News Release

Cisco and Athletics Announce Cisco Field

State-of-the-Art Technology to Take Fan Experience to New Level

Strategic Business Arrangement to Include Comprehensive Technology Solutions Deal, Rights to Fremont Land, and "Cisco Field" Naming Rights
cisco_building_corporate_002-jpg-1889882-1-0
Nov 14, 2006

SAN JOSE, Calif., November 14, 2006 - Cisco®, the worldwide leader in networking that transforms how people connect, communicate and collaborate, today announced a broad business, marketing and technology agreement in principle with the Oakland Athletics (A's). As a part of the deal, the A's intend to build the world's most technologically sophisticated baseball park in Fremont, Calif. to serve as the new home of the A's. The development is set to include a state-of-the-art baseball-only stadium to be named "Cisco Field," and will feature a Baseball Village complete with residential housing, restaurants, retail shops and other community attractions.

As part of this expected agreement:

  • Cisco will purchase the naming rights to the ballpark. This 30-year deal is valued at $4 million annually, with the potential for annual increases based on inflation. This naming rights agreement is transferable at any time. As a part of the naming rights deal, Cisco will be granted an undisclosed amount of guaranteed print, radio and television exposure.
  • Separate to this agreement, Cisco will sell its 143-acre parcel of land in Fremont to the A's. The land is intended to become the future site of Cisco Field and a surrounding Baseball Village development. The terms of this land transaction are not being publicly disclosed, as the deal is still subject to final negotiation.
  • Cisco will become the "Official Technology Partner of the A's and Cisco Field."
  • The A's will purchase Cisco technology to build and support the converged network of Cisco Field that will support data, voice, video and wireless services.
  • Cisco will create a Cisco Customer Solutions Center inside the ballpark to showcase how Cisco networking technology is an essential part of 21st century stadia and other public venue operations.
  • Cisco will also have rights to utilize Cisco Field for corporate, partner and community events.

"The A's are more than just a great baseball team, they are a symbol of the Bay Area, and Cisco is proud to play a role in ensuring they continue to call it home," said Cisco President and CEO John Chambers. "Technology is changing every aspect of our life experiences and for Cisco, this is an opportunity to harness the power of our own innovative technologies to create a truly unique experience that transcends sports, connects communities and takes the fan experience to a whole new level."

This project underscores the A's commitment to creating a new standard for sports venues. As the official technology partner of the A's, Cisco will provide networking and communication products and services to transform the way that the A's team and ballpark operations will be managed. Cisco Field, when completed, will be a state-of-the-art technology showcase featuring an integrated IP network built on Cisco technology, and will be the platform for a multitude of applications that will take the fans' experience to the next level. For example, digital signs could ensure "smart" traffic flow; fans could purchase merchandise or concessions while in their seat by ordering from a mobile device, as well as onsite ticket kiosks to enable fans to upgrade seats in real-time. Luxury suites will have the opportunity to include multi-media amenities for premium video content, and Cisco TelePresence technology may even enable new forms of player-to-fan communications.

"Today marks the beginning of a new era in A's baseball in the Bay Area," said Lew Wolff, Owner and Managing Partner, Oakland Athletics. "Cisco Field will become a destination attraction that will be enjoyed by baseball fans throughout the Bay Area and beyond for generations to come. The location of the ballpark will enable us to significantly expand our market place while giving our fans a unique fan experience at what promises to be one of the most exciting venues in the country. We thank Cisco for the will and ability to make this new standard in fan and sponsor experience a reality. We have a number of rivers to cross, but once the value of what Cisco and the A's are committed to accomplish is clear to the citizens of Fremont and Alameda County, we are confident our plans will add to the economic, social and community base of the region we serve."

"This announcement of a new ball park for the Oakland Athletics ensures the long-term stability of the club in the Bay Area," said Baseball Commissioner Allan H. (Bud) Selig. "I congratulate Lew Wolff of the Athletics and John Chambers of Cisco for developing a partnership that will benefit the community as well as the A's and Cisco. As the landscape of baseball economics has changed dramatically in recent years, the importance of new ballparks that maximize the fan experience and expand club revenues, enabling the home team to remain competitive, cannot be understated."

The transaction is subject to final negotiation of terms and conditions, and will be subject to a variety of closing conditions, including governmental approvals, site surveys and environmental reviews.

About Cisco Field

Cisco Field will be located on the west side of Interstate 880 in Fremont off of the Automall Parkway. The ballpark and village will be privately funded and will be built without the use of public funds.

The A's and Cisco intend to explore, with the city of Fremont, other ways that the ballpark village can be developed, including sports-themed attractions that reflect the diversity and interests of the Bay Area.

"Cisco intends to be aggressive in ensuring that the entire Bay Area community, particularly younger fans, have the opportunity to enjoy the A's experience. We have a vision for how to make Cisco Field the model for all sports stadiums," added Chambers.

Press Conference Details:

The A's and Cisco will hold a press conference on November 14, 2006 at 11:30 a.m PT to discuss this agreement. The press conference can be viewed at http://newsroom.cisco.com/ciscofield/

In addition, the press conference is available via satellite from 11:00-12:30 PT, or 2:00-3:30 ET on the following satellite coordinates:

Intelsat IA5 @ 97 degrees West
C-Band
Transponder 14C Analog
Downlink Frequency 3980MHz
Downlink Polarization Horizontal
Audio Subcarriers 6.2/6.8

B-roll will be available via satellite at 12:45 PT or 10 minutes after the conclusion of the press conference. A replay of the press conference, and up to date information on the progress of Cisco Field can be obtained on the A's official website: www.oaklandathletics.com