scorecard
  1. Home
  2. tech
  3. We Went To The 49ers' Amazing High-Tech Stadium - And We Don't Want To Go To Any Other Stadium Ever Again

We Went To The 49ers' Amazing High-Tech Stadium - And We Don't Want To Go To Any Other Stadium Ever Again

We took the Caltrain down to the stadium. It took us about 2 hours to get there from downtown San Francisco.

We Went To The 49ers' Amazing High-Tech Stadium - And We Don't Want To Go To Any Other Stadium Ever Again
Tech1 min read

This is what Caltrain looks like. It's almost two stories tall.

This is what Caltrain looks like. It

The train was packed with football fans. A lot of them were already drunk by the time we got off.

The train was packed with football fans. A lot of them were already drunk by the time we got off.

At Mountain View station, we had to transfer to this VTA light rail. We got off at the Great America station.

At Mountain View station, we had to transfer to this VTA light rail. We got off at the Great America station.

More drunk people on the VTA.

More drunk people on the VTA.

We saw lots of hardcore fans, like this guy. The VTA had free Wifi.

We saw lots of hardcore fans, like this guy. The VTA had free Wifi.

After nearly two hours, we finally arrived.

After nearly two hours, we finally arrived.

What's a football game without tailgating?

What

We went through this security gate entrance.

We went through this security gate entrance.

And had to scan our tickets through this machine. These things were everywhere, used to control access to restricted areas like suites.

And had to scan our tickets through this machine. These things were everywhere, used to control access to restricted areas like suites.

We took the escalator up to our suite. They had these huge overhead LED lights above the escalators.

We took the escalator up to our suite. They had these huge overhead LED lights above the escalators.

The first thing we saw off the escalator was this big Yahoo logo. Yahoo, headquartered nearby in Sunnyvale, definitely had some of the most signage around the stadium.

The first thing we saw off the escalator was this big Yahoo logo. Yahoo, headquartered nearby in Sunnyvale, definitely had some of the most signage around the stadium.

These Verizon-sponsored charging stations were all over the stadium, too.

These Verizon-sponsored charging stations were all over the stadium, too.

There's free wi-fi throughout the stadium. We found it a little awkward to use, though, because there was a sign-in screen. Sort of like logging on at a hotel.

There

These WiFi routers were spread across every 100 seats in the stadium. They each provide 40 gigabits per second internet bandwidth capacity.

These WiFi routers were spread across every 100 seats in the stadium. They each provide 40 gigabits per second internet bandwidth capacity.

You can use an app to order food directly to your seat and get directions around the stadium.

You can use an app to order food directly to your seat and get directions around the stadium.

Most seats had these electrical plug-ins. Can't let your phone run out of juice while the game's on!

Most seats had these electrical plug-ins. Can

There were a lot of LCD screens, like this food menu. Apparently, there are nearly 3,000 TV monitors in the stadium.

There were a lot of LCD screens, like this food menu. Apparently, there are nearly 3,000 TV monitors in the stadium.

They were literally all over the place.

They were literally all over the place.

Even the ATM had a screen next to it.

Even the ATM had a screen next to it.

All the shops had these tablet payment systems. But we couldn't find any vendors that accepted Apple Pay.

All the shops had these tablet payment systems. But we couldn

The stadium was full of interactive games.

The stadium was full of interactive games.

These Verizon displays let fans "join the team." They let you see what your name would look like on the back of a jersey.

These Verizon displays let fans "join the team." They let you see what your name would look like on the back of a jersey.

SAP had these cool kiosks set up around the stadium where you could take an NFL trivia quiz.

SAP had these cool kiosks set up around the stadium where you could take an NFL trivia quiz.

It turns out SAP is one of the major sponsors of the stadium. The practice field across the stadium was also sponsored by SAP.

It turns out SAP is one of the major sponsors of the stadium. The practice field across the stadium was also sponsored by SAP.

An old iMac! It was on display as part of the history museum for fantasy football.

An old iMac! It was on display as part of the history museum for fantasy football.

Here's where they keep the tablets that coaches and players use during the game.

Here

The NFL has a deal with Bose, but all the players we saw were wearing Beats headphones.

The NFL has a deal with Bose, but all the players we saw were wearing Beats headphones.

Here's where our seats were.

Here

Citrix even has a boardroom in the stadium for meetings before gametime.

Citrix even has a boardroom in the stadium for meetings before gametime.

There are even TVs in the bathroom!

There are even TVs in the bathroom!

Fans can get on the big screen by adding a hashtag to their tweets. Flickr makes it happen.

Fans can get on the big screen by adding a hashtag to their tweets. Flickr makes it happen.

We had an amazing time! Even though the Niners blew a 21-point lead to lose in overtime. Oh well. They weren't going to make the playoffs anyway.

We had an amazing time! Even though the Niners blew a 21-point lead to lose in overtime. Oh well. They weren

Now that you've seen the 49ers' new stadium, check out the Barclays Center in Brooklyn

Now that you
Newsletter BI Logo
BI NEWSLETTER

Get your weekly dose of essential news delivered right to you, plus explore a world of insights with our diverse newsletter subscription options.

  • Weekly newsletter
  • Uncover the latest in Tech, Finance, Business, and more
  • Handpicked web stories, in-depth articles, and expert analyses
Copylink BI



Advertisement