Partner Article

Here's how Tottenham Hotspur and HPE are creating the world's most technologically advanced stadium

Premier League football club Tottenham Hotspur has announced that it has selected Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE) as its official IT Networking and Wireless Infrastructure Partner as part of its efforts to create one of the world’s most advanced stadia.

The technology giant will pair with the North London club as a key partner in the development of the IT infrastructure and technology ecosystem at its 61,000 seater stadium.

Set to open in time for the 2018/19 season, the £750m ground has been designed with its IT framework placed front and centre of its design to enable connectivity for visitors across the vast structure while still maintaining the flexibility to adapt to future technology demands in the coming decades.

As part of the deal, which has been announced today, Spurs will begin installing products from Hewlett Packard Enterprise subsidiary, Aruba Networks, across the site with further support provided by HPE’s Pointnext services organisation.

The club have not yet revealed exactly which Aruba services and technologies will be a rolled out at the new stadium, but a look at a similar deal HPE struck with Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, which is home to the San Francisco 49ers American football team, gives us some clues as to the high-tech digital innovations fans might be able to expect.

Unflappable Wi-Fi access

Perhaps the least exciting feature of the lot but one most fans would certainly welcome. The sheer mass of people attempting to access WiFi services or mobile masts at most Premier League games often results in services grinding to a halt at best or entirely falling over at worst.

At the Levi’s Stadium, Aruba’s tech utilises a network of densely arranged WiFi receivers to ensure connections remain rock solid by limiting the amount of users who can connect to each access point.

In-stadium navigation

With Spurs fans likely to take a few weeks to settle into their new home, finding the right gate and their way to their seat will be a particularly crucial challenge for staff at the new ground.

At Portland International Airport, Aruba partnered with an app developer to provide navigation and mapping services to the airport’s shops, restaurants and departure gates.

Features which could prove invaluable considering the vast array of concessions and food stalls planned for Tottenham’s new stadium.

Push notifications and branded apps

Nobody likes having adverts and notifications pushed down their throat, but brands love them and for a football club trying to drive up spend on its concourses it’s a no brainer.

By gating access to the stadium’s WiFi network behind a registration page, Tottenham Hotspur will be able to funnel messages to each user’s phone. This could be price promotions on drinks and food, but could also include more pressing updates such as safety information.

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