Channel programs News

Meet The Solution Provider Behind The Miami Dolphins’ Smart Stadium

Flagship Solutions is making a name for itself in the sports entertainment space. Just take a look at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami and you’ll understand why.

Over the last decade, the Boca Raton, Fla.-based solution provider has transformed the Miami Dolphins’ home into a smart stadium, using a range of technology to help with concession and point-of-sale optimization, crowd flow optimization, security, social media analytics and visualization, network connectivity and transportation.

“A lot of partners in the past typically provide either hardware or software,” said CEO Mark Wyllie. “Our approach has always been to deliver a solution.”

Part of what makes Flagship unique is that it’s “true blue,” meaning all of its solutions are integrated with IBM technology.

“They’re selling a solution to a client – not just selling a box. And that’s really the transformation we are going towards,” said John Teltsch, IBM Channel Chief.

That appears to be paying off for Flagship. Other notable clients of Flagship include the Atlanta Falcons and NASCAR.

NASCAR is one of the few sports that can’t operate in the rain, says Wyllie, so Flagship built the organization a real-time race operations weather dashboard using The Weather Company APIs.

“They use it planning the races, during the races. It gives them access to meteorologists. We have the forecast updated twice a day in the tool. It’s truly delivered as software-as-a-service because all they get is a login and a password.”

The solution won an IBM Beacon Award this year. For more from CRNtv’s interview with Wyllie, check out the video included in this article.