Wi-Fi Idea Could Enrich Live Game Experience

Jerry Stroud

November 11, 2005

The roar of the crowd, the aroma of hot dogs are all part of attending a baseball or football game.

But fans may miss the commentary, statistics and replays they get on television and the convenience of popping a soda or beer from the refrigerator. Even if there's information on the stadium scoreboard, you can't see it if you're standing in line at the concession stand, if your view is obstructed or if something distracts you at a crucial moment.

Tim Hayden wants to give fans all the replays and stats they want while they're at the game, along with food and drink orders from their seats. He'll offer it with SkyBOX, a software application that delivers information to a pocket PC, some cell phones or Palm devices. He'll also rent SkyBOX devices at games.

"The whole concept revolves around the fans," Hayden said. "How do you bring everything except the bathroom into the stadium?"

The device also could help you find the nearest restroom, your seat or the nearest ATM. Hayden, who has a background in sports marketing, has been working on the concept with sports teams and advertisers in St. Louis, Seattle, Boston and Chicago. Initially, he plans to offer baseball and football content, adding basketball, golf, auto racing, soccer and maybe college and international sports later on.

Besides information about a stadium and events, SkyBOX would give customers a more extensive list of drinks, snacks and sandwiches than is listed at most concession stands. Customers would use a stylus to click on menu items, which would be charged to a credit card and delivered as you're walking to your seat or sitting in the stands.

Later in the game, the device might offer a coupon for more drinks or snacks. Customers would show SkyBOX vendors their drivers licenses and a credit card when they rent for the first time, probably at a cost of $10 to $20 a game (less if it's downloaded to your own device). Users get access with wireless fidelity transmission, known as Wi-Fi. SkyBOX would provide a "smart" card that allows customers to rent the device at future events without showing a drivers license or credit card again.

Package prices would be available for a season or multiple games. Hayden's company, Vivid Sky LLC, is home-based for now. He's looking for financing so he can develop a prototype in time for spring training.

SkyBOX information can be found on the Internet at www.vividskyco.com.