WWW.WISPA.ORG 11 www.bekabusinessmedia.com DAY 2 Moda Center, American Tower Team for Venue 5G Upgrade YOUR PARTNER FOR SUSTAINABLE GROWTH Visit us in BOOTH #424 BillMax.com Fans at the Moda Center, home to the Portland Trail Blazers NBA team, will soon experience enhanced wireless connectivity during live events, made possible by a 5G distributed antenna system (DAS) upgrade. This infrastructure improvement, led by American Tower, is designed to elevate the fan experience by enabling faster, more reliable mobile connections throughout the venue. The Portland arena, which seats almost 20,000 guests for sports, conventions, concerts and specialized events, is the latest in a wave of major venues investing in digital-first fan experiences. From instant replays on mobile apps to livestreams on social media, fast and reliable wireless connectivity is now essential to the in-arena experience. “We’re excited to work with American Tower to improve the guest experience across the Rose Quarter,” said Alli Stangel Tassin, Senior Vice President, Venue Operations, Portland Trail Blazers and Rose Quarter. “As our arenas continue to evolve and our fan experience becomes increasingly immersive and connected, reliable connectivity is more crucial than ever. American Tower has a proven track record of providing reliable system upgrades, and we look forward to the boost this will provide our guests come 2026.” The DAS network comprises a series of strategically placed 5G antennas that will enhance wireless coverage throughout the venue. Construction is set to begin in early 2026 and is expected to be completed ahead of the 2026-27 season. A critical requirement for the Moda Center is to minimize disruption to events and operations, so American Tower will be building a parallel system to the existing network to limit impact. The system extends across not only the arena itself, but to the back-of-house operational centers, as well as the adjacent Veterans’ Memorial Coliseum. It will enable a true 5G experience, delivering ultra-fast speeds and lowlatency performance. “We see 5G as more than a speed upgrade— it’s the foundation for immersive fan experiences, smarter operations and real-time venue services,” said Eric Nagy, Vice President, Managed Networks, American Tower. “This deployment also ensures the Moda Center is ready for the next wave of smart venue innovation.” Building on this vision, as fan expectations continue to grow and stadiums compete on experience, advanced connectivity has become a critical differentiator. With this upgrade, Moda Center joins a growing list of forward-thinking venues leveraging 5G to drive engagement, enhance operations and create new revenue opportunities through digital platforms. m Visit American Tower at WISPAPALOOZA booth 144.
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