Take Me Out To the High Tech Ballpark

High Tech has reached America’s favorite sport, baseball. CNN recently ran an article highlighting some of the most noteworthy tech upgrades some baseball parks have made to enhance the fan experience. I will not rewrite the article; you can check it out here. However I do want to highlight three technical stadium upgrades and my view of whether or not they are truly enhancing the fan’s experience:

Enhancer: Milwaukee Brewers are replacing their old scoreboard with, “a 5,940-square foot scoreboard in center field. At 54 by 110 feet, the Daktronics' board boasts true 1080i display containing more than 2.35 million pixels, compared to the 134,000 pixels produced by the dual 10-year-old scoreboards it replaces.” Beyond offering amazing pixel-power, this scoreboard does not require air conditioning to cool it down (unlike their old scoreboard). The Brewers estimate they will see a 50-65% reduction in energy consumption from cooling costs alone! High quality viewing for the fans, environmentally superior and long-term cost savings, how could this not be an enhancer to the fan experience?

Detractor: Tampa Bay Rays installing AstroTurf in Tropicana Field. This is the most high-tech lawn around (and the official synthetic turf of the MLB). “The fiber's omega, or "C", dual-column design imparts mechanical memory to the fiber, so that it pops up even after repeated trampling by cleats and baseballs. Using 60 ounces of fiber per square yard ensures the surface's long-term durability.” While extremely impressive, frankly my traditional self prefers the real stuff. I know, Tropicana Field is a dome…real grass is not possible. Beyond that, this AstroTurf is more durable, longer lasting and visually more appealing than the fake grass of yesteryear. Regardless, few things are more beautiful than a well-manicured genuine grass outfield. I vote taking the Safeco Stadium (Seattle Mariners) approach, retractable roof-real grass.

Awesome Enhancer: WiFi Access at the White Sox US Cellular Field. This is where my favorite baseball team and my blog crash in a magnificent way. I love the White Sox, and for the longest time could not understand how providing WiFi in the stadium in anyway enhances the fan experience. I thought, ‘who is dragging their laptops or tablets to the South Side Cell looking for WiFi?’ After all, US Cellar Park does not have a bad seat in the house, and between innings SouthPaw entertains the crowds. Then I realized the brilliance of WiFi, it is an enabler to work remotely. Now fans can be in the stands, enjoying the game, and if an emergency happens back at the office, they can send a quick email and continue with their lovely afternoon. Bravo US Cellular. Ref. cnn.com