• Loading stock data...
Wednesday, October 29, 2025
Want a chance to win $250 and free FOS gear? Take our quick reader survey. Take the survey here

How 5G Will Reinvent The Fan Experience

  • Stadiums and arenas are ushering fans back into the stands.
  • 5G is creating a new ways to enhance the fan experience.
POOL PHOTO-USA TODAY Sports

It’s normal to see fans in the stands across sports again, and the major telecommunications companies are betting that their 5G networks help define the live sports experience after the pandemic. 

Last week, Verizon announced that its 5G technology is now live in more than 60 stadiums and arenas — but how exactly do those networks affect fans in real life?

Simply put, the real-time data available to spectators is becoming more dynamic than anything previously conceivable.

“Imagine being able to get shot make/miss projections for a player as he begins to take a shot, based on total career shooting percentage from that spot on the floor, in similar game situations,” Verizon said in a statement about the increased availability of its 5G tech in NBA arenas.

Fans at Super Bowl LV with a Verizon 5G connection and the NFL Mobile app got exclusive access to seven high-definition cameras around Raymond James Stadium for a closer look at the game.

In April, Verizon reported Q1 revenue of $32.9 billion with $16.7 billion from its wireless division. The company is also testing the 5G-supported application of augmented reality statistics with the NHL.

According to AT&T, which reported $43.9 billion in first-quarter revenue, data usage in sports venues is growing by 67% year-over-year.

“Venues are made for memorable experiences,” said AT&T executive Melanie Sullivan. “That’s why we’re helping stadiums provide fans with interactive, personalized, and connected engagements.”

T-Mobile, which has the largest 5G map in the U.S. with over 40% of the country covered, saw its Q1 revenue reach $19.8 billion.

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

DirecTV-Dish Deal Is Dead, Spelling More Trouble for Pay TV

Bondholder objections undo an agreement to create the largest U.S. pay-TV distributor.

WBD Faces Investor Backlash As NBA Rights Loss Triggers Stock Plunge

Investors and analysts take a dim view of Warner Bros. Discovery’s prospects without the NBA.
ESPN camera operator at a basketball game.

Verizon Reportedly Explores ESPN Deal During Streaming Transformation

Telecommunications giant joins growing list of potential investors
Commanders

Commanders Land First Corporate Sponsor Since Ownership Change

In his first month as owner, Josh Harris has made moves to turn around revenues.

Featured Today

September 21, 2025; Santa Clara, California, USA; NFL commissioner Roger Goodell before the game between the San Francisco 49ers and the Arizona Cardinals at Levi's Stadium

NFL Fall Meeting: 7 Big Topics Among Team Owners 

Media, facilities, and labor highlight some of the key areas of concern.
Ohio State Buckeyes running back Isaiah West (32) runs the ball in the second half at Camp Randall Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 18, 2025 in Madison, Wisconsin
October 25, 2025

NIL Has Birthed a Third-Party Cottage Industry—and It’s a Mess

There’s no limit to how much players can make from NIL deals.
Christie's
October 21, 2025

Lou Gehrig’s $4M Jersey and the Exploding Sports Memorabilia Market

An ultra-rare sports collection is about to hit the auction block.
@chef__tezz/Instagram
October 19, 2025

Inside the NFL’s Private Chef Network

Private chefs are the unsung architects of player performance.
Sponsored

How HOKA is Reimagining the NIL Relationship

Fans can now follow their favorite golfers and experience every marquee moment at the Ryder Cup — thanks to innovation from T-Mobile.
February 3, 2025

Super Bowl Ticket Prices Crash As Hotel Rooms See Historic Rate Hike

Prices sink by about 30%, due in part to a lodging crunch.
Sponsored

Game the Green: Transforming Fan Experiences at TPC Sawgrass

As fans gather at THE PLAYERS Championship, Comcast Business will be keeping spectators and the PGA TOUR connected like never before.
Sponsored

Why Alexis Ohanian Is Betting Big on Women’s Sports

Alexis Ohanian reflects on his evolution from Reddit cofounder to one of today’s most dynamic sports investors.
Sponsored

How Sportradar and the NBA Are Shaping the Future of Immersive Fan..

By transforming raw data into tailored, interactive content, Sportradar helps turn the NBA’s enormous fanbase into active participants.
October 8, 2024

NBA GMs Rank Salary-Cap Apron As Rule That Needs to Change Most

Schedule changes finished second with 17% of the vote.
Sponsored

Trend Report: Chiefs-Chargers, Tobacco Road Rivalry, Nebraska Sellout Streak

According to data from TickPick, some games this week will prove to be wallet-busters, climbing into the four figures.
September 8, 2024

US Open Breaks Attendance Record

Top-seeded Jannik Sinner beat No. 12 Taylor Fritz in straight sets Sunday.