AFL’s DGP soups up wireless connectivity for Allegiant Stadium’s Las Vegas Raiders
DGP, part of AFL Wireless Services’ Distributed Antenna System (DAS) solutions unit, has expanded its partnership with Allegiant Stadium, home of the Las Vegas Raiders.
As an official partner and DAS provider for Allegiant Stadium, DGP will continue to deliver wireless connectivity that enhances the fan experience during Raiders games, concerts, and major events.
Allegiant and DGP already have a working relationship. In 2019, DGP was selected to design, install and maintain the stadium’s advanced venue-owned DAS network.
Over the past decade, DGP’s system has provided seamless mobile connectivity for millions of fans and visitors. As a result, Allegiant Stadium guests enjoy uninterrupted mobile coverage throughout the venue.
DGP’s DAS infrastructure provides Allegiant Stadium with reliable wireless coverage throughout every corner of the venue.
But the DAS system DGP supplies to the stadium is not just about today’s needs. The company’s DAS system is designed to scale with future demands, ensuring the stadium will have the latest wireless technology as bandwidth needs and applications evolve.
“DGP’s relationship with Allegiant Stadium and the Las Vegas Raiders has set the gold standard for wireless connectivity in stadiums as evidenced by the DAS performance earlier this year in the biggest game of the year,” said Seneca Mullins, president of AFL US Services.
Venue owned model
Allegiant Stadium and the Raiders have adopted a venue-owned model for their wireless DAS system.
With an adopted venue-owned model, a venue contracts with a third-party provider, like AFL and DGP, to fund, design, build, manage, and maintain the DAS.
Recurring revenue generated by the network is often shared between the third-party provider and the venue at an agreed upon rate.
One advantage of a venue-owned model is that an owner does not have to be locked into long-term contracts with a wireless operator. Instead, they can retain control over the DAS design and implementation by working with various entities, including OEMs and integrators like DGP.
Raiders' VP of Technology, Matt Pasco, said the team sees DGP’s DAS solutions as “integral to the success of Allegiant Stadium’s operations.”
“Their venue-owned DAS model is particularly beneficial, allowing the stadium to maintain control and flexibility over our network while ensuring top-tier wireless performance,” he said. “Their expertise and dedication have been key to creating a memorable fan experience.”
An integrated approach
AFL Wireless Services, which serves as the unified brand combining the expertise of DAS Group Professionals (DGP), Optical Telecom Solutions (OTS), and Beam Wireless (BEAM), has continued to evolve to address the evolution of in-building wireless.
The integrated approach brings several benefits.
AFL said this approach fosters close collaboration with venue owners and carriers, delivering solutions uniquely tailored to each project's needs. Offering a suite of Distributed Antenna Systems (DAS) and other wireless infrastructure, the focus remains on open communication and partnership with stakeholders to deliver connectivity that enhances the user experience of stadium patrons.
Working with AFL’s global telecom manufacturing capabilities, AFL Wireless Services offers end-to-end services, from design and engineering to installation and maintenance.
In recent years, AFL has enhanced its ability to serve sports arenas like Allegiant Stadium by making targeted acquisitions in other wireless service companies.
AFL acquired Forza Telecom earlier this year, operating as DGP (DAS Group Professionals). This acquisition enhanced its solutions portfolio with specialized indoor and outdoor Distributed Antenna Systems (DAS) capabilities.
Since founding in 2010, Forza Telecom has provided DAS installations to some of North America’s most prominent sports venues.
“DGP is a mirror image of BEAM,” Mullins said. “The company is stronger on the commercial side than the engineering piece but is consistent with consulting with the venue owner, bringing the wireless carriers in, and designing, installing, and maintaining the DAS system.”
Mullins added that the acquisition enhances its presence in the DAS market for stadiums and other venues.
“We couldn’t be more excited about where this acquisition positions us when you think about where we will be from a total revenue standpoint.”
While AFL gains a greater foothold in the NFL, enhancing its wireless network capabilities, with a presence at eight teams’ stadiums, it is moving fast to establish a foothold in other sports leagues.
“We have major inroads to the other professional sports leagues,” Mullins said. “We have found a nice strategy here that’s going to fuel much growth and is positioned to capitalize on these marquee events that are going to take place like the Super Bowl, World Cup, and the Olympics.”
He added that the other benefit is that AFL also gains “product pull through in the wireless area that AFL did not play in initially, but this opens up many doors for us.”
While Forza was AFL’s latest wireless services acquisition, it’s not the only one it has made in this segment. AFL also acquired Optical Telecom, which supported its strategy to expand its footprint across the Southwest and Southeast and complement its existing enterprise services.
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Sean Buckley
Sean is responsible for establishing and executing the editorial strategies of Lightwave and Broadband Technology Report across their websites, email newsletters, events, and other information products.