Verizon chooses the NFL spotlight to roll out its 5G coverage campaign
As the NFL kicks off, Verizon will be midfield at 13 NFL stadiums touting its Verizon 5G Ultra Wideband service. In addition, former Patriot star Rob Gronkowski will test his speed against 5G.
Verizon engineer Eric Nagy explains the NFL partnership with the company
Verizon is building what it claims is the most powerful 5G network in America and is expanding its footprint to 13 NFL stadiums to coincide with the kickoff of the 2019-2020 season, the NFL’s 100th. The brand says that bringing 5G to stadiums will enable fans to access higher capacity, faster download speeds and lower latency while using 5G-enabled devices.
A spot featuring Verizon engineer Eric Nagy explains the NFL partnership and how it relates to stadiums and consumers.
Some stadiums included in the 5G kickoff include Denver’s Empower Field at Mile High, Chicago’s Soldier Field, New York’s MetLife Stadium, Seattle’s CenturyLink Field and Gillette Stadium in Massachusetts where the champion Patriots play.
Former Pats star Gronkowski gets a chance to show off his speed in a spot for Verizon that pits him running a 40-yard dash against a Patriots fan downloading an episode of Hard Knocks on Verizon 5G. Needless to say, 5G is faster than the ex-tight end.
Verizon 5G Ultra Wideband service will be available in areas of the stadiums. The telecom states that service will be concentrated in parts of the seating areas but could be available in other locations in and around the stadium as well. When customers with 5G enabled smartphones move outside Verizon’s 5G Ultra Wideband coverage area, the 5G-enabled devices will transition the signal to Verizon’s 4G network. In some cities the stadium will be the only place with Verizon 5G Ultra Wideband service, offering fans a unique 5G experience they can’t get anywhere else in their local area.
For fans on the go, Verizon Media’s Yahoo Sports offers live streaming of local and primetime games.
“Today’s announcement is a key moment in our partnership with the NFL. We’re proud to work with such an iconic organization to bring Verizon 5G Ultra Wideband service to fans across the country. Verizon 5G is fundamentally changing the way we live, work and play, and we expect the impact on the sports entertainment industry to be massive - it promises to revolutionize the entire game-day experience for fans,” said Hans Vestberg, chief executive officer, Verizon.
NFL commissioner Roger Goodell added: “As we celebrate the NFL’s 100th season we look forward to the day when Verizon will have their 5G Ultra Wideband service in the stadiums for all 32 NFL clubs. Having this cutting-edge technology in our stadiums will greatly enhance the game-day experience and bring a multitude of benefits to our fans and clubs in a number of different ways.”
