Chicago Fire FC taps MLS supplier Boldyn Networks to realize its vision for McDonald's Park. Jul 27, 2026, 10:00 ET Converged network will fuel an exceptional fan journey and set a new standard for stadium connectivity CHICAGO, July 27, 2026 /PRNewswire/ - As Chicago Fire FC builds a marquee home for Chicago at McDonald's Park, the Club is committed to delivering an exceptional fan experience while establishing a new standard across Major League Soccer (MLS) for operational excellence. To help realize this vision, Chicago Fire FC has chosen Boldyn Networks (Boldyn), MLS's trusted supplier, to design and deploy a future-ready converged network across one of the league's most anticipated new venues. Scheduled to open in 2028, McDonald's Park is slated to be a year-round entertainment destination and the primary anchor of "The 78" mega-development in Chicago's South Loop. Goyo Perez, Chief Partnership Officer, Chicago Fire FC said: "As we prepare McDonald's Park to become a new landmark for the city, having the right connectivity partner will be critical in delivering a world-class experience. We are confident that we're in the best hands with Boldyn Networks, who brings the expertise and innovation needed to elevate our new stadium." Jason Caliento, Chief Commercial Officer, U.S., Boldyn Networks, said: "Chicago is one of the most important sports and entertainment markets in the United States and the continued growth of soccer here demands a venue built for the future. Boldyn is proud to partner with Chicago Fire FC to deliver a digital foundation that supports modern fans, operational and commercial needs. Our work across MLS venues reflects the league's confidence in Boldyn as a trusted DAS connectivity supplier." The news comes as the league prepares for the MLS All-Star Game presented by Chime on July 29 in Charlotte, and as soccer continues its rapid growth across the U.S. driven by rising attendance to venues and momentum from the recent FIFA World Cup 2026. Chris Schlosser, Senior Vice President, Emerging Ventures, MLS, said: "Our relationship with Boldyn Networks is based on a long history of collaborating around the opening of new stadiums, which includes Nu Stadium, the new home of Inter Miami CF, BMO Stadium in LA which plays host to LAFC, and New York City FC's upcoming stadium Etihad Park which is scheduled to open in the summer of 2027. Boldyn brings significant experience in delivering future-ready DAS connectivity that continues to drive both fan engagement and business outcomes across the new state of the art stadiums opening in MLS." Boldyn's high-performance deployment throughout McDonald's Park includes: * Neutral host 5G distributed antenna system (DAS) supporting all major wireless carriers. * High-density Wi-Fi across the seating bowl, suites, clubs, concourses, and outdoor gathering areas. * Converged fiber backbone supporting venue connectivity, broadcast operations, security systems, and fan-facing digital services. * Comprehensive architecture designed to support 5G, Wi-Fi 7, IoT, and emerging fan engagement technologies. * Integrated network management delivering real-time visibility, performance monitoring, and operational reliability. Turning infrastructure into a strategic business driver The platform deployed by Boldyn will help enable new commercial opportunities and long-term value for Chicago Fire FC. Enhanced digital capabilities will support increased per-capita spending across concessions, merchandise, and premium experiences, while enabling new sponsorship and engagement prospects. Designed to provide a scalable digital connectivity foundation for more than a decade, Boldyn's deployment will reduce technology obsolescence and support ongoing innovation, ensuring Chicago Fire FC's new home remains at the forefront of the sport's evolution. About Chicago Fire Football Club Chicago Fire Football Club (Chicago Fire FC) is a professional soccer club that competes in Major League Soccer (MLS). One of the league's first expansion teams - founded on Oct. 8, 1997 (the 126th anniversary of the Great Chicago Fire) - the Club has earned six major domestic trophies, including four U.S. Open Cups and the 2003 Supporters' Shield, and returned to the playoffs in 2025, winning its first postseason match since 2009. The Club recently began construction on its privately-funded, soccer-specific stadium, McDonald's Park, in Chicago's South Loop neighborhood, a transformational new home set to open in 2028. The team currently plays at historic Soldier Field and trains at Chicago's Endeavor Health Performance Center, a $100 million state-of-the-art facility that opened in 2025. The Club's development pathway includes Chicago Fire II, which competes in MLS NEXT Pro, and the Chicago Fire Academy, featuring five teams from U-13 to U-18. Off the field, the Chicago Fire Foundation - internationally recognized, including as ESPN's 2019 Sports Humanitarian Team of the Year - has made significant contributions to enhance the lives of disadvantaged youth throughout Chicagoland, providing more than $10 million back to the community. For more information, visit chicagofirefc.com. About Boldyn Networks Boldyn Networks designs, builds, and operates advanced network infrastructure where connectivity matters most. As the world's leading neutral host provider, we enable mobile operators, large enterprises, and government agencies to create exceptional connected experiences no matter how complex the environment. From major transport systems, airports, stadiums, campuses, and military bases, to industrial hubs and smart cities, Boldyn brings 5G, fiber, Wi-Fi, private 5G networks, and IoT together into tailored resilient, high-performance platforms. Learn more at: www.boldyn.com SOURCE Boldyn Networks

Huntingdon College expands Boldyn Networks partnership to support a more connected campus. Jul 16, 2026, 10:00 ET New managed network and IT services extend support to academic and administrative teams following successful residential deployment NEW YORK, July 16, 2026 /PRNewswire/ - Boldyn Networks (Boldyn), a global leader in shared network infrastructure, today announced an expanded partnership with Huntingdon College to deliver Managed Network and Managed IT Services (MITS) across the College's administrative and academic areas. The agreement builds on Boldyn's successful residential network services (ResNet) deployment at the campus last year, bringing the same partnership-led approach to more areas of the campus. By extending managed services beyond the residence halls, Huntingdon College will enhance the connectivity experience for students and academic staff while expanding the capacity of its IT team without adding headcount. When campuses partner with Boldyn on Managed Network and MITS, they can receive support for core infrastructure, network access control, firewalls, VPN, secure Wi-Fi, network segmentation and 24/7 monitoring, alongside access to Boldyn's Managed Campus Portal for real-time insight into network health and support status. For Huntingdon College, the decision reflects the confidence built through its existing relationship with Boldyn and highlights a wider challenge across higher education, the management of increasingly complex digital environments by Campus IT teams with limited internal resources. Boldyn's model is designed to help institutions reduce that burden and improve operational agility through a more predictable approach to running secure, reliable campus networks. Matt Loecke, SVP Higher Education, Boldyn Networks US, said: "Higher education institutions depend on reliable technology services across student accommodation, classrooms, staff offices and administrative buildings. Huntingdon College's decision to expand its partnership with Boldyn reflects the trust built through our ResNet deployment and the importance of having a partner that understands the operational realities of campus IT." Anneliese Spaeth, CIO at Huntingdon College, said: "Our extended IT partnership with Boldyn Networks will strengthen today's campus operations by bringing stability and reliability to network connectivity through technology modernization. This partnership positions Huntingdon competitively in the higher education space with regard to connective technologies and infrastructure." Huntingdon College is joining a roster of over 350 colleges and universities supported by Boldyn Networks' comprehensive portfolio that includes managed residential and campus network, cloud, IT, and security services. Boldyn Networks is attending the NACUBO 2026 Annual Meeting from July 18-21, to discuss how connectivity and managed IT service models can help improve campus operations. SOURCE Boldyn Networks

O2 to use Boldyn 5G at Silverstone Grand Prix. Boldyn Networks has deployed a new high-capacity mobile network at Silverstone and O2 has become the first UK mobile operator to use it, hitting go ahead of this weekend's British Grand Prix. July 3, 2026 O2 announced on Thursday that its customers will be the first to benefit from the new permanent high-capacity 5G network at a venue that has to date relied upon temporary coverage solutions to meet the increased demand of Grand Prix weekend. EE, for example, listed Silverstone as one of the locations for its 125 temporary 4G and 5G masts at music festivals and sporting events three years ago. And it is still doing that. The race track itself has published information that shows EE, Vodafone and Three customers will have access to temporary infrastructure for 5G coverage, while O2 and Virgin Media users will be able to jump onto the new permanent network. It will be interesting to see whether any of O2's rivals hook up with Boldyn at Silverstone this time next year. Neutral host Boldyn has installed a distributed antenna system (DAS) that spans 570 acres, including, naturally, the 3.66-mile race track that will host the likes of Kimi Antonelli, George Russell and Lewis Hamilton from the first practice tomorrow through to the chequered flag on Sunday. As usual, the rationale for the move - just as it is for the temporary masts - is that race goers are placing a strain on the existing infrastructure by using increasing amounts of data to share photos and videos, access Grand Prix-related content, and simply to stay in touch with one another. After all, you're not really at an event unless you're able to share it with others in real time. "Whether it's sharing a video of a dramatic overtake, finding your way around the venue or keeping in touch with friends and family, connectivity has become a huge part of the fan experience for racing fans," said Professor Robert Joyce, Director of Mobile Access Engineering at O2. He might be reaching a bit there; dramatic overtaking is barely allowed under the litany of new rules and regulations that now engulfs Formula 1. But otherwise it's a valid point. "Going live on Silverstone's new dedicated network infrastructure means O2 customers can enjoy a faster and more reliable connection at one of the biggest events in the British sporting calendar," Joyce said. Meanwhile, Paul Osborne, Chief Commercial Officer at Boldyn Networks UK, gave us some insight into the scale of data demand O2 can expect at the race. "This weekend's British Grand Prix will draw over half a million fans, driving record demand for connectivity," he said. Doubtless there will be a follow-up announcement from O2 on that score. A separate release from Virgin Media O2 on Thursday taught us that the telco recorded its highest ever mobile traffic during the England versus DR Congo match in the Fifa World Cup on Wednesday evening. It did not share numbers, but did disclose that traffic on its network was more than 20% higher than its previous peak, which occurred during the Arsenal versus PSG UEFA Champions League Final in May. Chances are that the next England game, against Mexico, will not have the same impact on the network, kick-off being at 1 am on Monday. And chances of a further peak during an England game later in the tournament are even slimmer, given Mexico's home form and England's wobbly defence. But that's a digression. Back to the F1... "O2 is moving first, giving its customers priority access to the enhanced experience powered by our state-of-the-art Silverstone network," Osborne concluded. The fact that he described O2 as the first mover on the new network suggests its rivals will follow suit. Boldyn will certainly hope so. Freelance writer Mary has been following developments in the telecoms industry for more than 20 years. She is currently a freelance journalist, having stepped down as editor of Total Telecom in late 2017; her career history also includes three years at CIT Publications (now part of Telegeography) and a stint at Reuters. Mary's key area of focus is on the business of telecoms, looking at operator strategy and financial performance, as well as regulatory developments, spectrum allocation and the like. She holds a Bachelor's degree in modern languages and an MA in Italian language and literature. Want more Telecoms.com stories in your Google search results? Join 56,000+ members. Yes it's completely free.