Giants Get 12K Wi-Fi Users Per Game

The modern sporting event isn't the same as your dad's sporting event thanks to insane technological progress.

Back in the day, baseball games were about the smell of the grass and John Fogerty blaring over the loudspeaker. Or something. Today, we stare at our phones and wonder why so many freaking people are on the wireless network, rendering it useless.

Well, unless we're at AT&T Park -- according to Mobile Sports Report, AT&T is the "poster child" for providing impressive wireless service at a sporting event.

MSR generates that claim based on Bill Schlough, senior vice president and CIO for the Giants, speaking at Information Week's Valley View conference recently.

“In 2004 when we first provided Wi-Fi we maybe had 50 geeks from Silicon Valley doing their email at the games,” Schlough said. “By 2008 there were 400 or 500 a game [using the network] and now we see around 11,000 or 12,000 fans on the network during games. It’s a challenge to stay in front [of the usage].”

Schlough added that traffic is "doubling every year" on the network, so the team is constantly upgrading their service to ensure that fans get the best experience.

“You think it [traffic] is going to stop growing, but it’s not,” Schlough said. “Every year we have to keep investing [in infrastructure] to stay in front.”

It's interesting, because the NFL recently said that they want to get high-powered Wi-Fi in every stadium; as of now it's nearly impossible to get wireless that works in the majority of stadiums.

Perhaps they should ring up the Giants for some advice.

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