Delivering Reliable Connectivity for 50,000 Visitors at GelreDome Stadium with UniFi

Background

The GelreDome in Arnhem, Netherlands, is one of the country’s most versatile and heavily used stadiums. With a base capacity of 34,000 seats—often expanded to accommodate up to 50,000 attendees for concerts and special events—the venue regularly hosts top-tier international artists and weekly football matches. Events featuring Lady Gaga, Paul McCartney, and Madonna, alongside high-profile dance festivals, demand world-class infrastructure to keep operations seamless.

For years, the stadium relied on a legacy wireless system limited to 2.4 GHz access points. This outdated setup was insufficient to support modern connectivity demands from production crews, event staff, and public safety teams. The stadium’s unique architecture, with a retractable roof, added further complexity to achieving consistent Wi-Fi coverage.

To address these challenges, WiFi Media, a long-standing Ubiquiti integration partner with experience managing over 2,500 active deployments across Europe, was tasked with delivering a modernized UniFi solution. Equipment distribution was provided by Wimood, a strategic Ubiquiti distributor in the Netherlands.

Business Requirements

The GelreDome required a solution that could:

• Provide high-capacity Wi-Fi coverage for events hosting up to 50,000 guests.
• Deliver segmented, secure networks for diverse users, including production teams, office staff, police, and traffic control.
• Ensure scalable, reliable infrastructure that could adapt to changing conditions, including the retractable roof design.

Why UniFi

UniFi was selected as the foundation for GelreDome’s network because of its ability to scale across large venues while maintaining central management and operational simplicity. The licensing-free model allowed the stadium to expand coverage without incurring ongoing software costs. VLAN segmentation, robust security features, and reliable switching and routing gave the stadium’s operators the flexibility to manage unique requirements across multiple user groups.

Deployment and Key Features

Wi-Fi Infrastructure

The deployment included more than 150 UniFi access points, primarily U6 Pro units, with additional mesh APs for outdoor and complex coverage areas. A particular challenge was ensuring reliable coverage on the field and in stands where line-of-sight changed depending on whether the stadium’s retractable roof was open or closed.

Switching and Routing

At the core of the network, GelreDome relies on UXG Pro gateways and UniFi Pro switches (USW Pro 48). Fiber connections link multiple levels of the stadium, ensuring high-bandwidth, low-latency communication between access points and critical systems. Although the network was designed when U6 Pro was newly released, it has remained reliable and scalable.

Segmented Networks and VLANs

Multiple VLANs were configured to separate critical services. Dedicated networks support guest Wi-Fi, production crews, event offices, and police/traffic control systems, ensuring each group operates securely without interference. Police use the system to manage traffic flow not just inside the stadium but also across the surrounding city, demonstrating the operational importance of the UniFi deployment.

Management and Mobility

Administrators rely on UniFi’s centralized management console hosted on a private VPS, as well as the mobile app, to oversee performance and make real-time changes during events. For each concert or football match, SSIDs and preferred settings are updated to match the production crew’s requirements.

Additional Solutions & Expansion

At the time of deployment, the project focused on UniFi Network. No additional UniFi product lines (Protect, Access, or Talk) were specified for this deployment. However, WiFi Media noted that further integrations could be considered in the future as stadium requirements evolve.

Conclusion

The GelreDome stadium now operates with a high-capacity, segmented network capable of serving tens of thousands of attendees, staff, and security teams. With over 150 UniFi access points, robust switching and routing, and centralized management, the venue benefits from a scalable, flexible infrastructure.

Events ranging from weekly football matches to international music tours rely on this system to provide uninterrupted connectivity—not only for guests but also for critical services such as traffic management and law enforcement.

By adopting UniFi, GelreDome has positioned itself to meet the growing digital demands of large-scale entertainment and sporting events, ensuring reliable operations and a future-proofed foundation for expansion.