Audio Technology recently outfitted the Cairo Stadium Indoor Halls Complex with state-of-the-art HARMAN Professional audio solutions to provide high-quality sound reinforcement for the 2021 World Men’s Handball Championship. Read more
The newly renovated Stade Municipal de Nouadhibou in Mauritania has been officially inaugurated. Read more
Ivory Coast has inaugurated its new 60,000-seat Olympic stadium in Ebimpe on the outskirts of Abidjan. Read more
A new international standard rugby facility has been inaugurated this week at the University of Benghazi in Libya. Read more
A long 16-year wait finally came to an end with a sparkling new Stadium Mogadishu re-opening in the Somali capital on Tuesday evening. Read more
Kigali Arena in Rwanda is set to open for action, just months after building work began on the project in January. Read more
It has been described as ‘the Lord’s of East Africa’ – now Rwanda’s national cricket stadium is bowling over engineering and architectural experts across the globe. Read more
South African soccer team, the Orlando Pirates, have announced LG Electronics as their official Consumer Electronics and Mobile Partner in 2018. Read more
Morocco has put forward a bid to host the 2026 World Cup, which includes using existing stadia and building several new modular venues as well. Read more
South Africa is poised to host the Rugby World Cup in 2023 after its bid was recommended as the winner by The Rugby World Cup Limited (RWCL) Board. Read more
South African cricket stadiums are to undergo a series of improvements in the wake of the recently announced new T20 Global League. Read more
South African Rugby has delivered a bid to host the 2023 Rugby World Cup. Read more
Nearly 2,000 visitors flocked to the Stadia & Arena Asia Pacific 2016 conference and exhibition held last week in Yokohama, Japan. Read more
AECOM has designed the first indoor sports venue to achieve LEED Platinum certification. Read more
World Rugby has revealed that France, Ireland, Italy and South Africa have thrown their names into the ring to host the 2023 Rugby World Cup. Read more
The ‘best ever’ Stadia & Arena Asia Pacific Preliminary Conference Program has been unveiled this week, with a stunning array of industry-elite speakers to share their invaluable insights during the 2.5 day event.
Now in its seventh year, the IAAF Diamond League has firmly established itself on the international elite sport calendar as a high-carat series of athletics events. Having been held in Asia, Europe, the Middle East and the USA, one of the 14 competition days of the season has now been staged in Africa for the first time, with some of the world’s best athletes having competed for the coveted podium finishes in Rabat on 22 May 2016. The “Meeting international Mohammed VI d’Athlétisme Rabat” thus replaces New York as a host venue.
Cairo Stadium has chosen Philips Lighting to install its ArenaVision LED pitch lighting system. The Stadium is the first venue in Africa to use the solution, which equips it with the flexibility needed as a multi-purpose venue.
Calling all stadia, arenas and venue operators…
The state-of-the-art Wi-Fi network is free, and allows fans to access real-time and interactive content, post and check in on social networks, use apps to check fantasy team scores and stream video – all without tapping into their own mobile data plans.
Melbourne Cricket Club’s (MCC) CEO, Stephen Gough, said:
We are delighted to be able to offer an improved MCG experience for the 2016 AFL season, with visitors able to stay connected wherever they are in the stadium.
Since December, more than 50,000 MCG patrons have connected to the Wi-Fi network.
Unsurprisingly, the longer-form Test matches played over the summer attracted more Wi-Fi users and data usage compared to the shorter BBL games – with day one of the Boxing Day Test recording the highest data use to date.
Gough added:
We have received fantastic feedback about the free Wi-Fi throughout the summer and look forward to seeing how fans enjoy the enhanced connectivity during the AFL season.
There are some big games scheduled for the MCG in Round 1, and we encourage everyone to connect and make the most of the improvements.
The scale of the Wi-Fi project is on par with the world’s best and biggest stadiums, with more than 227km of cable installed to enable Wi-Fi connectivity throughout the entire stadium.
Put into context, that is enough cable to wrap around the hallowed turf almost 480 times, or stretch from the MCG to Yarrawonga, on the New South Wales border.
Gough concluded:
This project has involved significant investment by the MCC, and we have worked closely with our partners – including Cockram Construction, IBM and Cisco – to find the most appropriate and long-term technology solutions for the MCG and our patrons.
Fans will need to complete a one-off registration to connect to the Wi-Fi when first visiting the MCG for the AFL season – and can simply reconnect on future visits. Those who have connected during the cricket season will need to re-register for the AFL season.
Fans will also find it easier to use their mobile device wherever they are in the MCG. Telstra led the installation of the largest Distributed Antenna System (DAS) of its kind to improve the 3G and 4G mobile connectivity within the stadium.
Mike Wright, Telstra Group Managing Director, Networks, said:
The design, collaboration and construction of core infrastructure has taken over two years and required an extraordinary amount of technology needed to connect up to 100,000 fans. It’s the equivalent of providing network coverage for Ballarat and Shepparton – towns with a combined population of more than 100,000 people across nearly 400 square kilometres – but compressed within the confines of the MCG. This will provide spectators with a world-class experience when they use their device from anywhere in the ground, to stream video, browse the internet, upload photos to social media, receive telephone calls and access content on apps.
Cisco Systems’ Director, Jonathon Dixon, said:
Fan expectations are greater than ever, mandating a more connected sporting venue that enables fans to share and consume relevant content and services, while engaging with more people from any device, anywhere in the stadium. Cisco is excited and honoured to be a part of the MCG’s long-term road map for transforming one of the most historic stadiums in world and creating unimaginable new experiences for fans in the future.
