Extreme Networks, a leader in AI-powered automation for networking, has announced the deployment of the first Wi-Fi 7 network in a collegiate stadium at the University of Florida’s Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, also known as ‘The Swamp.’
When 90,000 fans pack the stadium this fall, the experience will be faster, more seamless and more connected. Devices come online instantly, fans can share and stream without interruption and mobile ordering helps keep concessions moving.
With Wi-Fi 7 under the hood, ‘The Swamp’ isn’t just one of the loudest stadiums; it’s smart, fast and fully immersive, setting a new bar for what a packed venue can deliver. This initiative complements and will carry over into the University of Florida’s planned stadium renovation, which will modernise the facility with wider concourses, improved entrances and exits, new premium seating options, enhanced concessions and upgraded scoreboard and sound systems.
“On game day, The Swamp transforms into one of the most electrifying and densely connected environments in college sports,” said Matt Vincent, Assistant Athletics Director, Information Technology at the University of Florida. “As we continue to invest in the fan experience at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, adding Wi-Fi 7 allows us to significantly increase capacity while enabling smarter, real-time connectivity that helps everything run smoothly at peak demand. The NIaaS model from Extreme Networks also provides the flexibility to scale as needed without significant upfront investment, allowing our IT team to operate more efficiently while delivering a consistently high-quality digital experience for every fan.”
A new era of fan connectivity
The new Wi-Fi 7 network from Extreme will deliver:
• Ultra-fast speeds enabling seamless 4K/8K video streaming, instant social sharing and real-time stats access.
• Lower latency for responsive mobile experiences, including in-seat ordering and interactive apps.
• Improved device capacity supporting tens of thousands of concurrent connections without performance degradation.
• Consistent coverage across seating bowls, concourses, suites and outdoor areas.
Transforming stadium operations
Beyond enhancing the fan experience, Extreme Wi-Fi 7 supports more reliable staff communications, faster point-of-sale transactions, enhanced security through HD video and AI-driven monitoring and seamless integration of IoT technologies such as smart sensors, digital signage and automated systems. With ExtremeAnalytics, venue teams can gain real-time visibility into crowd movement, concession demand, fan preferences and dwell times – enabling smarter operational decisions and new sponsorship opportunities.
Norman Rice, Chief Commercial Officer at Extreme, said: “High-density venues push networks to their limits, especially on game day. This deployment demonstrates how Wi-Fi 7 can set a new gold standard for college stadiums, delivering the performance, reliability and scale today’s fans and operations demand.”
