In anticipation of the 151st Kentucky Derby, Churchill Downs Racetrack has partnered with Lumen Technologies (NYSE: LUMN) to implement Network-as-a-Service (NaaS) capabilities at the racetrack. It’s aimed at improving connectivity for hundreds of thousands of spectators, media outlets, and mutuel operations throughout Derby Week.
“Speed matters – and not just on the track,” said Mike Wood, Senior IT Director, while organizing one of the world’s biggest sports events. “We can quickly put high-capacity, secure connections online using Network-as-a-Service technology to enable anything from guest Wi-Fi and vendor assistance to media coverage. Behind-the-scenes creativity like that is what makes Derby Week work smoothly and gives spectators and spectators worldwide life-changing experiences.”
The digital needs of Derby Week have significantly expanded, rising from 2–3 Gbps on a typical day to approximately 200 Gbps per day, due to the more than 385,000 people who flock to Churchill Downs each year. Network connections with low latency and high dependability are necessary for streaming, smooth multi-channel operations, high-definition live broadcasts, mobile point-of-sale transactions, and Wi-Fi access—especially when milliseconds count.
Gaining a Cloud-Like Network Experience
“Churchill Downs is an iconic venue operating in a high-stakes, high-velocity environment,” said Dave Ward, Chief Technology and Product Officer of Lumen. “They are obtaining a self-service, cloud-like network experience that grows to meet the speed of the Derby by substituting a dynamic, on-demand Network-as-a-Service platform for temporary, hardwired lines. We’re honored to be a part of bringing that future of connection to the track.
Churchill Downs needs year-round high-performance connectivity because it hosts 83 race days a year. The team can use Lumen NaaS to dynamically scale bandwidth up and down as needed, providing continuous connectivity for vital operations like security systems, mutuel platforms, and veterinary services.
In addition to the track and grandstands, Lumen’s network serves the backside village, which is home to a large number of equestrians and their families in need of communication, education, and Internet.
