IP Communications

The Frisco RoughRiders, a Double-A Affiliate of the Texas Rangers, are set for a winning season this year and beyond, as the team’s home stadium, Dr. Pepper Park in North Dallas, will soon sport an advanced unified communications system from ShoreTel.

The new UC system will greatly improve the stadium’s outmoded communications system by providing features such as advanced call handling, workgroups, and one-touch Web dialing. Under the terms of the contract, ShoreTel (News - Alert) will deploy 170 of its ShorePhone IP Telephones throughout the facility -- in executive offices, luxury suites, concession stands -- even team locker rooms. The rest will be handled by ShoreTel’s increasingly popular IP PBX (News - Alert).

Scott Sonju, president and general manager of the RoughRiders, said in a release that the new system “will make it easier for our staff to handle incoming calls in the appropriate manner by providing detailed information on the caller and Web-based dialing for our sales and marketing staff.”

“By providing these advanced unified communications tools we can improve our customer experience and make our staff more efficient,” he said. “It will also provide our luxury suites with easy access to the park staff on game day and during the many events we host each year at the ballpark.”

The team will use Westron, a Dallas, TX-based network operator and ShoreTel partner, for its telephone service. Westron offers IP voice, data and HD video over its dedicated network. It reportedly offers a high level of security for these IP-based solutions using the latest hardware and software technology to ensure that its clients’ intellectual property and business information is protected.

The RoughRiders chose the ShoreTel UC system for its increased reliability, which is made possible in part through its unique, centrally managed, and distributed architecture.

"Minor and Major League Baseball teams and stadiums are faced with the same business challenges as mainstream commercial businesses,” said Joe Vitalone, vice president of sales at ShoreTel, in the release. “They have similar demands, such as handling high in-bound and outbound calls, and providing advanced call routing, unified voicemail and e-mail -- all with an emphasis on customer service.”

“In today’s difficult economy there is a lot of emphasis on doing more with less,” Vitalone added. “The ShoreTel UC system offers an aggressive return on investment while helping the RoughRiders increase efficiency through simplified point-and-click applications, and by providing a better customer experience to their corporate partners and loyal fans.”

The Frisco RoughRiders had the highest Double-A Baseball attendance in 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008. Regardless of the outcome of this year’s season, at least the stadium will have a top-ranked phone system in place!