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The Honolulu Advertiser
Updated at 7:32 a.m., Tuesday, November 11, 2008

MLB: Cisco equips Yankee Stadium for HD content, wireless

By Larry DiTore
Bloomberg News

Cisco Systems Inc. joined with the New York Yankees to outfit the team's new $1.3 billion stadium with high-definition video and wireless communications from conference rooms to restrooms.

The world's largest maker of networking equipment will connect 1,100 flat-panel video displays to show game action and other information throughout the stadium. After the final out, the monitors will display traffic conditions and train and subway information.

"Fan amenities will be second to none in this country," Hal Steinbrenner, the Major League Baseball team's co-chairman, said at a news conference in New York today.

The Yankees order was worth about $15 million for Cisco, company Chairman John Chambers said. Cisco equipment is in about 60 percent of stadiums in North America and the company is targeting new venues being built around the world to provide the more sophisticated systems, said Ron Ricci, Cisco's vice president for corporate positioning.

"Wherever stadiums are being built, Cisco is talking to these franchises," said Ricci, who oversees the company's sports and entertainment business.

The New York Mets won't be using Cisco technology at Citi Field, the team's new ballpark that also opens next year, Ricci said. "They made other decisions," he said.

Food by Phone

At Yankee Stadium, fans in luxury suites will be able to use touch-screen phones to order concessions and team merchandise. The rest of the stadium also will be able to support future fan use of mobile devices for ordering food and viewing instant replays.

The players won't be left out, either. Each locker will be equipped with a touch-screen computer.

The Yankees' new stadium is located across the street from the team's previous home in the Bronx and will be open for play at the start of the 2009 major-league season in April.

Cisco forged a deal with the Oakland Athletics two years ago for that team's new ballpark in Freemont, California, which will be called Cisco Field. While the Athletics haven't received approval for the stadium, when construction begins the ballpark will be outfitted with the same technology as Yankee Stadium.

Shares of Cisco, based in San Jose, California, fell 52 cents to $17.05 at 12:37 p.m. New York time in Nasdaq Stock Market trading.