Verizon and the National Hockey League (NHL) have signed a multi-year agreement under which the U.S. carrier will become League?s official 5G partner, official wireless services partner and official mobile edge computing (MEC) partner.
Under the terms of the deal, Verizon also becomes an official technology partner for the NHL.
With the focus of the partnership on 5G, Verizon will have opportunities to work with arena operators to install Verizon 5G in select U.S. NHL arenas and to offer consumer demonstrations of this technology at NHL events. Verizon also said that it will pilot the development of a 5G MEC use case for in-venue applications which could include real-time access to video highlights.
?5G Ultra Wideband opens up new opportunities for sports fans and now especially NHL fans to interact with their favorite teams and players, giving them the ability to watch the game from multiple angles, as well as get stats and fantasy scores on players through immersive fan experiences,? said John Nitti, chief media officer for Verizon. ?Through our partnership with the NHL, we?re looking forward to highlighting solutions that enhance the fan experience and working together to build the next generation of hockey fandom no matter where you are.?
?The NHL is excited to partner with Verizon to build the future of the NHL fan experience on a Verizon 5G infrastructure in NHL arenas, at NHL events and at home throughout the United States,? said Dave Lehanski, NHL EVO for business development and innovation. ?Together, the NHL and Verizon will leverage the capabilities of Verizon 5G and mobile edge computing to provide fans with access to entirely new experiences and ways to consume live game content, including leveraging the output of our puck and player tracking system, all in ?true? real time.?
In February, Verizon said that its 5G Ultra Wideband network was already accessible in two dozen professional football stadiums and indoor arenas primarily used for hockey and basketball games.
Verizon had also announced a partnership with NASCAR to modernize 12 NASCAR-owned racetracks and bring race fans, drivers and teams improved connectivity to enhance the at-track experience. That partnership designates Verizon as the official wireless telecommunications and 5G mobility partner of NASCAR, as well as the official at-track Wi-Fi partner of 12 NASCAR-owned racetracks.
As part of this agreement, Verizon will work with NASCAR to upgrade its in-venue wireless communications service, starting with delivering improved Wi-Fi service in 12 racetracks, over the next three years.
