Yankees, Cisco Announce Details Of Their New Partnership

Cisco's Chambers Says Extensive Technology Partnership With Yankees Will Change Sports

The Yankees and Cisco yesterday outlined their extensive technology partnership for the new Yankee Stadium, an alignment that Cisco CEO John Chambers said “will change all sports. I don’t think I’m too bold in saying that.” The deal, structured as a straight vendor pact worth in excess of $15M, calls for the installation of more than 1,100 flat-panel, HDTV monitors throughout the stadium that will blend game action with a variety of traffic, weather and public safety information; IPTV phones in the luxury suites that will enable touch-screen ordering of concessions and accessing of on-demand video replays and statistics; computers within player lockers; and wireless access throughout the building. Future plans call for many of the high-end functions to be available on the mobile devices of fans. Cisco’s new TelePresence HD video conferencing product will also be involved, with the technology to be installed at the stadium for use by both the team and its non-game day event clients. A second TelePresence system will be set up at a local Bronx library, a forerunner of a home-based version of the product targeted for a 2010 release. Many of Cisco’s StadiumVision technology elements at the new Yankee Stadium were and still are being contemplated for the forthcoming Cisco Field in Fremont, California, but that ballpark will not open until at least 2012. Portions of the StadiumVision technology were also showcased last winter at the NBA All-Star Game in New Orleans. “These amenities will be second to none,” said Yankees co-Chair Hal Steinbrenner. “We realize that by saying that we create a lot of expectations and have a lot to live up to, but this will be state-of-the-art in every way.” Yankees COO Lonn Trost joked that much of the Cisco technology was far beyond his comprehension and that, “my knowledge of technology ceased in the ‘60s when I mastered the mimeograph machine” (Eric Fisher, SportsBusiness Journal). 

Yankee Stadium Is Slated To Open Next April

WIRED UP: Cisco said that the system is the "most advanced technology ever embedded in a North American stadium." Cisco VP/Corporate Positioning Ron Ricci: "This technology is future proof." In N.Y., Richard Sandomir reports Cisco's TelePresence product "will be installed in the stadium's business conference center, which will let it connect to a library in the Bronx and eventually to other locations in the city like hospitals, to let players and executives talk to fans." Sandomir notes the Yankees "have created a technology subsidiary, which seems appropriate." Trost: "Yankee Stadium will be in a constant state of the artness. Don't look up that word. It doesn't exist" (N.Y. TIMES, 11/12). Steinbrenner said fan amenities at the stadium will be "second to none in this country." Ricci said that Cisco equipment is in "about 60[%] of stadiums in North America and the company is targeting new venues being built around the world to provide the more sophisticated systems." BLOOMBERG NEWS' Larry DiTore noted the computers in the players' lockers will be touch-screen (BLOOMBERG NEWS, 11/11). Ricci: "The bottom line is that when you're in the Stadium, you will always have an opportunity to watch the game." A Cisco spokesperson said that the cellphone connectivity "may not be ready for the 2009 season, but every luxury suite will soon have interactive screens on which camera angles and replays can be called up." In N.Y., Fenton & Olshan report there will be "three monitors in each of the 51 suites." Ricci said that future plans for the interactive network include the "ability for fans to chat with each other, comment on the game and upload video." He added that the Yankees also are "considering installing screens on every seatback." Officials noted that the flat-panel screens "will provide traffic and transit updates toward the end of the game" (N.Y. POST, 11/12). On Long Island, Kat O'Brien notes the Yankees are "excited" about the TelePresence system, which "allows for advanced conferencing that could make executives in Tampa and the Bronx feel as if they are in the same room" (NEWSDAY, 11/12).

TEAM BUILDING: Steinbrenner declined to specify a payroll budget figure as the Yankees prepare for the upcoming free agent signing period, beginning Friday. But he said, “As always, we will be aggressive in looking to build a championship team.” The club also remains locked in negotiations with the city of N.Y. over the format and revenue-split for a sale of memorabilia from the publicly-owned Yankee Stadium. “We’re still negotiating,” Trost said. “We have ideas. They have ideas. We have lawyers. They have lawyers. But we’ll get it done” (Eric Fisher, SportsBusiness Journal). Steinbrenner: "We know that we've got some weaknesses, and we're going to fix the problems as best we can. If that means spending money, obviously that means spending money. The philosophy has not changed." NEWSDAY's O'Brien notes the team's revenues are "expected to soar at the new stadium; the increase simply may be less dramatic than anticipated" (NEWSDAY, 11/12).

Economy Slowing Down Sales Of Luxury Suites At New Yankee Stadium

SUITE SALES: In N.Y., Kate Sheehy reports the economy has "thrown a curve at the Yankees' plan to peddle pricey luxury suites" at the new stadium. Yankees officials yesterday said that the team "still hasn't sold seven foul-line boxes, which cost $600,000 a pop, for next season." Trost said that the suites that "cost the most -- $650,000 to $850,000 -- have sold out" (N.Y. POST, 11/12). Trost did not have an updated figure on premium seats and said that it is "too early to determine how well season-ticket sales were going for the $1.3[B] ballpark." Trost added that business deals have been "impacted by the economic downturn." Trost: "Things are slow to come to fruition, but they're getting there." The AP's Ronald Blum noted the team has been "working on completing an agreement with Bank of America." Trost added that construction is "about 12 1/2 days ahead of schedule" (AP, 11/11).