Wired Yankees

"It’s going to change all of sports. I don’t think I’m too bold in saying that," says Cisco chairman John T. Chambers, referring to the $15 million of technology embedded in the new Yankee Stadium, as reported by Richard Sandomir in the New York Times (11/12/08). Cisco’s work — which is not part of any sponsorship deal — "includes the ability to program 1,100 high-definition TV monitors with live game coverage, archival and highlight video, statistics, promotional messages and weather and traffic updates … The monitors will be located at concession stands, inside the 59 luxury and party suites, around the restaurants and bars, and in restrooms."

In other words, fans will be surrounded by video "from the moment they walk into the stadium, especially when they stray from a direct view of the field. The team will be its own video puppeteer, controlling all of the monitors centrally with the capabilities of offering different content on each one." Luxury suites will have touch-screens enabling fans to "order food and merchandise." At some future point, fans will be able to use their mobile phones to order food for pickup from their seats, as well as engage in any number of other interactive experiences.

In addition, every player will have a computer at his locker, loaded with tutorials. A business conference center will be connected "to a library in the Bronx (for students and community groups) and eventually to other locations in the city like hospitals, to let players and executives talk to fans." Cicso’s Ron Ricci comments: "The ultimate fan experience is when Derek Jeter can help some kid in the Bronx learn long division." Ron says he, himself, learned math by studying baseball. Yankee coo Lonn Trost compares the technology to an open highway, and says: "Yankee Stadium will be in a constant state of artness." He adds: "Don’t look that word up. It doesn’t exist." ~ Tim Manners, editor