February 1, 2015 – Glendale, AZ - When the Seattle Seahawks faced off against the New England Patriots in Glendale, Arizona, Bexel’s Engineered Systems and Solutions (ESS) team was working behind the scenes to deliver Super Bowl XLIX to millions of football fans worldwide. Bexel installed several new systems for the big game, which were in use for the very first time at a Super Bowl.

“Next Gen Stats” System - In 2014, the NFL began testing and installing the Next Generation Stats system. The NFL and Zebra Technologies, the system’s manufacturer, selected Bexel ESS to facilitate the system installation at 17 venues, including the University of Phoenix Stadium, home to Super Bowl XLIX.

The University of Phoenix Stadium installation involved the placement of multiple sensors around the venue, each wired to a Zebra MotionWorksTM server with connections to NFL and broadcast rights holders. The sensors, which are small RF antennas, track a player’s movement on and off the field via a small transmitter located inside each player’s shoulder pads. The “next gen” data provides the NFL with enhanced statistics and information not previously available, including player participation time, location, routes and speed. The real-time nature of these statistics enables end-users to gain immediate insight into the action on the field. Bexel ESS will complete installations before the start of the 2015-2016 season for the balance of stadiums not completed in 2014.

NFL Venue Transmission Network - Prior to the start of the 2014-2015 football season, Bexel ESS worked with the NFL on the design and implementation of a file distribution network. The network allows NFL Films and other NFL properties to easily move video and data files back to NFL Films’ headquarters in Mount Laurel, New Jersey. The transmission system, installed by Bexel ESS, provides immediate transfer of content, allowing NFL Films to have access almost immediately following the game so they can begin editing and sharing files. For Super Bowl XLIX, Bexel ESS augmented the permanent system with two traveling systems to support the more than 20 cameras utilized by NFL Films.

NFL Centralized Consult and Instant Replay Systems - For the last 7 years, Bexel has supported NFL officiating, particularly in the area of instant replay system deployment and infrastructure. Bexel ESS has integrated and installed the necessary equipment, encoders and audio components utilized in the new Centralized Consult feature in all 31 NFL stadiums. This system provides NFL officiating the ability to consult, in real-time, directly with the replay booth at Art McNally GameDay Central (AMGC), the league’s officiating command center at NFL headquarters in New York City. The system provides the same video seen on the replay screen in the booth to the AMGC, adding the ability to consult and communicate with the game official if necessary. At Super Bowl XLIX, Bexel ESS has assisted the NFL in setting up a fully redundant replay system that includes an additional replay station on the field.

“Bexel ESS has developed a very collaborative relationship with the NFL,” notes Scott Nardelli, Senior VP of Bexel ESS. “We’re quite proud of the work we do with them and feel very privileged for the opportunity. All of the key systems we’ve worked with the NFL on last season came together for the Super Bowl. There were a lot of moving pieces, but we were very happy with the end results.”

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