AEG and Mobilitie Expand Strategic Partnership to Bring Next-Generation Wireless Connectivity to Staples Center and L.A. Live

SOURCE: AEG, Mobilitie

New Mobilitie Wireless Network Will Facilitate the Arrival of Ground-Breaking 5G Technology Set to Increase Operational Efficiency and Transform the Fan Experience

LOS ANGELES – June 22, 2020 – AEG, the world’s leading sports and live entertainment company and Mobilitie, the largest privately held wireless infrastructure provider in the United States, are expanding their partnership to bring next-generation wireless technology and state-of-the art connectivity to STAPLES Center and its adjacent 4 million square foot sports and entertainment district, L.A. LIVE, in downtown Los Angeles. The expanded agreement, brokered by AEG Global Partnerships, underscores the long-term strategic alliance between both organizations and builds on an already successful partnership at nearby Dignity Health Sports Park, where Mobilitie has served as the exclusive wireless communication services and Distributed Antenna System (DAS) provider of the multiuse sports stadium since 2017.  

As part of the expanded agreement, Mobilitie will bring next-level connectivity to STAPLES Center and L.A. LIVE with the development of updated, state-of-the-art wireless infrastructure that will meet future wireless demands and enable 5G connectivity, allowing for expanded digital initiatives, improved venue operations and enhanced fan experiences. The upgrade will take place in a phased approach, beginning with STAPLES Center and then expand across the L.A. LIVE entertainment district. Once complete, the updated network will equip STAPLES Center and the entire L.A. LIVE campus with one of the fastest, most technologically advanced multi-carrier wireless networks in the country.

“This next step in our relationship with Mobilitie, a global leader when it comes to wireless solutions, is a significant investment in the advancement of STAPLES Center and L.A. LIVE,” said Lee Zeidman, President of STAPLES Center and L.A. LIVE. “Together we are paving the way for the arrival of 5G technology and upgrading our world-class facilities with a high-performing network that will revolutionize connectivity for our guests and allow us to help shape the future of sports and live entertainment as we know it.” 

Wireless connectivity is providing a critical backbone to nearly every major industry and transforming the nature of business and life all around the world. This includes the rapidly evolving landscape of sports and live entertainment, where the demand for faster and more reliable coverage has continued to skyrocket. With IoT technology and mobile consumption on the rise, today’s digital-savvy fans live, work and play across multiple devices and have become accustomed to fully immersive experiences with end-to-end connectivity. Whether at home or in-venue, fans expect to be able to engage in real-time social media sharing, on-demand picture sharing, video streaming, mobile app usage and so much more. As a result, large-scale sports and live entertainment venues around the world have seen a steady increase in data usage each year, facilitating the need for network innovation and increasingly robust connectivity solutions across the industry.  

With the ability to move large amounts of data more quickly, 5G represents the next generation of connectivity that will provide the foundational backbone and efficiency needed to support evolving consumer demands. Equipped with faster data sharing and near zero latency, 5G will deliver an unprecedented user experience that increases opportunities for fans to connect to larger amounts of data, in-real time with ease. As a veteran provider of complete wireless solutions, Mobilitie is pioneering the delivery of this next generation technology, which will enable STAPLES Center and L.A. LIVE to provide even more exceptional experiences and seamlessly meet the needs of connected fans no matter where they are in the world, including being in-venue or off-site.  

“We are proud to be strengthening our relationship with AEG, a forward-thinking leader known for its commitment to excellence and innovation,” said Christos Karmis, president and CEO of Mobilitie. “This next phase of our work together at STAPLES Center and L.A. LIVE will deliver unprecedented connectivity to fans, and will also allow us to showcase our next generation wireless technology in two of the world’s most iconic sports and entertainment venues. We look forward to being a part of this significant network transformation, which will positively impact millions of customers around the globe.”

In addition to increasing data transmission and speeds, the arrival of Mobilitie’s next generation wireless network at STAPLES Center and L.A. LIVE, also provides a significant opportunity to enhance the fan experience in new and innovative ways. Promising speeds up to tens of times faster and lower latency than 4G, 5G will open up the possibilities for new forms of entertainment and dynamic experiences for fans both inside and outside the venue. Future applications of the technology are endless, including enabling new opportunities for fan engagement such as interactive AR and VR driven experiences, immersive-digitally enhanced activations as well as smart equipment and the potential for new camera angles that would bring fans in the arena and at home that much closer to the action of gameday.

For sports and live entertainment fans, this expanded partnership represents a major leap forward in terms of transformative new experiences and connectivity, but it also will significantly improve venue operations. As the home of four professional sports franchises (the NBA’s Los Angeles Lakers and Los Angeles Clippers, the NHL’s Los Angeles Kings and the WNBA’s Los Angeles Sparks), hundreds of live events, restaurants, sports and music venues, nightclubs, and theaters, STAPLES Center and L.A. LIVE collectively host more than 20 million guests annually. The benefits of next-generation connectivity for venues and entertainment districts of this size and scale go far beyond fast internet speeds. Being armed with the power of high-performance, wireless infrastructure will enable STAPLES Center and LA. LIVE to unlock innovative new technology to significantly enhance day-to-day operations and improve overall venue efficiencies. Key elements that are critical to successful venue management such as safety and security, parking, indoor wayfinding, touchless electronic ticketing, mobile PoS, IoT, private networks, and building maintenance are just some of the capabilities that can be delivered as the result of 5G, making STAPLES Center and L.A. LIVE that much more state-of-the art. 

“We are incredibly proud of the relationship we have built with Mobilitie over the years. The growth of our partnership underscores AEG’s enduring commitment to deliver a superior fan experience through cutting-edge technology that takes both our fans, venues and overall business goals into consideration,” said Nick Baker, chief operating officer, AEG Global Partnerships.

ABOUT MOBILITIE

Mobilitie is the largest privately-held telecommunications infrastructure company in the United States. As a global provider of complete wireless solutions, Mobilitie helps people stay connected on their mobile devices wherever they are. It funds, deploys and operates next-generation infrastructure that enables robust coverage and 5G services and speeds. 

Mobilitie wireless infrastructure includes communication towers, indoor and outdoor neutral host DAS networks, small cells, IoT, and Wi-Fi networks. Mobilitie's Advanced Technology Group engineers innovative wireless solutions that improve wireless service at the largest and most complex venues across all major industries-including sports and entertainment, real estate, hospitality, education, healthcare, government and transportation. 

Mobilitie is headquartered in Newport Beach, California and has regional offices across the United States and internationally. To learn more about our wireless coverage solutions, visit us at www.mobilitie.com. 

ABOUT AEG

Headquartered in Los Angeles, California, AEG is the world's leading sports and live entertainment company. The company operates in the following business segments: Facilities, which through its affiliation with ASM Global, owns, manages or consults with more than 300 preeminent arenas, stadiums, convention centers and performing arts venues around the world; Music through AEG Presents, which is dedicated to all aspects of live contemporary music performances, including producing and promoting global and regional concert tours, music and special events and world-renowned festivals such as the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival; Real Estate, which develops world-class venues, as well as major sports and entertainment districts like STAPLES Center and L.A. LIVE, Mercedes Platz in Berlin and The O2 in London; Sports, as the world's largest operator of high-profile sporting events and sports franchises including the LA Kings, LA Galaxy and Eisbären Berlin; and Global Partnerships, which oversees worldwide sales and servicing of sponsorships including naming rights, premium seating and other strategic partnerships. Through its worldwide network of venues, portfolio of powerful sports and music brands and its integrated entertainment districts, AEG entertains more than 160 million guests annually. More information about AEG can be found at www.aegworldwide.com.