Images: Sky Business
As a year-round hub of activity, hosting over 330,000 visitors annually – across race days, hospitality, conferences and private events – Chester Race Company relies on connectivity to power operations and deliver guest experiences.
But outdated infrastructure struggled to keep pace with 38% year-on-year data growth, leading to slow speeds, outages and disruptions. Partnering with Sky Business and Ruckus, Chester Race Company now benefits from a futureproof network, delivering better connectivity and transforming operations across its expansive venue.
Fred Deas, senior IT manager at Chester Race Company, says: “On our busiest day, we handle an impressive 1.83TB of data, roughly equivalent to 600 hours of HD video. With Sky Business and Ruckus, we now have the infrastructure to keep pace with this demand.”
Louise Stewart, chief executive of Chester Race Company, adds: “We chose Sky Business as our primary integration partner, who brought Ruckus on board, because they could meet our standards but also the timelines we’d set ourselves.”
Keeping pace with growing traffic demands
For Chester Race Company, reliable Wi-Fi is essential to keep thousands of guests and staff connected during peak race days.
As network traffic surged year after year, their outdated infrastructure buckled under pressure. Slow internet speeds, frequent outages, and unreliable systems disrupted critical operations – hindering both at-table betting machines and point-of-sale systems, which directly impacted food, beverage, and betting revenues.
Poor 4G coverage and limited capacity only compounded guests’ frustrations, leaving visitors disconnected and dissatisfied during major events. The company needed a robust, futureproof solution to ensure uninterrupted operations, better guest connectivity, and the capacity to scale with growing demand.
“Our old network couldn’t handle the demands of over 7,500 guest users and 700 connected business devices during race days,” explains Deas. “Staff productivity and guest experiences suffered, which was unsustainable.”
The solution
Sky Business, in partnership with Ruckus, delivered a comprehensive connectivity transformation. In just five months, high-speed broadband and dedicated internet access were implemented, alongside the latest Ruckus Wi-Fi 7 access points.
The tailored solution ensures critical systems – including point-of-sale terminals, at-table betting machines, and event management platforms – operate without interruption.
Ruckus’s BeamFlex+ technology dynamically flexes coverage across the 560,000-square-foot venue, providing consistent connectivity in high-density areas like grandstands, paddocks, and hospitality suites.
The partnership also simplifies network management, with Sky Business providing 24/7/365 business-grade monitoring and support – for always-on, better business. This ensures better reliability and performance, enabling Chester Race Company to focus on delivering outstanding guest experiences without worrying about network downtime.
“The new infrastructure combines Sky Business connectivity with the performance of Ruckus Wi-Fi 7 APs, giving us a network that delivers under pressure,” says Deas.
Gareth Simpson, head of facilities and IT at Chester Race Company, adds: “Working with Sky Business and Ruckus has been nothing but phenomenal.”
The benefits
Sky Business’s dedicated engineering and project teams completed the upgrade ahead of Chester’s flagship Boodles May Festival. Their collaborative approach ensured minimal disruption during installation, delivering a reliable, high-performance solution ready for peak demand.
“We completed the upgrade in just five months. Sky Business guided us every step of the way, delivering a solution that performs,” says Deas.
The new network handles vast surges in traffic with ease – on peak race days, Wi-Fi usage reaches up to 1.83TB, equivalent to 600 hours of HD streaming.
Ruckus Wi-Fi 7 APs ensure reliable connectivity across indoor hospitality areas, outdoor spectator stands, and open-air spaces, eliminating guest frustrations while improving engagement.
“Guests now stay connected without frustration, which is critical for race-day enjoyment and engagement,” adds Deas.
With the network running smoothly, at-table betting machines and point-of-sale systems now operate without disruptions. Faster transactions and uninterrupted connectivity have led to improved food, beverage, and betting revenues, particularly during busy events.
“With Sky Business and Ruckus, the betting systems now function much better, directly increasing revenue during peak events,” Deas explains.
The Ruckus ICX switches and Virtual SmartZone controller simplify network management, enabling Chester’s IT team to monitor and adjust systems in real time. Combined with Sky Business’s 24/7/365 monitoring and business-grade support, the network runs smoothly, minimising disruption and reducing administrative overhead.
“The system practically manages itself, allowing us to focus on other priorities. With Sky Business monitoring everything 24/7, we’re confident in its reliability,” says Deas.
Chester Race Company’s customer portal enables data capture from guest connections, providing valuable insights for better marketing efforts. This allows the company to better understand its visitors, engage them more effectively, and deliver personalised experiences.
“The data capture through our portal has been invaluable for marketing. We’re reaching more guests with targeted offers and smarter engagement,” adds Deas.
The combination of Sky Business connectivity and energy-efficient Ruckus ICX switches ensures Chester Race Company is futureproofed for growth. The scalable, next-generation network meets current demands while providing the flexibility to adapt to increasing traffic and new technologies – keeping Chester Race Company ahead of the curve.
“We’re now confident in our ability to meet future demands. The partnership with Sky Business and Ruckus gives us a network we can trust,” concludes Deas.
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