Borussia Dortmund and Extreme bring Wi-Fi 6E-ready network to Germany’s largest stadium

15 April 2024

Extreme has been selected to deploy next-generation wireless and analytics solutions for Borussia Dortmund, one of the largest football clubs in Germany.

The new Wi-Fi 6E-ready network, which will be deployed in partnership with Bell Computer-Netzwerke, will modernize experiences throughout team facilities and the stadium and create a foundation for future technology like in-seat concessions ordering and in-stadium AR/VR.

With a capacity of up to 81,365, Borussia Dortmund’s stadium is the largest football stadium in Germany. In addition to Borussia Dortmund’s matches, the stadium also hosts international events including six matches in the upcoming 2024 European Football Championship.

Next-generation Wi-Fi to enhance fan experiences

The new network will provide both fans and stadium operations staff with reliable wireless connectivity, delivering better experiences for training team members and administrative staff, enabling fans to participate in real-time sports betting, and supporting use cases like faster mobile ticket scanning. Additionally, because the new network is Wi-Fi 6E-ready, Borussia Dortmund will be prepared to embrace the next generation of Wi-Fi and can maximize the return on its network investment as it will be prepared for 6 GHz devices and future potential use cases. Operations teams will benefit from reliable, increased bandwidth, which can support everything from smart security cameras to cashless transactions and digital signage.

Automated, secure, scalable operations

With Extreme Fabric Connect, the Club will be able to quickly scale its network as necessary, enabling the IT team to automatically provision and configure Wi-Fi Access Points (APs) in offices and team training rooms, as well as indoor and outdoor locations throughout the stadium. Additionally, because Fabric networks support hyper-segmentation, Borussia Dortmund can ensure its operational network is entirely separated from the more accessible fan-facing Wi-Fi network, providing an additional layer of security and preventing a lateral attack from interrupting operations or stalling a match.

Real-time network insights, improved data-driven strategies

ExtremeAnalytics will provide the Club with real-time insights into activity, users, devices, and applications on the Wi-Fi network. As it taps into network analytics, the Club can make better decisions around stadium staffing based on fan foot traffic, identify potential sponsorship opportunities based on what applications fans are using, as well as make better decisions about how to evolve services in the stadium to keep fans engaged during every match.

We want to offer our fans, as well as employees and players, the greatest possible connectivity – both for an impressive fan experience, but also for smooth processes behind the scenes. Our new Wi-Fi 6E ready network will enable us to find new opportunities for sponsorships and monetization, lean into new fan experiences like real-time sports betting, and ensure we are ready for future use cases that we may not be aware of today. We now feel that we are prepared to increase our goals for technology usage throughout our offices and team operations, and we’re excited to offer fans more modern experiences when they return to matches next season.

Carsten Cramer, Managing Director, Borussia Dortmund

The network is fundamental to almost all areas of a company's business, including stadiums and other venues. First-class connectivity is necessary, not only for outstanding fan experiences, but also to ensure new innovative digital offerings and services are fully supported. Borussia Dortmund’s new network will enable it to optimize matchday operations throughout its stadium and lay the foundation so they can build toward a digitally driven future for the Club.

Thomas Mehrfort, Head of Sports & Venues EMEA, Extreme Networks

Through this partnership with Extreme, Borussia Dortmund's stadium is poised to redefine the fan experience. With a state-of-the-art Wi-Fi infrastructure, scalable operations, and real-time insights, the stadium isn't just a place to watch the game—it's a hub of innovation where tradition meets technology. As fans eagerly anticipate the next matchday, they can look forward to an immersive, seamless experience that reflects the spirit of the game.