Ohio State Shelves Expanded Wi-Fi Plans For Football Stadium To Focus On Concrete Repairs

Ohio State AD Gene Smith said that plans to bring Wi-Fi to Ohio Stadium this fall "have been shelved after the university decided to prioritize funding for concrete repairs," according to Michael Huson of the COLUMBUS DISPATCH. That restoration is part of a $42M, multi-phase stadium renovation project "expected to begin next year." Smith: "Hopefully, we can look at Wi-Fi in 2017.” Smith said that OSU also is "considering whether full-blanket or partial Wi-Fi coverage would be best for the 105,000-seat stadium." He added that picking the right Wi-Fi solution "made costs for the project difficult to pin down, with estimates as high" as $4M. OSU Chief Information Officer for Athletics & Business Advancement Jim Null said that the student sections "will more than likely be prioritized if the university decides to phase in Wi-Fi coverage." Huson noted Wi-Fi at Ohio Stadium currently is "available to some workers, suites and press boxes" (COLUMBUS DISPATCH, 7/30).