Business Week - 49ers' new stadium is a dud

[Marvin49]

Riiiiiiight.....

...but please tell me another place that has a 40GB connection, the ability to host all 68,500 people SIMULTANEOUSLY and...OBTW....has its own in stadium studio that will offer multiple angles of every replay...from your phone.



If your curious...no stadium in the NFL supports more than 20K simultaneous connections...and NONE offer replays.

...that's on top of ticketless entry, ordering food, DELIVERING food to your seat, etc and numerous other features.

...and that's JUST the wireless. I haven't even mentioned the restaurant, Team Store, Team Museum, and everything else.

...but wait...its sucks. Don't ever come here...and tell all your friends not to come either.

Marvin.. you sick homer.

You know that regardless of how much pipe the place has that the connection to the device is still limited to the client, period. All that broadcast? LMAO... Good luck with all that replay action. Trust me. It is going to be seriously disappointing if even a small percentage of the population use it.

I wonder how they tested capacity and load, by simulating a shitload of wireless connections? We did this in multiple places for 5 figure user population, even tech companies have trouble with that crap when provisioning massive venues. I hope they setup a QoS for ordering food, otherwise dudes aint getting their Jeff Garcia Turd Dog that sounds pretty good and beer because the replay feed is still 5 plays behind and timing out.

It's a great story, but I promise eternal nightmares until people are convinced that it is jacked. Then the 300 people that haven't given up will have a wonderful experience. Yeah... Replays, WHO GIVES A CRAP ABOUT REPLAYS? Now stream me the live feed while I am shitting my Jeff Garcia dog in the 3rd quarter and I will be impressed, but I am telling you, the connections will continue to be unstable, drop, reconnect, pass off to another switch while in the middle of ordering food and there will be a million excuses.

I wonder if I can hack the scoreboard? I have already checked out the app. Hmm.. a website made into mobile version. That's YOUR APP. Good for you Skipper! :thirishdrinkers:

We'll see.

I'm curious how well it will work as well. A lot of work has/is going into that system, so we'll just have to see if they are able to pull it off. I know that they have literally thousands of WAPs all over the stadium and I work for Brocade who is doing the backend and they are spending alot of time and money getting it up and running. The WAPs are another vendor but not sure who exactly.

I wasn't in the stadium for the Soccer game, but I can tell you there was an option to watch the game live on my phone in the Levi's Stadium App. I tried it and it required I be on the stadium wireless to use. I'd be curious if anyone actually tried it.

But you are probably right...the whole thing won't work. Total crap. Not worth the trip.

 

[RolandDeschain]

It is known.

Was it the possessive apostrophe? it should have been "Seahawk" if I followed it with an individual instead of a group.

OR... What about Seahawks'

Nah... that is not correct either.

The way you used it, either "Seahawk" or "Seahawks" would have been correct. No apostrophe either way.

 

[loafoftatupu]

We'll see.

I'm curious how well it will work as well. A lot of work has/is going into that system, so we'll just have to see if they are able to pull it off. I know that they have literally thousands of WAPs all over the stadium and I work for Brocade who is doing the backend and they are spending alot of time and money getting it up and running. The WAPs are another vendor but not sure who exactly.

I wasn't in the stadium for the Soccer game, but I can tell you there was an option to watch the game live on my phone in the Levi's Stadium App. I tried it and it required I be on the stadium wireless to use. I'd be curious if anyone actually tried it.

But you are probably right...the whole thing won't work. Total crap. Not worth the trip.

Shut up Marvin.

Actually, I genuinely believe that it's actual long term demand will be minimal. There will be guys that use it just to say they can initially, then it's value will drop off rapidly. When that happens it will actually be handling a more acceptable load. Fun idea, but what's the point? Is it to give the Niner fan a view of the replay not shown to the visiting staff on the larger display?

For what reason? Is it storing the video or is it only streaming content? The worst kind of strain in networking is streaming video. The optimistic view on it is that we are only talking about 10 seconds of video, so it won't be huge, but the connection count? Yikes!

I would much rather have the fans viewing replays on their phone rather than causing disturbance to the Seahawks offense

 

[Scottemojo]

Loaf, you big meanie.

The reason is because the NFL is convinced people might avoid going to games if they can't be wired all the damn time. Gotta check those fantasy scores, right?

The home experience has gotten so good that stadiums feel the need to compete.

 

[loafoftatupu]

But you are probably right...the whole thing won't work. Total crap. Not worth the trip.

Probably not worth the trip. :shock:

There is a very high probability that I am right. As I said, I will get to experience it first hand in December, by that time the initial novelty of it will be in the past and the actual use should be left for the guys more interested in the ability rather than the game itself.

But you are welcome to take your ball.

 

[loafoftatupu]

Loaf, you big meanie.

The reason is because the NFL is convinced people might avoid going to games if they can't be wired all the damn time. Gotta check those fantasy scores, right?

The home experience has gotten so good that stadiums feel the need to compete.

TOTALLY agree with that. But I have never had a problem with that. Fantasy updates are fricking REQUIRED while at The Clink. Get that last minute injury report. I have Verizon and AT&T both to make those updates in the event of a signal issue. There is a AT&T DAS setup at CLink, but the Verizon one is always smoking anyways.

Your right about the home experience. Personally I tend to be a lot more relaxed for the away games. Well, you know what it is like. Screaming off and on for 3 hours. I am beat by the time I get home. I enjoy the large screen home experience in at least 5.1, with food and beer that I want for a 10th of the price. Although luxury suite days are better than that. There is a lot to enjoy about walking out of the stadium after a playoff win or a big win. The pure and unconditional joy shared with some dude just walking by that high 5's you. Or those twins that sit behind me, kissing me and my partner after Romo bobbled the snap (I was FREAKING that the wife might see that on TV, so I fricking told her it happened dammit)

The NFL needs to provide more drunk twins that don't care if you are married. They want more fans? forget replay on the mobile.

 

[Scottemojo]

Seattle is the exception. None do the fan experience like that. And it isn't for everybody, I am sure there are people who stay home because the Clink is too rowdy.

I wonder if the Niner code of conduct for fans transfers to Levi? Sit down, don't be too loud, say oooooooh aaaaaaah, or we will kick you out? They were bragging that this place will be louder, but will they allow fans to be louder or stand up? With the cost to go to a game essentially tripled, my guess would be that the crowd for the Niners will only become more gentrified over time.

 

[Marvin49]

Loaf, you big meanie.

The reason is because the NFL is convinced people might avoid going to games if they can't be wired all the damn time. Gotta check those fantasy scores, right?

The home experience has gotten so good that stadiums feel the need to compete.

A lot of truth there.

 

[loafoftatupu]

Any stadium could be loud. I have never known a time where a Seahawks game wasn't loud. I remember once in the 80s, the defense stuffed Bo Jackson on a goal line play, got a fumble and returned it 99 yards for a TD. The crowd was insane for literally over a minute after the TD.

It was a false start called dead before the ball was snapped and nobody knew except the officials. Not ESPN, not anyone. The stadium can be conducive to noise, but the crowd has to make it. This Levi's thing might have some cool stuff, but the contractor didn't supply 12s to go with it.

Actually that night we got into with a Raiders fan who thought our "Bo doesn't know crap" sign was in the way. Fortunately, he was distracted by the tennis ball that nailed him and he pursued the source. The last I saw of him was this mass of bodies falling, with the Raider fan being escorted by the PoPo. Ahh.. the Kingdome days.

 

[Marvin49]

Any stadium could be loud. I have never known a time where a Seahawks game wasn't loud. I remember once in the 80s, the defense stuffed Bo Jackson on a goal line play, got a fumble and returned it 99 yards for a TD. The crowd was insane for literally over a minute after the TD.

It was a false start called dead before the ball was snapped and nobody knew except the officials. Not ESPN, not anyone. The stadium can be conducive to noise, but the crowd has to make it. This Levi's thing might have some cool stuff, but the contractor didn't supply 12s to go with it.

Actually that night we got into with a Raiders fan who thought our "Bo doesn't know crap" sign was in the way. Fortunately, he was distracted by the tennis ball that nailed him and he pursued the source. The last I saw of him was this mass of bodies falling, with the Raider fan being escorted by the PoPo. Ahh.. the Kingdome days.

I agree on the fans making the noise. Some stadiums lend themselves to amplifying the noise (Seattle, KC, New Orleans) but of course the fans have a lot to do with it.

To be real on the stadium....all the wifi, apps, replays, jumbotrons, etc are pretty cool....

...but the biggest reason I like the new stadium is its a beautiful new place to play. Traffic issues aside, from the perspective of walking around the building its SOOOOOOOOOOOO much easier than Candlestick.

At the 'stick You had to take one of 3 huge escalators (that were always packed) to even get to the main concourse and then when you did the walkway was about 20 feet wide all the way around. Levis main concourse is uber easy to get to with two huge staircases and a zillion escalators and once you get there is about 70 feet wide..and that doesn't include an outer ring that makes it easy to get from place to place and not run into food lines.

At Candlestick you had to walk out of the seating area, around a corner and wait in line for food "beverages" and were completely removed from the field. At Levis, its all wide open and you can see the field while in line for food. You are never really removed from the action.

I don't view any of that BTW as somehow unique to Levi's. Its just an astronomical leap from Candlestick.

Some have said that Niner fans are "shoving Levi's in Seattles face". I don't see it that way at all. I've never been there, but from everything I've read and the pictures I've seen on TV the Clink appears to be a fantastic building. Levis is probably a bit more advanced (better wifi, bigger scoreboards) but to me Levis isn't a stamp of "we have a better stadium than you", it's more "we are now in the same ballpark in terms of venues".

 

[loafoftatupu]

I have never used the wifi at CLink so I wouldn't actually know. All that has ever mattered was being able to watch the game and not wait to piss. Other than being connected to the regular stuff, during a game I just don't mess with electronics. I hardly take pictures unless I am down on the field during pregame. This is the cool part. Even with fairly decent seats, unless you are actually on the field you don't realize how close the fans are to the field. From the sidelines one could easily pick someone out the crowd. The seats just seem like they are on top of you. I do have a friend with access to a suite typically, so the pissing part has never been an issue. The food they bring to the suite never disappoints, but I can't say that I have ever ate anything from concessions that I didn't like either.

There used to be this place on the south end, not far from my regular seats that made these killer cheese steak sandwiches, I think it is gone though. I have never been there sober so it might not even be where I thought it was. I actually thought we would lose the noise when they took the dome, but that was just nonsense. Even at intros the place is crazy loud. My daughter won't even go because it freaks her out.

 

[Marvin49]

I have never used the wifi at CLink so I wouldn't actually know. All that has ever mattered was being able to watch the game and not wait to piss. Other than being connected to the regular stuff, during a game I just don't mess with electronics. I hardly take pictures unless I am down on the field during pregame. This is the cool part. Even with fairly decent seats, unless you are actually on the field you don't realize how close the fans are to the field. From the sidelines one could easily pick someone out the crowd. The seats just seem like they are on top of you. I do have a friend with access to a suite typically, so the pissing part has never been an issue. The food they bring to the suite never disappoints, but I can't say that I have ever ate anything from concessions that I didn't like either.

There used to be this place on the south end, not far from my regular seats that made these killer cheese steak sandwiches, I think it is gone though. I have never been there sober so it might not even be where I thought it was. I actually thought we would lose the noise when they took the dome, but that was just nonsense. Even at intros the place is crazy loud. My daughter won't even go because it freaks her out.

For me...I'm just hoping to be able to look at replays and stuff during commercial timeouts and halftime.

There was no wifi at Candlestick to speak of and the Cell Service essentially vanished once people started showing up at the game.

I'm a "don't leave my seat ever" type of guy at games. One of the things that is supposed to be on the app is a feature to tell you where the shortest bathroom lines are. LOL. The food delivery was important too because I hate missing game action when getting food.

Luckily my section is kinda tucked away on the second deck of the suite tower side and has semi private bathrooms, Burgers, Franks and Beer....pretty sweet.

 

[Shadowhawk]

...but the biggest reason I like the new stadium is its a beautiful new place to play. Traffic issues aside, from the perspective of walking around the building its SOOOOOOOOOOOO much easier than Candlestick.

You're not exactly setting the bar high there, Marvin. Escaping Alcatraz was easier than getting around Candlestick.

 

[Largent80]

GASP!

Traffic. Gee, I guess that's why they essentially scheduled practice events to work out those issues.

Dude got what he wanted...bunch of mouse clicks. I've been in the stadium for the Open House. It's anything but a dud. Dudes a moron.

There are always kinks with a new venue. If you guys like tho I can show you a zillion other accounts if peeps who love the new digs and have said its LOUD. The Suite tower reflects sound directly to the field.

Now I know you guys are gonna say I'm just sticking my head in the sand, but peeps, I've been in the building. I couldn't be happier.

So....Ooooooh.... Aaaaaah will be amplified? Whats next? adopting "back on the chain gang" as the official Oooooh Ahhhh song?... :lol:

[youtube]CK3uf5V0pDA[/youtube]

 

[Marvin49]

...but the biggest reason I like the new stadium is its a beautiful new place to play. Traffic issues aside, from the perspective of walking around the building its SOOOOOOOOOOOO much easier than Candlestick.

You're not exactly setting the bar high there, Marvin. Escaping Alcatraz was easier than getting around Candlestick.

Nope.

Still...its not just a minor improvement. It's an ENORMOUS improvement. The stadium seats the same number of people but takes up twice the footprint.

It shows.

 

[Marvin49]

BTW...I just saw these in the last hour or so....

....these are renderings of the Montana/DeBartolo Hotel/Restaurant project across from the stadium that begins construction next year. Should be done for SB 50.

...and then behind that where there is currently a County Golf Course, they are developing a 6.5 billion Hotel/Mall/Condensed Living/Downtown area.

All separate projects, but Santa Clara has big plans for the area.

EDIT: Just found the City Center preliminary plans...

 

[SonicHawk]

Awesome, hopefully they tear down that eye-sore of a stadium so those better looking projects can be seen.

 

[RolandDeschain]

Looks like some nice accommodations will be in place for Seahawks fans coming to see our team achieving the first threepeat in NFL history.

Thanks, Marvin. :th2thumbs:

 

[loafoftatupu]

Awesome, hopefully they tear down that eye-sore of a stadium so those better looking projects can be seen.

LMAO

 

[Marvin49]

Looks like some nice accommodations will be in place for Seahawks fans coming to see our team achieving the first threepeat in NFL history.

Thanks, Marvin. :th2thumbs:

Saw that one coming.