Brentford partners with HPE on stadium connectivity

Brentford has announced a partnership with Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE), using its networking technology to support matchday operations and develop digital services for supporters at Gtech Community Stadium.The agreement follows the deployment of HPE infrastructure across the stadium’s seating areas, concourses, hospitality facilities and surrounding perimeter, connecting supporters and staff during Premier League fixtures.Brentford commercial director Fran Jones said: “We are always looking at how technology can improve the experience for our fans, and connectivity is an important part of that.“HPE has given us a reliable foundation across Gtech Community Stadium that supports both our supporters and our teams. It also gives us the flexibility to explore new digital experiences as we continue to evolve the matchday.”The network supports digital ticketing, devices used by stewards and health and safety processes, placing it behind several services involved in admitting supporters and managing the venue.Connected devices give stewards greater visibility as fans enter the ground, while coverage across indoor and outdoor areas allows operational teams to stay connected as they move around the site.Thousands of supporters, employees, stewards and other stadium personnel use the infrastructure on matchdays, when demand for connectivity is concentrated within a limited area and time.The same network supports access to Brentford’s app and club content, alongside interactive activities and competitions intended to extend supporter engagement beyond watching the match.Brentford is also exploring further opportunities involving loyalty and digital engagement, with the existing infrastructure providing a platform on which those services can be developed.Mark Weeks, HPE networking sales director for the UK and Ireland, said: “Modern stadiums are becoming increasingly digital environments, with technology supporting everything from how fans interact with their clubs to how teams manage a matchday.“Our work with Brentford FC shows how a strong foundation can help clubs introduce new services and innovations over time.”HPE is an enterprise technology company providing networking, computing and cloud infrastructure for organisations, with its Brentford work focused on the connectivity needed to run stadium systems and supporter-facing services.The partnership brings together those operational and commercial uses, supporting staff responsible for delivering events as well as the club’s efforts to build stronger digital relationships with fans.Coverage in hospitality areas also extends the network’s role beyond general admission seating, providing connectivity across different parts of the venue.The announcement formalises a relationship built around technology already in use, with Brentford’s next phase focused on identifying additional digital experiences that can run on that foundation.