For Immediate Release: 4/17/2018 3:25 pm
The SMG-managed DCU Center and the City of Worcester announced today that the region’s premier meeting space and live entertainment facility will activate a much anticipated upgrade to the building’s Wi-Fi system this week.
The City of Worcester contracted with leading IT solutions provider, Presidio, in September of 2017 to design the Wi-Fi system for the venue and assist with writing a scope of service. In addition, Presidio oversaw the selection of equipment and installers including primarily Cisco Systems components and cabling by Annese Electrical Services.
“Through investing in technological enhancements to the DCU Center we look to remain competitive with other arenas in the northeast and nationally to keep our market share of events, to improve the experience of those that visit Worcester and to increase the likelihood of their return,” said City Manager Edward M. Augustus Jr. While the initial launch will be this week, completion of the project’s final phase will take place over the next few months ensuring the system has extreme reliability through deep redundancy.
Through both client and guest feedback, the lack of wi-fi service in both the arena and the convention center was the number one service cited as needing significant improvement. Enhancements to the system include facility wide access points for users, a 10x increase in internet speed and expanding the user capacity to accommodate over 10,000 individuals simultaneously.
Basic Wi-Fi connectivity will be provided to the guests of both facilities at no cost. Over 200 access points throughout the facility will ensure individuals can enjoy the everyday convenience of uploading photos to social media, sending emails, and securing a signal. In addition to enhancing the guest experience, clients of the facility will have enhanced service available for event production requirements, speaker presentations and media access.
Sandy Dunn, General Manager of the DCU Center, stated, “This upgrade is yet another step towards ensuring that DCU Center remains technologically competitive within the live event and convention/meeting landscape. Connectivity has become an expectation by promoters and patrons throughout the industry and we look to meet and, when possible, exceed those expectations.”
Major touring productions, athletic tournaments and technology focused conferences require assurances that the facility will meet the high level of access required for the internet. The recently hosted NCAA Men’s Ice Hockey Northeast Regional weekend reported over 500 simultaneous connections during a controlled roll out of the new system for event production and media only. Trade show and convention planners should see a rise in positive feedback and repeat registrations as networking and educating attendees becomes further streamlined.
“At this point in facility management,” said Sandy Dunn, “wi-fi and access to the internet has become the fourth utility and is a minimum requirement to operate a public assembly facility of this size.” In addition to the use by event organizers and guests in the facility, many facility systems are being converted to the new wi-fi system. The system’s overall design took into consideration the size and scope of a backbone that will facilitate immediate facility equipment conversions but will also be capable of significant future expansion as the world and facilities become even more connected. In the near term, added improvements including concessions point of purchase systems, security protections, telephone systems, and utility and air handling management systems will use the technology.
