LAS VEGAS, NV
CELLULAR UPGRADES FOR THE BIG GAME
Allegiant Stadium was already known as one of the most connected stadiums in the league, but one cellular provider decided to “go long” before the big game and crushed the competition. In just seven months, Morse Electric completed two major cellular upgrades in and around Allegiant Stadium consisting of expanding existing 5G coverage, adding an additional 234 5G nodes (antennas) around the venue, and upgraded C-Band transmission by adding new JMA diplexers and RF jumpers to 504 existing antennas and installed 250 new JMA radios to support the C-Band signal. In total, Morse Electric crews worked an excess of 30,000 man hours to complete the upgrades.
All suites, concourses, and front of house public areas received a new 5G node, raceway, and backbone fiber and power. To power the nodes, Morse electricians installed nearly 70,000’ of Belden Hybrid cable.
To reach fans in the bowl, Morse electricians installed 16 new, custom MatSing Lens mounts engineered and fabricated to hang from the compression ring of building steel. These mounts were used to install 16 new MatSing lens antennas, bringing the total number of MatSing lens antennas to 62 – and earning the record for the most MatSing lens antennas of any stadium in the US.
Outside the stadium, Morse electricians made upgrades to the outdoor distributed antenna system (oDAS). There are 14 oDAS poles in total that support the 5G network in the parking lot and plaza area. The tallest pole measures 32’!
Another first of it’s kind installation occurred behind the black aluminum ribbon board that wraps the stadium. Crews installed 5G and MatSing antennas to boost signals outside the stadium while preserving the building’s aesthetics.
THE INVESTMENT PAYS OFF
Thanks to the upgrades completed by Morse Electric, the cellular provider recorded download speeds as high as 5,000 mbps during the game – blowing the competition out of the water with reported speeds of 400 mbps and 700 mbps respectfully.
Foremen Mike Kendrick (left) and Jimmy Roy (right)
MEET THE FOREMEN
Jimmy Roy (R), a 7-year veteran with Morse Electric, was the General Foreman for the overall installation. Mike Kendrick (L), a 2-year veteran with Morse Electric, was the foreman for the catwalk (MatSing) installation. Jimmy and Mike would like to recognize the great group of men and women on their crews. They were cool under pressure and maintained positive attitudes throughout this challenging, high profile, fast-paced project. Their dedication to craftsmanship and integrity coupled with their commitment to teamwork allowed us to accomplish a ton of work in a short amount of time. Jimmy and Mike would also like to thank the project management team for their excellent leadership and attention to detail.