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SBC Park Plans A Giant 802.11 Hotspot
Numeric writes "Baseball games won't be as boring at SBC Park, home of the San Fransico Giants, because they are offering "one of the largest hotspots", according to this Yahoo article.
SBC Communications provides DSL and wireless connectivity to business and consumers. I wonder if Minute Maid Park will offer free orange juice or even better Citizen Ball Park could offer free money! Its nice to see the staduim sponsor offering more than just the name sake of their business."
LostCluster writes "The San Jose Business Journal adds the details that the WiFi access will be called SBC's Freedom Link, and and be based on 121 access points spread across the park. Access will be free during the 2004 season, but will cost $7.95 per day or $19.95 per month starting next year."
get a few mates with webcams and laptops and set up a multiangle freeview of the game ;-)
Has anyone considered how this will affect (or even effect) the ease of gambling at sporting events. This could allow for betting on individual free throws in basketball, whether a play will be overturned in football, individual innings in baseball (you can even change your bet real time, double down etc).
If it's anything like Shea or Yankee stadium (disclaimer: I'm a Mets fan before you start jumping all over me for being a New Yorker -- I think the Yankees are evil too ;) it'll cost you $60-$100 per person for the ticket (unless it's nosebleed -- then figure $30-$70), the food, the drink and the booze. Who the hell is going to drop a hundred dollar bill on a baseball game and then sit there on their laptop? It might be a novelty during batting practice but who the hell is going to pay for it?
If I wanted to sit on my laptop and surf the internet while watching baseball I'd stay at home. If I wanted to pay to surf the internet while watching baseball I'd get a long-distance dial-up account.
I want peace on earth and goodwill toward man.
We are the United States Government! We don't do that sort of thing.
Many stadiums dont allow bookbags or similar bags anymore (a woman's purse usually an exception) because of terrorism concerns. Laptop bags would seem to fall into that category.
The former Veterans Stadium allowed bookbags that were clear/transparent colored, or the bags you get at the grocery store. Even still, your bag has to be checked to make sure you're not bringing in outside beer, canned soda, and other prohibited items. Citizens Bank Park will probably carry the same policy.
It would seem that in order to get a laptop in, you would probably have to carry it in directly, no bag or anything. Or, bring a handheld that fits in your pocket.
The One Rule Of Chess You'll Ever Need: Don't play someone who carries a kit in their bookbag.
I wonder why the SF Giants chose not to go one (two at most) phased array panel(s)?
Seastead this.
Some gambling sites already use WAP, and next gen smartphones apps could easily do this sort of gambling functionality.
Why bet on a play being overturned... bet on the yardage of EACH and EVERY play. Use a betting exchange to co-ordinate across the people in the stadium and watching on TV... hey presto.
This isn't future stuff... this is now stuff. Most betting exchanges, if they just allowed WAP or created a smartphone app, or if you could use Opera on your P900, can do this today.
An Eye for an Eye will make the whole world blind - Gandhi
"We've created one of the largest, if not the largest, hot spot in the world," says Larry Baer, Giants executive vice president and chief operating officer.
Don't think so Larry Baer. You're in a one-block stadium. Case Western Reserve (in my hometown Cleveland) has what I believe is the largest public WiFi network. It covers university square and most surrounding areas.
Betting on every play... cool! (I don't gamble though.) Multiple camera angels (long overdue) is a great idea!
Do or do not. There is no try. --Yoda
Wireless is shared bandwidth so if there are a lot of people using it, performance becomes absolutely miserable. Even if people flock to the statium to use wireless networking, as opposed to watching the sports, I don't think this is worth the bother. Sure, before the game starts some people might want to use their wireless PDAs to check up on stocks, etc, this isn't going to be used very much. I think the heaviest users are going to be living line of sight to the stadium with Pringles cans pointed that way.