JACOBY’S JABBER

THE REAL MAGIC: BEHIND THE SCENES AT D23

I am Jacoby Bancroft. I work in the Marketing Department and as a relatively new hire, I was grateful for the opportunity to travel to the Anaheim Convention Center (ACC) to see firsthand how Smart City Networks works with show management to put on such a massive event like D23. I will admit, I was a little nervous and did not quite know what to expect. But seeing our team in the days leading up to an event and watching a show move-in was an incredible experience that gave me an entirely new perspective regarding what we do as a company.

Early on, I met with Kevin Patch, the General Manager for Smart City at the ACC and for three days I got to see him and his team in action as they prepared for what would be the biggest show the convention center would see this year. I had a few goals while attending the expo. On a professional level, I wanted to get a sense of the relationship between Smart City and Show Management and how the two work together to better serve those in attendance. On a personal level, I wanted to meet a Marvel Cinematic Universe actor. And while I did not cross paths with Paul Rudd or Charlie Cox, I did accomplish my professional goal and it was an eyeopening experience.

For the first two days, I was a fly on the wall, following Kevin around while he handled various tasks that arose during the move in. We would zip around from location to location, checking on wire placement, drop points and internet connections. Kevin’s background as a technician gave him the knowledge of what needed to be done and how to accomplish it. It was fascinating watching him work. Kevin exemplifies Smart City ideals. He does not just talk about leadership, he shows it. He is in the trenches with his team and knows immediately how to solve any potential problem. His team in place at the convention center deserves special recognition as well. They were diligent and ready to jump from one installation to another to get everything ready on time.

All that is only half the job. At Smart City, our commitment is to make sure the clients, like Disney, are taken care of and all their needs are met so their show runs smoothly and efficiently. That includes adapting on the fly and always being flexible.

Kevin continually analyzed data usage levels for the client and made recommendations to services that would result in a better D23 experience. It is a snapshot of how our on-site teams go that extra mile to ensure the best event for our clients.

Finally, it was show time. And having been there through the setup, the actual show offered another unique experience. As I walked through the crowded exhibit halls, watching excited attendees buy merchandise, take pictures, enjoy celebrity panels, I was struck with the thought of how attendees never knew how much work it took to make it all happen. Nobody thinks about the wiring that runs underneath the carpet. Nobody notices the access points that provide internet connection. And if Smart City has done their job correctly, then no attendee ever will. It really brings into perspective the work we do and how we know we are operating at our best level when nobody knows who we are.

And that leads into my final takeaway from this event. It is easy to get swept up in the spectacle of the show, but I had to learn to not get too attached. D23 was one of the most successful events of the year, but by weekend’s end, the show had wrapped, and the convention center had to quickly pivot to the next show. We give it our all for every show, and then quickly move on to the next one as soon as it is over. I am very grateful for the opportunity to travel to Anaheim for D23 and would like to thank Kevin and his entire team for letting me be a part of such an incredible event!

OTAKON’S RECORD-BREAKING ATTENDANCE IN D.C.

OTAKON at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington D.C. exceeded all expectations and delivered not only one of 2022’s largest events for the center, but one of the biggest events in its history. OTAKON is an annual anime event celebrating mainly East Asian pop culture. It results in thousands of fans flocking to the center every year. It stands for Otaku Convention and it is a wonderful blend of anime, manga, music, and film. This year’s OTAKON surpassed anything the convention center could ever imagine. Realistically, their goal was to reach 30,000 attendees. However, the final attendee count was closer to 40,000! Fans lined up around the convention center three times over just for the chance to get in. This year’s attendance smashed the previous record for OTAKON, was set in 2013 at approximately 34,000 attendees.

Originally, OTAKON was held at the Baltimore Convention Center, but it moved to the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in 2017 to better handle the rapid expansion the event was foreseeing and now as we move out of the pandemic, the event is only forecasted to continue to grow over the coming years.

Of course, it takes a talented team to bring events like this to life and on top of our incredible Smart City Networks staff in place at the center, a special thanks should be given to Walter E. Washington’s amazing team for coming together to pull off this year’s OTAKON. Obviously, the content is what draws people to this type of event, but once people are in the door, it is important that everything works efficiently and effectively. It is why Smart City is proud to have offered telecommunications services that included 30 Mb bandwidth wired services for the event’s registration and meeting rooms, on top of wireless services for all their staff.

NRG STADIUM KICKS OFF ANOTHER YEAR OF TEXAN FOOTBALL

The Houston Texans take the field once more! The NFL season has officially kicked off, which means another year of nervous nailbiting and finger-crossing as sports fans flock to NRG Stadium to support their favorite team. There is a deep connection between Texans and football, and Smart City is honored to be part of that history.

We supply services to NRG Stadium, making sure everything is ready for game day. The majority of audiences do not know the amount of work our technicians put in to delivering quality service on a weekly basis. Our on-site support team is available around the clock and put in the time to make sure everything is ready to go. It is a testament to our commitment to service and we look forward to cheering on our Houston Texans this year with the rest of the city’s fans.