Cisco and St. Louis City SC are delivering world-class technology to CITYPARK

Liam Watson
CityPark
Image credit: Cisco

Cisco has joined Major League Soccer side St. Louis City SC as the club’s Technology Partner.

In representation of their shared vision, the goal is to create one of the most connected and fan-centric environments in the MLS, using CITYPARK as a brand new 31-acre stadium district.

Cisco is the worldwide leader in technology that powers the internet. They are no strangers to global football either, having worked with the likes of Manchester City and Real Madrid from the Premier League and LaLiga respectively, among other clients all over the world.

Cisco inspires new possibilities by reimagining applications, securing data, transforming infrastructure, and empowering teams.

From a stadium perspective, CITYPARK will see the benefits of Cisco arise from networking, security, Wi-Fi and digital signage to give home and visiting fans alike one of the most innovative matchday experiences across all sport.

A state-of-the-art network, leveraging Wi-Fi 6, will be widely used across CITYPARK’s main stadium, training centre, team headquarters and two-story team store.

Wi-Fi 6 is Cisco’s next generation standard for connection quality, with the advantages being faster speeds, more bandwidth (four times greater capacity than traditional Wi-Fi), higher reliability and less taxing on a device’s battery. With this technology, no user will ever have to put up with dodgy download or upload speeds.

CITYPARK is one of only a few MLS-specific stadiums to deploy Cisco’s Wi-Fi 6 technology. It has been delivering record-setting results in leading venues around the world, including SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles and State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona – sites of Super Bowl LVI and LVII – the pinnacle of National Football League (NFL). They have also worked closely in the lead up to the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Paris.

“As a next-generation venue with frictionless markets and mobile-first technologies at the forefront of CITYPARK’s engagement, an innovative fan experience is reliant on a robust and secure connectivity,” St. Louis City SC Chief Experience Officer Matt Sebek said via press release.

“Every piece of data flows through Cisco’s converged technology, allowing us to streamline IT operations and provide heightened experiences through elevated video distribution, point-of-sale devices, digital signage, real-time app engagement and so much more.”

In addition, Cisco will initiate leading cybersecurity solutions throughout the CITYPARK district, adding in the extra layer of reassurance that all data is safe for fans.

Cisco is relied upon to secure the largest sports and entertainment events in the world, highlighted by their IPTV technology to be implemented at CITYPARK – a dynamic, end-to-end signage solution that combines high-definition video delivery with state-of-the art digital signage. The 4K deployment will power screens across the stadium district, all entirely customisable and centrally managed via one point of control.

“CITYPARK is designed to be a one-of-a-kind sporting campus, with a world-class infrastructure that will allow it to serve as a platform for innovation for years to come,” Cisco Managing Director of Global Sales – Sports, Media and Entertainment, Ken Martin, added via press release.

“By partnering with Cisco, City SC is making a clear commitment to providing its fans, visitors, coaches and players an unparalleled and seamless experience across the entire district.”

St. Louis City has recently begun their debut Major League Soccer season in fine form, with fans to experience the ‘new normal’ for what to expect on gameday.

Macarthur FC confirmed two-year deal with Purple Cow Industries

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Image credit: IOIO IMAGES / Shutterstock.com

Macarthur FC has confirmed a new two-year collaboration with Purple Cow Industries, a leading waste management company.

As part of this agreement, Purple Cow will serve as the official back-of-shorts sponsor for the 2024/25 and 2025/26 Isuzu UTE A-League seasons.

The partnership will see Purple Cow’s logo prominently displayed on the back of the Bulls’ shorts throughout both seasons. In addition to branding, the collaboration will include matchday activations and efforts to expand the club’s business network.

Purple Cow Industries are an Australian waste management and rubbish removal company that has the ability and experience to handle every commercial site’s different waste management demands.

The company, located locally in Beverly Hills, NSW prides itself on Environmental Management, Sustainability and Service Quality, doing waste management effectively and environmentally friendly.

This partnership is a significant milestone for both Macarthur FC and Purple Cow, bringing together two forward-thinking organisations with a shared vision for growth and success.

Macarthur FC Group CEO, Sam Krslovic, shared his excitement about the collaboration.

“We are thrilled to welcome Purple Cow as a partner to the Macarthur FC family,” said Krslovic in a club statement.

“This partnership is a testament to our club’s ongoing commitment to excellence and innovation both on and off the pitch. Purple Cow’s support will be instrumental as we aim for success in the upcoming season and beyond.”

Purple Cow CEO Alex Soukie, also spoke highly of the new alliance.

“We are thrilled to announce our partnership with Macarthur Football Club, as Purple Cow Industries shares their passion for football and looks forward to supporting the South Western Sydney region,” he said in a statement.

This partnership signifies another exciting step for Macarthur FC as the club continues to forge strong ties with prominent brands and the local community.

Macarthur FC have been one of the busiest clubs in the sponsorship area so far in preseason, and the new club in the east are building their partnership portfolio which is vital for financial sustainability.

Purple Cow become the sixth major partner of the club, joining SipEnergy as new major partners for 2024/25 and beyond, with all of the other major partners based in NSW. The club has a clear goal in place to grow naturally with local businesses and build a solid foundation.

Melbourne City give back to local primary school

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Image credit: Melbourne City website

Melbourne City’s charity, City in the Community (CITC), has donated new football goals to Barton Primary School in Cranbourne West as part of the club’s Healthy Goals initiative.

The program encourages more young people to play football to promote physical health and gain important social, emotional and cognitive skills that will help their overall development and well-being.

There are three core initiatives that the CITC are focusing on this year:

  • Supporting local schools with facility improvements to ensure more young people can access our free football programming from CITC.
  • Supporting community groups and clubs with equipment upgrades and free football programming from CITC.
  • Working with local artists to commemorate art and football projects, celebrating community pride, and cultural heritage while creating a visually appealing environment for the local community.

This most recent contribution towards Barton Primary School aligns with the first core initiative to support local schools, with Melbourne City players Laura Hughes and Alessandro Lopane attending to talk to the kids.

For the past three years, CITC has been involved with the Cranbourne West Primary School taking part in initiatives such as walking football, inviting students to become player mascots as well as player visits.

CITC’s Community Program Lead, Stephen Frantzeskakis talked about their recent contribution and how the club are continuing to create a positive impact on the community.

“I think it’s fantastic that we’re able to continue supporting Barton Primary School and its students through the Healthy Goals initiative, especially given their strong interest and ongoing passion for football,” he said in a media release on the club’s website,” he said via club release statement.

“We’ve been working with Barton Primary School for a number of years now and have also recently run our respectful relationships program with Grade 5 and 6 students.

“To have strong role models like Ale and Laura come down to speak to students about topics like respect and resilience is terrific, and it’s great to be able to extend our partnership through the donation of new goals as well.”

Barton Primary School Principal, Benjamin Vevers talked about the school’s partnership with Melbourne City and how it’s helping its students.

“Given many of our students were born or have parents and families from other countries, the school is truly passionate about the world game and having new goals means our kids get to fully experience a quality soccer match every recess and lunch,” he said via press release.

“It was a memorable experience that may inspire some of our students to reach for the stars with football, maybe even the Brisbane Olympics!

“Our students are learning to be more respectful of each other during competitive sport, girls are becoming more active during breaks playing soccer, and students are super excited each week for the program.”

It’s important to have these types of initiatives to allow clubs and their players to connect with their local community. We’ve seen these gestures throughout the years from the A-League clubs by continuing to show their commitment to support their local community whether that’s giving back through donations or providing programs to steer young people in the right direction.

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