Surfaces

 
 
 
 

get listed with our suppliers directory

Get your business noticed in our targeted directory. Viewed by 10,000 industry professionals per week!

list your business