Mets and Nortel Team Up at Citi Field

While Shea Stadium might be a nostalgic ballpark, where the N.Y. Mets played for 45 years and the Beatles performed two historic concerts, the new field will take fans into the future.

 

The Mets will team with Nortel at Citi Field to provide a “breakthrough technology partnership,” when it opens next year. Nortel is developing a robust, secure Unified Communications (News - Alert) (UC) solution that will enable the Mets to increase the pace of their business operations and fan services.

 

“Together with Nortel (News - Alert), we are advancing the state-of-the-art in ballpark design and technological innovation,” said Dave Howard, executive vice president, business operations, New York Mets. “More than just sharing our vision, Nortel has enhanced it, offering a solution that will seamlessly integrate technology into our business operations to help increase our productivity and service to fans.”

 

The Nortel solution serves as the foundation for future applications that can provide access to player statistics via wireless LAN, special IPTV (News - Alert) replay viewings and special multimedia-based communications to various areas of the world-class field. In addition, Nortel will provide applications to facilitate ticket sales, concession sales and incident response.

 

Nortel – as systems integrator, custom application developer and sole architect of the UC solution – will play a significant role in the behind-the-scenes, day-to-day operations of the field through a number of technologies that will enhance the fan experience through game presentation and new ticketing technologies, as well as food and beverage ordering and delivery support.

 

“This new Unified Communications solution will enable the Mets to deliver a whole new fan experience at their new home,” said Joel Hackney (News - Alert), president Enterprise Solutions, Nortel. “Because the Mets will be able to reach the right person at the right time via the right device, ballpark and corporate staff will be more efficient and effective. This speaks to the power of Unified Communications: the ability to determine if a person is available and the best way to reach them instantly, increasing the tempo of business operations and enabling a much more nimble enterprise.”

 

Nortel’s UC solution will extend to the Mets’ three minor league affiliates and will be based on secure, energy-efficient Nortel voice and data communications products that consume up to 40 percent less energy, while costing less than half to own and operate compared to the leading competitor.

 

Nortel’s UC solution for Citi Field will include Communications Server 1000 for VoIP services, Ethernet Routing Switches from Data Networking, wireless LAN products and Contact Center solution and UC services from Global Services portfolio. In addition to advanced communication capabilities, the field’s network design will incorporate Nortel’s approach to Layered Security, enabling them to conduct business operations in a secure, reliable manner.

 

Nortel has been selected for some of North America’s best-known sports arenas and stadiums, including the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans. Nortel is also the official converged network equipment supplier for the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games and the official network infrastructure partner for the London 2012 Olympic Games.

 

The Mets will also be partnering with Union Square Hospitality Group to provide best in class food, beverage and hospitality at Citi Field and with Anheuser-Busch.

 

The Mets and their construction partners, Hunt-Bovis and HOK, began building the 42,000-seat field in 2006 in the outfield parking lot between Shea Stadium and 126^th Street. The last regular season baseball game at Shea is scheduled to be played on Sun., Sept. 28, when the Mets play the Florida Marlins. After completion of Citi Field, Shea Stadium will be dismantled.

Eve Sullivan is a contributing editor for TMCnet, covering news in the IP communications, call center and customer relationship management industries. To read more of Eve's articles, please visit her columnist page.

Edited by Eve Sullivan