Visitors to NRG Stadium "continue to complain about the difficulty" of accessing the venue's "underpowered, overloaded cellular antenna system," according to David Barron of the HOUSTON CHRONICLE. NFL Senior VP & Chief Information Officer Michelle McKenna-Doyle said that in its "current configuration, NRG Stadium is a 'black hole' for use of mobile devices and a significant concern" as Super Bowl LI approaches in '17. Verizon will "begin work next month" on a new distributed antenna system (DAS) for its customers "to be completed early next year or, perhaps, in late December." Officials with Sprint, which "manages the DAS now used by all carriers, say that system also is scheduled for upgrades." Still, there are "no plans in place for Wi-Fi technology, which is currently offered stadium-wide or on suite or club levels at 26 of 31 NFL stadiums." McKenna-Doyle said of NRG Stadium, "Certainly within its group of like stadiums, it is the worst of the pack." SMG-Reliant Park GM Mark Miller said, "We all realize we can do better, and that's what we're trying to do. We have Sprint working on an upgrade and Verizon working on a new system, and we are trying to get it as best as we possibly can." A Verizon spokesperson said the company's new DAS will cost "into the millions." One source added that the project cost is about $15M. Miller said that installation of Wi-Fi "would cost" about $5M, and another party "estimates operating expenses over 10 years would add" another $5M. Barron noted NRG Stadium is "owned by Harris County" (HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 11/29).
