Amsterdam ArenA and Cisco Create the Smart 'Connected Stadium'
New Services Delivered on Cisco Infrastructure Will Enrich the
Visitor Experience
AMSTERDAM, THE NETHERLANDS--(Marketwire - November 26, 2007) - Cisco®
(NASDAQ: CSCO) announced today that Amsterdam ArenA, a premier
multipurpose sporting and entertainment venue and home to AFC Ajax
football club, has turned to Cisco to help make the famous stadium
smarter. With the deployment of Cisco Internet Protocol (IP)
technology, the stadium is introducing several innovative services
for the 2 million visitors it attracts each year. Visitors will be
able to reserve seats from home, get access to real-time travel and
parking information, and pay for tickets using their mobile phones.
Spectators and sports fans can more easily access all stadium-related
services and the organisation can deliver improved visitor service at
every event.
Amsterdam ArenA chose Cisco not only for its scalable and highly
reliable IP infrastructure, but for capabilities such as unified
communications, video delivery and wireless services. These
capabilities can be applied throughout the site, helping Amsterdam
ArenA to create a multimedia platform that provides visitors with a
richer, more personalised service. KPN Telecom, a member of the Cisco
Powered Program, will install the infrastructure.
Henk Markerink, director of the Amsterdam ArenA, said: "The most
important goal of the Amsterdam ArenA is to further improve the
customer experience, which includes focusing even more closely on the
entire service provision chain, from the moment the customer buys
tickets, as they travel to the ArenA, the visit itself, to the time
he or she is back at home and wants to book tickets again. The Cisco
IP network plays a central role in fulfilling the entire customer
experience. In the next couple of years we want to use this network
to integrate our payment and entry-control systems, to enable the
provision of digital signs and narrowcasting, and to make better use
of new media. We aim to introduce the first services in the middle of
next year."
Coks Stoffer, general director of Cisco Netherlands, said: "Consumers
want access to personalised information wherever they are, instantly,
especially when they are at live events. The challenge for stadiums
and event organisations around the world is to develop ways to meet
these demands. For the new generation of stadiums, the network is no
longer purely an infrastructure for bandwidth, but a platform that
makes new sports and entertainment experiences possible."
The Cisco IP platform reduces operational costs by standardising and
virtualising everyday IT services such as security, mobility and
storage. Third parties, such as the main tenants of the Amsterdam
ArenA, can easily use the network to offer additional services.
Integration with radio frequency identification (RFID) technology
will make it possible to offer location-specific information to
visitors as well.
Markerink added: "The Amsterdam ArenA depends strongly on its
transport links. The public transport connections are perfect and the
accessibility for motorists is fine, with four motorways nearby and
parking for more than 11,000 vehicles. But if the area around the
ArenA wants to grow further, then we need to improve mobility. For
example, we are thinking of various 'travel on demand' solutions and
how to improve the provision of information to visitors. On the day
of an event, for example, we want to be able to send customers an SMS
text message with that day's weather forecast. We also plan to send
information to car navigation systems and mobile phones about the
best route to take and where to park."
"Cisco makes it possible to transmit voice, data and video via one
simple IP network," said Stoffer. "This network will also make it
possible to offer various new services wirelessly. Examples include
narrowcasting, the provision of tailor-made information and payment
by mobile phone. Even the stadium entrances will use wireless
technology. Cisco has equipped a number of sporting arenas with
similar intelligent networks, including the world-famous Bernabéu
stadium in Madrid, the Allianz Arena in Munich, Ascot racecourse in
the UK and the Misano racetrack in Italy. Thanks to a comparable
'connected stadium' infrastructure, the Amsterdam ArenA will be able
to extend its reputation as a world-class multipurpose venue and
business centre."
Cisco technology to be deployed at Amsterdam ArenA includes Cisco
Catalyst® 3750 Series Switches, Catalyst 6500 Series Switches,
Aironet wireless access points and CiscoWorks LAN Management
Solution.
Cisco Connected Real Estate
Intelligent networks can not only make stadiums smarter, they can be
applied to buildings as well. The IP network makes it possible to
integrate and run various stand-alone building management systems
centrally, via the same network. These include heating, ventilation,
air-conditioning, lighting, fire prevention, closed-circuit TV,
access and other systems and services. This reduces costs while
improving safety, and increases the opportunities to use locations
for multiple purposes.
About Amsterdam ArenA
Amsterdam ArenA opened on 14 August 1996 with a seated capacity of
51,628. It is the first stadium in the world with an underground
passageway and the first stadium in Europe with a sliding roof. The
Amsterdam ArenA is the headquarters of AFC Ajax. The Amsterdam
football club plays all of its home matches here. The stadium also
hosts European Cup matches, KNVB international matches, cup and
friendly matches. Furthermore, MOJO Concerts organises concerts of
major artists and groups in the ArenA, and every year ID&T puts on
the largest indoor dance parties, Sensation White & Black here. The
Amsterdam ArenA is also the ideal place for events including product
presentations, theatre performances, sales training sessions, company
parties and more.
About Cisco Systems
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transforms how people connect, communicate and collaborate.
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Press Contact (Netherlands):
Liesbeth Boschloo
Cisco Systems
+31 20 357 3894
lboschlo@cisco.com
Press Contact (Europe):
JoAnne Hughes
Cisco Systems
+44 (0)20 8824 0314
joahughe@cisco.com