Neyland Stadium Wi-Fi: Details on when Tennessee football fans will get better coverage
Work to enhance Wi-Fi at Neyland Stadium has begun, as Tennessee addresses a major complaint by football fans.
UT has tried for years to fix the problem, but there wasn't an easy solution. It will take about a year to get to reach full Wi-Fi connectivity.
According to a UT news release, the Wi-Fi will get better throughout the 2023 football season with limited capabilities. The project will extend into summer 2024 through multiple phases. Different areas in and around the stadium will get improved connectivity at different times.
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"We know Vol Nation has been looking forward to this," athletics director Danny White said. "And we appreciate everyone's patience. This is a very big, complex project. The bones of Neyland Stadium date back to 1921, and as it grew over several decades, no one could have planned for how we'd deliver a strong Wi-Fi signal through tons of concrete and steel.
"But we have a great partner that knows how to get this done at a venue like this. It's exciting to get the ball rolling, because this will elevate the experience of every single fan who visits Neyland Stadium."
Who will get better Wi-Fi fastest in Neyland Stadium?
The gates and plazas around Neyland Stadium will see improvement first because that's where digital ticketing matters most.
Next, interior seating will get better Wi-Fi. It will start in the lower bowl, then the premium areas and upper deck.
The project will include 1,800 connectivity points. Each point will service approximately a 55-seat area and require the installation of cabling.
UT, through the Christman Company, has partnered with MS Benbow & Associates to design, engineer and integrate a Wi-Fi network that will ultimately service the entire stadium and surrounding plazas.
MS Benbow & Associates has provided digital and telecommunications solutions for Nebraska's Memorial Stadium, Chase Center in San Francisco and Paycor Stadium in Cincinnati, as well as airports, arenas, convention centers and campuses.
Adam Sparks is the Tennessee football beat reporter. Email adam.sparks@knoxnews.com. Twitter @AdamSparks. Support strong local journalism by subscribing at knoxnews.com/subscribe.
This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Tennessee football: Details on Neyland Stadium Wi-Fi upgrades for fans
