High Tech Stadium Poised to Offer the Ultimate Fan Experience

By Gabriel Circiog, Associate Editor

A new state-of-the-art stadium is ready to open its doors in Kansas City at Village West. The Livestrong Sporting Park stadium will be the new home of the soccer club Sporting Kansas City. The 342,105-square-foot stadium will accommodate up to 18,467 soccer fans and 25,000 guests  for concerts and other events, with the aid of the 124,000-square-foot Event Plaza.

The name of the $200 million venue reflects the partnership between Sporting Club and cyclist Lance Armstrong’s foundation that provides support for people affected by cancer. According to Kansas City Business Journal the agreement that lasts until 2016 aims to raise between $8 million and $10 million.

Designed by the architectural firm Populous and built by Turner Construction, the Kansas City stadium will be one of the most technologically advanced stadiums in the world, focusing on enhancing the in-game experience of the fans.  Thanks to the partnership with Cisco Connected Sports Solutions, it will feature new high-density Wi-Fi technology that will permit fans to use their mobile devices and smartphones to swiftly access and utilize social networking applications, stadium specific and sports-related platforms. This internet access alternative will also ease the pressure on the over-crowded cell phone networks during game day. This technology will also support the infrastructure of ticket sales and will power the luxury suites where the Cisco StadiumVision applications will offer a complex interactive experience.

Over 300 HDTVs, strategically placed throughout the stadium, will ensure that fans will not only stay on top of play but will also be able to keep up-to-date with sport scores and news. The high tech digitalized stadium will also offer an optimum environment for advertising, concession and merchandising sales.

David Holland, general manager and senior vice president of Sports and Entertainment Solutions Group at Cisco, remarked on the official website of the stadium that Livestrong Sporting Park is a testament for other stadiums that want to address the needs of the modern-day “connected fan” by offering an integrated and memorable experience.