Case Study: Columbus Crew achieves 50% faster stadium entry and frictionless AI‑enabled fan experiences with HPE Aruba Networking

Lower.com Field delivers frictionless fan experience with facial recognition and other AI-enabled experiences using Aruba ESP

Lower.com Field, home of MLS’s Columbus Crew, set out to create a hyperconnected, contactless 20,000‑seat stadium and adjacent training facilities that could deliver next‑generation fan, team, and operational experiences. The club needed a future‑ready, high‑performance wired and wireless network to support high‑density services, biometric ticketing and touchless entry, cashless point‑of‑sale, real‑time video and lighting productions, and simplified IT operations across a complex venue.

The Crew deployed an end‑to‑end Aruba (HPE) solution—Wi‑Fi 6 access points, 7200 mobility controllers, Aruba CX switching at core/aggregation/edge, plus ClearPass, AirWave, NetEdit and Aruba AIOps—to unify, automate, and secure the network. Results included cutting stadium entry time by more than 50% with opt‑in facial recognition, supporting 100% cashless experiences, powering 8,700 sq. ft. of LED displays with sub‑half‑second streaming latency, faster security screening, and streamlined IT management that enables ongoing innovation and new revenue opportunities.

Columbus Crew