From the Field to Your Screen: Top Wi-Fi Engagement Moments from the 2024-25 NFL Season
Published: February 5, 2025
As the 2024-25 NFL season hits the final moments of the fourth quarter, Extreme Networks is proud to reflect on another year of enhancing the fan experience through our partnership with the NFL. By providing reliable connectivity throughout the stadiums, we enablefans to stay connected, share their experiences in real-time, and access exclusive content, all of which contribute to a more immersive and engaging game day experience.
Wi-Fi is crucial in creating unique, personalized experiences for NFL fans. By analyzing data on fan interaction, such as app usage, engagement, and participation in in-stadium activities, the NFL can gain valuable insights into fan preferences and behavior. This data-driven approach allows the league to tailor content and services to meet the evolving needs of its audience, helping to make each game not just an event but a memorable experience.
Top moments of the 2024-25 NFL season
This season was packed with thrilling moments that drove fan engagement! From the Green Bay Packers’ electrifying touchdown in the first quarter of Week 12, which generated 10.9 Gbpsof data, to the Cardinals’ exhilarating second-quarter first down in Week 7 at State Farm Stadium, which saw an 11.4 Gbps spike in fan engagement, each play kept fans on the edge of their seats. The third quarter of Week 13 at Empower Field at Mile High featured a remarkable 93-yard Broncos touchdown, resulting in 10.0 Gbps of engagement, while the fourth quarter of Week 7 at Lambeau Field saw a nail-biting game-winning field goal by the Packers, driving 12.6 Gbps of fan activity.
Halftime shows also brought their share of excitement, particularly during Week 15 at Lumen Field, where a mesmerizing drone show during the Packers vs. Seahawks game captivated fans and led to a 17.7 Gbps spike in engagement, a number that rivals the moments of the Super Bowl LVIII. However, the moment of the season was the pregame US Air Force flyover at Lambeau Field in Week 12, which set the tone for an exciting game day and generated 18.3 Gbps of fan interaction.
Top pregame ceremonies of the season
Building on the excitement of the season, several other pregame ceremonies stood out for fans this season. In Week 13 at Lambeau Field, the atmosphere was electric as Jessie G delivered a powerful rendition of the national anthem before the Miami Dolphins and Green Bay Packers took the field, resulting in 17.0 Gbps of fan interaction. Week 16 brought a festive spirit to Lambeau Field with a dazzling holiday light show preceding the New Orleans Saints and Green Bay Packers game, generating 16.1 Gbps of engagement.
Over at Lumen Field in Week 15, the Green Bay Packers faced the Seattle Seahawks and the pregame Eurocopter MH-65 Dolphin helicopter flyover thrilled the crowd, leading to a 15.2 Gbps spike in data usage. Finally, to close out the season in Week 18, Lambeau Field once again set the stage for an unforgettable game as Craig Nelson’s performance of the national anthem before the game against the Chicago Bears drove 15.0 Gbps of fan interaction.
Top in-game moments of the season
This season had several in-game moments that excited fans and drove fan engagement. In Week 7 at Lambeau Field, the Green Bay Packers clinched a thrilling victory over the Houston Texans with a game-winning field goal, generating 12.6 Gbps of fan interaction. That same week, State Farm Stadium saw a surge in engagement during the second quarter of the Los Angeles Chargers vs Arizona Cardinals game, as a Cardinals touchdown ignited the crowd and resulted in 11.4 Gbps of data usage.
Week 12 at Lambeau Field featured an electrifying first-quarter touchdown by the Packers against the San Francisco 49ers, driving 10.9 Gbps of fan activity. In Week 9, State Farm Stadium was once again the site of high engagement, with a 53-yard Cardinals touchdown against the Chicago Bears in the second quarter also generating 10.9 Gbps of interaction. Finally, Week 10 at M&T Bank Stadium saw the Baltimore Ravens tie the game with a touchdown against the Cincinnati Bengals in the second quarter, leading to 10.8 Gbps of fan engagement.
Top halftime shows of the season
This season featured several spectacular halftime shows that captivated fans and drove significant engagement. In Week 15 at Lumen Field, the Green Bay Packers faced the Seattle Seahawks, and the mesmerizing, first-ever drone show during an NFL halftime generated an impressive 17.7 Gbps of fan interaction. Week 7 at State Farm Stadium saw a dazzling light show during the Los Angeles Chargers vs Arizona Cardinals game, resulting in 14.3 Gbps of engagement.
At Empower Field at Mile High in Week 13, the Cleveland Browns vs Denver Broncos game featured another stunning light show, driving 12.9 Gbps of data usage. Week 11 at Nissan Stadium showcased a thrilling Salute to Services Skydivers performance during the Minnesota Vikings vs Tennessee Titans game, leading to 12.7 Gbps of fan activity. Finally, in Week 17 at SoFi Stadium, the Arizona Cardinals vs Los Angeles Rams game was highlighted by a performance from Sublime, generating 11.6 Gbps of engagement.
Top games for connected devices
The 2024-25 NFL season saw impressive levels of connectivity and data usage, highlighting the growing trend of digital engagement among fans. Leading the pack for most connected devices was Week 1 at Huntington Bank Field, where the Dallas Cowboys faced the Cleveland Browns with a staggering 50,124 devices connected. Ford Field was a hot spot for connectivity this season, featuring three games within the top 5 for connected devices: Week 15’s Buffalo Bills vs Detroit Lions (47,977 devices), Week 1’s Los Angeles Rams vs Detroit Lions (47,866 devices), and Week 4’s Seattle Seahawks vs Detroit Lions (47,187 devices). MetLife Stadium also made the list with Week 1’s Minnesota Vikings vs New York Giants game, connecting 47, 438 devices.
Top games for data transferred
When it comes to data transferred, the numbers were equally impressive. Week 18 at Ford Field saw the Minnesota Vikings take on the Detroit Lions in a thrilling matchup where the Lions were fighting to be the NFC's top seed, resulting in 15.7 TB of data transferred. That is enough data to watch the movie Friday Night Lights more than 2,500 times. Ford Field continued to dominate with Week 13’s Chicago Bears vs Detroit Lions (15.3 TB) and Week 15’s Buffalo Bills vs Detroit Lions (14.8 TB). Huntington Bank Field’s Week 1 game between the Dallas Cowboys and Cleveland Browns also saw significant data usage, with 14.3 TB transferred. SoFi Stadium had two games make the list: Week 12’s Philadelphia Eagles vs Los Angeles Rams and Week 3’s San Francisco 49ers vs Los Angeles Rams, both transferring 14.3 TB of data.
Looking ahead to Super Bowl LIX
As we wrap up the 2024-25 NFL regular season, it’s clear that fan engagement reached new heights, driven by unforgettable moments both on and off the field. From thrilling touchdowns and game-winning field goals to mesmerizing halftime shows and captivating pregame ceremonies, fans connected with the action like never before. Extreme Networks reliable Wi-Fi connectivity played a critical role in enhancing these experiences, allowing fans to share their excitement and stay engaged throughout the season.
We are looking forward to another spectacular Super Bowl where fan engagement will reach new levels. Stay tuned for our post-Super Bowl data breakdown, where we’ll dive into the numbers and highlight how fans interacted during the biggest game of the year. Learn more about how Extreme Networks provides best-in-class Wi-Fi and Wi-Fi analytics to enhance the NFL gameday experience.