Cellular Connectivity Enhanced at JMU’s Bridgeforth Stadium

HARRISONBURG, Va. – In an effort to continue investing in the fan experience, James Madison has worked with cellular carrier Verizon to install a cell site near Bridgeforth Stadium while also working with corporate partner Shentel to host a Sprint COLT (cell on light truck) unit on game days.

Both cellular carrier initiatives are an effort to improve mobile accessibility and reliability for fans, impacting both general personal use during football games as well as connectivity in case an emergency situation were to arise.

"JMU continues to invest in our fans to ensure that we offer a first-class experience in our athletic venues," Director of Athletics Jeff Bourne said. "Over the summer, we added new turf with an enhanced representation of the JMU Athletics brand, added alcohol sales and improved safety measures with clear bags and metal detectors. We are blessed to have 25,000 fans at our football games, but such a concentration of spectators impacts mobile accessibility. It is critical that we embrace the fact that fans expect to have access to electronic devices during our events. This is the first step in trying to address these concerns."

The Verizon installation was part of continuing efforts by campus information technology and telecom units to offer a comprehensive system of electronic connectivity across campus, with emphasis on the impact of large-scale events such as football games or commencement. The Verizon cell unit is installed on the façade of Godwin Hall, offering immediate adjacency to Bridgeforth Stadium fan seating.

The Sprint COLT unit is part of the agreement between JMU Sports Properties and Shentel, a "Team Madison" corporate partner based in the Shenandoah Valley and the official cellular provider for JMU Athletics.

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