Cisco and its Partners Deliver Digital Fan Experiences of the Future, Today!

I’ve been working in the Sports and Entertainment Industry for over 20 years, and by far, digital transformation has been one of the greatest technology disruptor across industries in the past five years, making it more critical for organizations to transform their business models to remain competitive in the industry. According to research from the Global Center for Digital Business Transformation, an IMD and Cisco initiative, digital disruption will displace 4 out of the top 10 incumbents by 2020.

With an expansive presence in connected sports and entertainment venues around the world, Cisco is at the forefront of helping these organizations navigate disruption challenges and adopt new opportunities. The exploitation of mobile, social and cloud trends have led to a world that is embracing new ways to consume content. Today’s digital consumers want a more connected, immersive, and personalized experience, wherever they are and sports and entertainment properties must find new ways to meet the increasing demands of the digital fan and innovate to evolve their business models.

Our Cisco Sports and Entertainment solutions have been deployed in over 350 stadiums in more than 40 countries and our customers:

• Require new ways to engage fans with more compelling experiences (in and out of the venue)
• Demand more dynamic digital inventory to enhance brand and sponsor activations that drive growth opportunities
• Want to derive intelligent customer and operation insights via analytics

And all the while, they must do this in a flexible, secure and efficient manner that is contributing to operational goals.

That’s where we at Cisco and our partners have been so impactful! We’ve set out to help transform this industry. We did it with a portfolio of Connected Sports and Entertainment solutions – with a simple, automated and intelligent networking platform at the core, Cisco Digital Network Architecture (DNA) – and a strategy that includes a comprehensive set of channel partners, service providers, and independent software vendors (ISV’s) who we have worked very closely with to build out a robust Sports & Entertainment vertical strategy, align to the industry by creating compelling solutions and delivering revenue generated outcomes to our end customers.

Together with our partners we’ve worked with some of the largest leagues and teams in the world, including the National Basketball Association, National Football League, National Hockey League, Major League Baseball, Sydney Cricket & Sports Ground Trust to create a more connected and engaging fan experience and with our partners we’re delivering the technology solutions that keep fans coming back to the venue.

The Minnesota Wild (a National Hockey League team) partnered with Cisco and CDW to revolutionize the fan experience at the Xcel Energy Center by implementing Cisco StadiumVision (now Cisco Vision for Sports & Entertainment).

The Wild can now centrally manage the content displayed on all 530 screens located throughout the arena – from the menu boards at the concession stands to the live feeds in the concourses – fans won’t miss an action of the event experience!

Screens can respond to real-time action from the game. Share customized and personalized content based on the location of the arena. Change menu board pricing to promote new bundle deals. Read more about the story in the latest Biz Tech Magazine article “The Technology Controlling the Scoreboards Throughout the Minnesota Wild’s Arena”.

Customers like the Wild expect Cisco and partners like CDW to help navigate the increasingly complex technology ecosystem and landscape and we’re proud to see these results.

And so, as I reflect on my 20 years in this industry, the rapid change of pace in technology and the essential elements that it takes to be truly transformational, the opportunity for Cisco and our partners to lead this change has never been greater. We’re excited to shape this future together with our customers and our partners.

Let me know what you’re excited about in the comments below! Follow us on Twitter: @CiscoSESG & @CiscoSP360