Washington Nationals Step Up to the Plate with Comcast Ethernet

PHILADELPHIA - The Washington Nationals selected Comcast Business Ethernet services for a multi-year contract that connects its staff, members of the media, and fans to the Internet. Already equipped with the latest state-of-the-art video and audio technology, Nationals Park has now added a fiber-based Ethernet connection from Comcast capable of delivering up to 1 Gbps to support more people and devices within the ballpark. Comcast Business is a unit of Comcast Cable, a provider of video, high-speed Internet and phone to business and residential customers.

“When we first opened the ballpark in March 2008, our fans were not utilizing our WiFi network to the extent that they do now during an average game, which is why we needed to increase the bandwidth supporting our Internet service,” said Jason Zachariah, chief technical officer for the Washington Nationals. “We are always looking for ways to enhance the ballpark experience for our guests, and we look forward to working with Comcast in the coming years to help us keep pace as our technology demands evolve.”

In addition to supporting fans and media by allowing them to connect to the Internet via WiFi at the ballpark, the organization needed more bandwidth for transferring data, photos and videos for its high-definition (HD) video board and FTP access for sending and receiving large files between offices. To improve the fan experience, the Nationals organization also wanted to offer in-seat concession ordering via handheld devices from anywhere within the ballpark, but needed a new system to help facilitate this service.

Supporting the Hi-Tech Ball Park Experience
With an Ethernet Dedicated Internet (EDI) line from Comcast that provides up to 1 Gigabit per second of speed, Nationals Park now has enough capacity to allow thousands of fans to order food and beverages via a website from their wireless devices. The Ethernet line is also used as the backbone for all Internet traffic originating from the ballpark’s WiFi network and supports the press box, as well as video and information feeds for its 4,811 square-foot HD video board in right field.

“Today’s ballparks rely on technology much more than they did years ago, not only to accommodate the needs of their increasingly tech-savvy guests, but also to ensure the successful operation of the park,” said Bill Stemper, president of Comcast Business. “By delivering an advanced infrastructure that not only provides high amounts of bandwidth, but also offers the scalability to grow with the business as its needs change, Comcast is helping a number of baseball franchises like the Nationals achieve their goals, both on and off the field.”