• February 13, 2025

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The 2024 football season is officially behind us, but that isn’t stopping the University of Notre Dame and its historic stadium from gearing up for next football season. In South Bend, IN, Notre Dame Football is ingrained in the culture of the community as is its 94-year-old stadium. This 80,000+ seat stadium has played host to some of the greatest games in college football history and now it plays host to the nation’s first college or university outdoor venue to implement Wi-Fi 6E.

This past fall, Notre Dame’s IT team, with PIER Group, launched the groundbreaking network upgrade. Wi-Fi 6E standard power taps into a new part of the Wi-Fi “highway” in the 6 GHz band, offering faster speeds, stronger connections and less congestion — even in packed venues.

Despite being available since 2020, the Federal Communications Commission didn’t approve Wi-Fi 6E for outdoor use until September of last year. The University of Notre Dame wasted no time, and on September 28, 2024, it was the first to implement it.

To support the Wi-Fi 6E spectrum, the team installed these to dynamically optimize performance:

• Over 1,100 HPE Aruba outdoor access points
• 150 network switches
• Automated Frequency Coordination (AFC) technology
• Movable Wi-Fi structures for special events

To accomplish this network upgrade without compromising the beauty of Notre Dame Stadium, the team used 3D printers to create custom covers to hide technology on ceilings and in the stands, and crafted solutions to unique railing technology.

Beyond enhancing fan engagement, the upgrade has transformed stadium operations, from more efficient crowd control to better concession and security management. For international sports events, the network even tracks real-time grass growth, ensuring a pristine playing surface. And the infrastructure is prepared not only to support future sports technology but also to facilitate cutting-edge academic research on campus, opening new opportunities for IoT, AR, and AI research.

“This project was about more than just upgrading Wi-Fi. It’s about staying ahead, giving our fans and community the best experience possible, and making this campus a leader in connectivity,” said Notre Dame Infrastructure Architect Mike Atkins. “With this network, the possibilities for fans and academic research are endless.”

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Sources:

networkworld.com/article/3816709/notre-dame-scores-big-with-football-stadium-upgrade-to-wi-fi-6e.html

news.nd.edu/news/notre-dame-stadium-becomes-first-outdoor-university-venue-to-move-to-wi-fi-6e-standard/