Liberty University: A Heightened Game Day Experience

Game On!

When Liberty University’s football team played their first game as a new NCAA Division 1 team in late October of 2018, they rocked fans in the dazzlingly upgraded Williams Stadium with blazing-fast broadband Wi-Fi services.  The roar of the Liberty Flames’ win reverberated across the internet when over 10,000 devices consumed nearly 1 terabyte of data.  Game on!

Liberty is the largest university in Virginia and has a record of being tech-forward and implementing one of the most progressive on-campus Wi-Fi and mobile strategies in education today.  Already staffed with a sophisticated IT department, Liberty chose to hire the M S Benbow team for their deep and broad experience in implementing Aruba HD Wi-Fi networks in large public venues that must support massive event-day peaks in demand.

MSB was responsible for designing a cutting-edge converged wireless network that provided a rich and engaging fan experience for the larger crowds now expected at the Liberty Flames football games.  This massive design and build project was completed in less than a year and features:

• High-definition streaming video and Wi-Fi calling for 25,000 spectators.
• Future expansion and deployments such as location-based services to further enhance the fan experience.
• Planned integration of all 11 of the university’s large public venues, including baseball and softball fields, an indoor track, and a natatorium.

The move to Division I football represented a heightened opportunity for Liberty University: high performance, high risk, high visibility and high payoff.  In developing this high-technology venue, Liberty ignited its sports fans, empowered its students, and positioned Williams Stadium as a sought-after venue for events of all kinds.  Using sophisticated technology as a brand differentiator in the 21^st century is a winning strategy in Division 1 and beyond!

TechTalk: How WeConnect Fans, Teams, Owners, and Venues.

MSB responded to Liberty’s need for blazing speed and network upgrades. MSB created a system that was efficient to construct and adaptive to future technologies.  A perfect and innovative example is the 624 under-seat wireless access points that deliver a distributed, strong Wi-Fi signal throughout Williams Stadium while remaining virtually invisible to fans and students.  MSB’s design also accounted for the University’s investment in existing infrastructure, seamlessly integrating and leveraging legacy systems and investments. Project management was a critical component of the project’s success in tandem with hardware integration testing, commissioning, and optimization.