As the game moves into the modern age, fans bring with them their over-connected selves. This doesn't have to be a bad thing. It's only natural to soak in the sights and sounds of the ballpark experience with panoramic photos and videos of candid moments, then share those with your family and friends. Sometimes, you'll want to look up stats and highlights of your favorite players, or even sneak in an email or two. It's part of who we are, and how we experience the game today.
However, there's usually one problem: stadium WiFi. Anybody who's ever tried to upload a video to Twitter while at a ballpark understands just how grating that task is. And ironically, that's why sharing the fun tends to detract from the ballpark experience the most! Most of us just want to send a few photos showing off our seats and get back to the game without having to worry about failed uploads and bad connections.
Thankfully, the San Francisco Giants have recognized this issue and have taken steps to address it. This year, they've gone all-in on upgrading their WiFi, making Oracle Park the first outdoor professional sporting venue to host WiFi 6E connectivity, a new development in bulk Internet service. With this upgrade, fans will no longer feel the burden of competing with each other for upload and download data.
But what exactly is WiFi 6E? Part of the reason that this upgrade might not get much hype is that WiFi 6E is a fairly unknown commodity to the general public. In short, WiFi 6E is a high-capacity, short-range signal that allows for tremendous increases in the amount of data being shuttled back and forth. It's most useful for large companies and in applications like stadiums, where data usage climbs to absurd rates, but people won't need to access it once they leave the stadium.
To support the introduction of 6E at Oracle Park, the SF Giants have installed around 900 WiFi devices around the stadium, which should give fans blazing-fast Internet connection throughout the park. Certainly, this will be put to the test immediately and often, and we'll have to wait and see whether dead spots continue to be a fact of life or if you can video chat from the 415 just as smoothly as you can from the upper deck.
This upgrade to WiFi 6E is just one of many ways that the San Francisco Giants are trying to enhance the fan experience at Oracle Park. They understand that fans want to be connected to the game in every way possible, and providing fast and reliable WiFi is just one way to make that happen. Whether you're a die-hard fan or just someone looking to enjoy a summer day at the ballpark, the San Francisco Giants are committed to making your experience the best it can be.