Getting fans from their front room to the front row can be a difficult sell, especially when HDTV and surround sound have made watching sport or events at home such a rich experience.

So as well as the roar of the crowd, you have to offer an equally rich digital experience to get fans to a stadium or venue and maximise advertising potential.

Telstra’s Connected Stadiums is a game changer. It gives you everything you need to deliver an amazingly rich digital experience so you can draw the big crowds.And the bigger the crowd, the more sponsorship and advertising opportunities there are for you.

The Sydney Cricket Ground and ANZ Stadium were the first Australian venues to get this technically advanced and fan friendly stadia.

The decision by the SCG Trust to invest in a world class, multi-million dollar, cutting edge WiFi and IPTV technology network solution working alongside Telstra will deliver a more powerful and personalised experience to tens of thousands of fans in ways they have never previously experienced.

The network will provide high speed WiFi connectivity and allow fans to view real-time, high definition IPTV and mobile video straight to the latest smartphones and tablets. The network will also simplify ticketing, help fans find the way to their seats and enable them to participate in and share live event action over social media from anywhere in the ground.

The network is in operation in the new MA Noble, Bradman and Messenger Stands and was launched in time for this years Ashes cricket Test.

Telstra also worked with the Adelaide Oval Stadium Management Authority to upgrade the existing mobile coverage at the venue and surrounding areas, including a full upgrade to the main entrance off War Memorial Drive, where 70 per cent of patrons enter the ground. The telco’s investment in the mobile network capacity upgrade is reportedly close to $7 million, with the rollout to be completed by early 2015.