SAN JOSE, Calif., Dec. 13, 2016 /PRNewswire/
-- Extreme Networks, Inc. (Nasdaq: EXTR)
today announced an agreement with the National Football League (NFL) to become the Official Wi-Fi and Wi-Fi Analytics provider of
Super Bowl LI. This announcement follows Extreme's wired and wireless deployment at Super Bowl LI Stadium in Houston, Texas and marks the first time that Extreme has implemented its wired and wireless solution at a
stadium hosting the season's most anticipated game. This is the fourth Super Bowl powered by ExtremeAnalytics™.
Since Extreme announced its partnership with the NFL in 2014, it has deployed its end-to-end software-driven
ExtremeWirelessTM networking solution throughout 10 NFL stadiums to support the league's increased focus on advanced
wireless standards. As a result, in-stadium wireless usage has increased from one terabyte to 3.5 times that on game day as a
result of the increased number of fans accessing Wi-Fi networks game to game, year over year. The Ravens are only in their
second season with public-facing Wi-Fi, and the team's average Wi-Fi adoption percentage is 34 percent – peaking to 40 percent
adoption in some games – that's over 28,000 concurrent users on the network. In addition, fan engagement has grown significantly
with easy access to team-developed mobile apps: in 2016 the Philadelphia Eagles Game Day App became one of the top five sports
apps accessed by fans during games at Lincoln Financial Field, an increase of 4X from in 2015.
Fan usage of the NFL's Super Bowl Game Day app also skyrocketed in the last year, receiving the most hits to date at the 2016
Super Bowl. Other notable trends collected throughout NFL Stadiums include an increase in streaming content and social media
apps. In 2016, Snapchat emerged as the number one bandwidth intensive app in stadiums powered by ExtremeAnalytics, followed by
Facebook. All of this data was collected, analyzed and made actionable through ExtremeAnalytics, which is currently deployed in
18 NFL stadiums. With this network visibility, the technical teams in each stadium are able to adjust their wired and wireless
strategy to support and anticipate the unique needs of their fans.
As part of Extreme's wireless support, 20 certified Extreme Networks Wi-Fi Coaches™ will be at Super Bowl Stadium on Super
Bowl Sunday assisting fans with Wi-Fi connectivity and access to the Super Bowl Game Day App. The Wi-Fi coaches will interact
with fans before the gates open to ensure they have all of the information required to access Super Bowl Stadium's network. They
will also be in constant communication with the stadium's Network Operations Center and continuously monitor social media for
Wi-Fi connectivity alerts. This program is in place to elevate the fans' Super Bowl experience and enable them to capture and
share their memories on their mobile device.
NRG Stadium Wi-Fi Deployment Key Facts
- Local Support and Partners – Ahead of the 2016 NFL season, Extreme Networks partnered with 5Bars, Harris County
Sports & Convention Corporation, the Houston Texans, and the Houston Super Bowl Host Committee to deploy the high-density
Wi-Fi solution at NRG Stadium which is hosting this year's Super Bowl.
- Uniquely Designed for Super Bowl LI Stadium – Trained network architects surveyed the stadium and considered all the
parameters of the physical structure to design a deployment strategy that fit the needs of Super Bowl LI Stadium.
- Robust, Secure Wi-Fi Connectivity – 5 Bars installed ExtremeWireless custom under seat access points (APs) and their
enclosures throughout the seating of the stadium. The project also included outdoor coverage, along with club, suites, field,
administration, and back office areas. The total system included 1260 access points installed throughout the stadium
complex.
- Referenceable Analytics – In addition to deploying its wireless solution, Extreme also implemented ExtremeAnalytics,
which enables the IT team at Super Bowl LI Stadium to monitor the network bandwidth, ensuring it reaches every fan in the
stadium on game day.
Executive Perspectives
Michelle McKenna-Doyle, CIO and SVP, The National Football League
"In 2013, the NFL implemented a new wireless standard to support the needs of fans in every stadium. This initiative
was incredibly important to the League as fans now expect seamless connectivity and are capturing their memories and experiences
through their mobile device. We are proud to have updated over 28 NFL facilities to meet this new standard, and look forward to
working with our partner Extreme Networks as we continue to implement more advanced wireless capabilities."
Dave Wheat, Chief Administrative Officer, Buffalo Bills
"Offering secure, reliable Wi-Fi connectivity at New Era Field is critical to the in-stadium experience for our fans.
High-density Wi-Fi is also an asset that supports and enables our organization's strategic business initiatives. With
ExtremeWireless and ExtremeAnalytics, we're able to better understand the evolving mobile engagement behaviors and preferences of
our fans, and incorporate this intelligence into the broader goals of our organization. This includes the integration and
enablement of key fan engagement tools, which drive a more valuable, convenient, personalized experience for our fans. As a
result, the Bills are able to form a stronger and more meaningful connection with our fan base while supporting the overarching
goals of the business."
Roy Sommerhof, SVP of Stadium Operations, Baltimore Ravens
"Providing an excellent fan experience at M&T Bank Stadium is a top priority for the Ravens' organization. In
today's mobile world, our fans expect to stay connected on game day, and view in-stadium Wi-Fi as an essential component to meet
these expectations. With Extreme, the Ravens deployed a high-density Wi-Fi solution at M&T Bank Stadium prior to the 2015 NFL
season. We have one season of fan-facing Wi-Fi under our belt, and the engagement numbers continue to climb as we continue into
the 2016 NFL season. With peak Wi-Fi usage reaching as high as 40 percent, it's safe to say that our decision to invest in this
technology has already proven successful."
Don Smolenski, President, Philadelphia Eagles
"For fans today, attending a game goes far beyond just watching the action on the field. We all want to experience the
same connectivity in-stadium that we enjoy during our everyday lives, whether that means interacting with friends and family,
keeping up with scores and replays from around the league, or personalizing the in-stadium experience. Our partnership with
Extreme Networks has allowed us to enhance the stadium experience for Eagles fans and has helped us to better understand the
mobile trends and engagement in and around Lincoln Financial Field."
Norman Rice, EVP of Global Marketing, Supply Chain and Corporate Development, Extreme
Networks
"Following Extreme's wireless implementation across ten NFL stadiums, we've seen how the network and analytics
capabilities are driving the unique business goals of each team. By collecting key learnings through ExtremeAnalytics, we've
helped our customers leverage that data to further improve the fan experience. We're thrilled to provide our wireless at the
Super Bowl for the first time and support the NFL and its fans at the biggest game of the year."
Additional Resources
Forward Looking Statements:
Statements in this release, including those concerning the Company's partnership with National Football League
(NFL), the relationship's potential for optimizing fan engagement, in-stadium wireless and fan application usage, and the NFL's
ability to monitor the network bandwidth in areas of critical business functions and event management are forward-looking
statements within the meaning of the "safe harbor" provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These
forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this release. Actual results or events could differ materially from those
anticipated in those forward-looking statements as a result of certain factors, including: the effectiveness of our solutions as
compared with our customers' needs; a highly competitive business environment for software equipment; the possibility that we
might experience delays in the development or introduction of new technology and products; customer response to our new
technology and products; and a dependency on third parties for certain components and for the manufacturing of our
products.
More information about potential factors that could affect the Company's business and financial results is included in the
Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including, without limitation, under the captions:
"Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations," and "Risk Factors". Except as
required under the U.S. federal securities laws and the rules and regulations of the U.S. Securities and Exchange
Commission, Extreme Networks disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statements after the date of this
release, whether as a result of new information, future events, developments, changes in assumptions or otherwise.
About Extreme Networks
Extreme Networks, Inc. (EXTR) delivers software-driven networking solutions that help IT departments everywhere deliver
the ultimate business outcome: stronger connections with customers, partners and employees. Wired to wireless, desktop to data
center, on premise or through the cloud, we go to extreme measures for our customers in more than 80 countries, delivering 100%
insourced call-in technical support to organizations large and small, including some of the world's leading companies in
business, hospitality, retail, transportation and logistics, education, government, healthcare and manufacturing. Founded in
1996, Extreme is headquartered in San Jose, California. For more information, visit Extreme's
website or call 1-888-257-3000.
Extreme Networks, ExtremeWireless, ExtremeManagement, ExtremeAnalytics, ExtremeControl, Extreme Networks Wi-Fi Coaches and the
Extreme Networks logo are either trademarks or registered trademarks of Extreme Networks, Inc. in the United
States and/or other countries. Other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
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SOURCE Extreme Networks, Inc.