Cisco To Modernize Venue’s Infrastructure Including the Roll Out of High-Performance, Next Generation Wi-Fi 7
ATLANTA — The Atlanta Hawks & State Farm Arena today announced a multiyear partnership with Cisco, the worldwide leader in AI networking and cybersecurity, naming the company a Proud Technology Partner of the organization. Through the multi-year partnership, Cisco’s industry-leading solutions will continue to power the award-winning State Farm Arena, providing a more secure and reliable network infrastructure for fans and venue operators.
The partnership builds on a long-standing relationship between the two organizations and represents a shared commitment to building an AI-ready, scalable foundation capable of scaling alongside the organization’s ambitions for State Farm Arena.
“We are thrilled to partner with Cisco to enhance both the fan and concertgoer experience at our venue,” said Kim Rometo, Hawks and State Farm Arena Executive Vice President, Chief Technology and Innovations Officer. “This partnership strengthens our foundational backbone to deliver exceptional experiences for fans, artists, and guests.”
The Hawks and Cisco are partnering to revamp the arena’s network infrastructure with the rollout of Wi-Fi 7. This upgrade provides fans with seamless connectivity to share content, access real-time stats, and navigate the arena, while ensuring staff have the secure and reliable performance needed for critical operations like ticketing and point-of-sale (POS) systems that keep the venue running smoothly.
In addition, the Hawks will unveil the State Farm Arena Production Command Center powered by Cisco, to serve as a 365-day-a-year hub where the live entertainment and production teams meet to shape the overall experience for both Hawks fans and concertgoers. Last season, the Hawks ranked among the top-three teams in overall in-game experience and in-game technology, based on a league-wide season-ticket member survey conducted by the NBA.
“Atlanta is one of the most innovative cities in the country, and the Hawks are constantly challenging what a modern sports and entertainment experience can look like,” said Anne Ristau, Head of Global Sponsorships at Cisco. “We’re proud to partner with the Hawks to help create the technology foundation that enables them to deliver extraordinary experiences for fans while operating more securely and intelligently behind the scenes.”
The Hawks join an esteemed list of marquee sports and entertainment organizations, teams, events, and venues around the world that rely on Cisco technology and expertise, including McLaren Mastercard Formula 1 Team, United States Golf Association (USGA), Live Nation Entertainment, Madison Square Garden, and many more.
For more information about the Hawks’ upcoming games at State Farm Arena, visit Hawks.com/schedule.