This weekend’s Formula 1 Crypto.com Miami Grand Prix, which gets underway today, will have a host of stadium technologies on hand to help the expected 200,000-plus fans connect and consume while attending the event.
Being held on a track built around Miami’s Hard Rock Stadium, the F1 event is getting Super Bowl-like connectivity enhancements from sponsor Verizon, which will have its 5G Ultra Wideband services available on and around the event grounds. Verizon will also have an F1 version of the 5G Multi-View app available, which (like at the recent Super Bowl 56) will let fans using the Verizon 5G services have access to seven separate live HD camera feeds from different angles and locations. The Multi-View app will also let fans listen to live race commentary during both Saturday’s qualifying races and Sunday’s main event.
While the Multi-View app has been promoted by Verizon at several large football events, there’s a good chance that the F1 version will be more widely used by fans, since at road-track events like F1 races fans basically can only see a small part of the track — so having real-time access to live action from other parts of the course could be very attractive.
MatSings help bring coverage to stands, AiFi store offers checkout-free concessions
Another stadium-type technology that is making an appearance in and around the track is the MatSing lens antennas, six of which will be used at various locations. MatSing antennas, which have been used before at large outdoor events like the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, are well-suited for providing wireless coverage to distinct areas because of their ability to transmit signals in a tight beam.
Fans at the F1 event will also be able to take advantage of faster concessions service by stopping by the Hard Rock Stadium Express Shop, a pop-up store that debuted at Miami Dolphins games last NFL season. Powered by technology from AiFi, a Silicon Valley startup, and Verizon 5G and Mobile Edge Computing (MEC) services, the store allows fans to swipe a credit card at entry and then just walk out with their purchases.
