And the advantages are not all on the front end. MobileAccess runs on a fiber backbone that provides very high-speed network access. "Gulf Coast put in several extra fiber strands for us when they installed the system," Dornford says. "That gives us an excellent infrastructure for data transport." The stadium vendors also like the Wi-Fi front end and fast network core for their data communications.

In the future, Dornford says, multichannel wireless communications with a strong fiber backbone will become normal in stadiums. But for now, it is a real attraction for those who have to work at the games.

"For the working press particularly, the speed advantage can mean uploading your story in five seconds instead of two hours if you have pictures," Dornford says. "It can let you get back to your hotel two hours after the game instead of at midnight."