Monday, June 4, 2007

Red Sox IT guy talks shop about wireless, Dice-K

By Catherine Williams

Steve Conley has a 2004 World Series Championship ring, but you won't find him dusting off his jersey along the third base line in the shadow of the Green Monster. Conley, director of information technology for the Boston Red Sox, specializes in the behind-the-scenes IT that keeps Fenway Park humming. Conley, who joined the organization in February 2001, recently talked Sox tech with MHT reporter Catherine Williams.

MHT: What kinds of ballpark technology are you planning for Red Sox fans?

CONLEY: What's coming from Major League Baseball is texted-ticketing on your phones. I'm not sure when we're going to embrace it. It's still new technology. There are a couple of teams that are already trying it (Pittsburgh Pirates and the Oakland Athletics), but there are a number of hurdles to overcome.

MHT: What are the biggest challenges when you're installing new technology into the oldest ballpark and smallest stadium in Major League Baseball?

CONLEY: Every winter we're working in a construction zone. There is a lot of dust and whatnot so it's a tougher environment for gear. Two years ago, 80 percent of all our cables were cut. But opening day is not going to move because my cables aren't in. As we start to add more services, we need to find space to put this equipment. Space is at a premium. Closets become a premium. You need to fight for all the space that you can.

MHT: Are there any back-office technology projects on the horizon?

CONLEY: We are looking to take a bigger step into providing more IT services and developing more tools, like customer relationship management, to be able to help the business grow more.

MHT: How big is the Red Sox technology budget?

CONLEY: It's hard to pin down because we'll leverage partnerships and sponsorships (EMC Corp., for example). We have to be cognizant of the cost. We are a small business when you don't look at the amount of money that's spent on the field. We spend roughly $1.2 million, or less than 1 percent (of the total budget).

MHT: What kind of technology does management care about?

CONLEY: They want their stuff to be easy, fast, reliable. (Team manager Terry Francona) likes finding the right-size laptop that is easy for him to travel with. Some of it is as simple as making sure that our video club guy that travels with the team has the right set of printers. We utilize a lot of video, about 5 terabytes to 7 terabytes of information, that players use and rely on to help them scout.

MHT: Do you have a favorite pet technology project?

CONLEY: Actually, it's the one that drives me the craziest at the same time: wireless. We put in a pretty high-scale wireless infrastructure, and last year it was just completely bulletproof. This year, starting opening day, we had nothing but problems from the press box. It can be related 100 percent back to the signing of Dice-K (Japanese pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka) and the additional TV trucks that run on the same frequency as the wi-fi. (Some TV stations) beam their signals over right field and in the middle of the new bleachers, where they are reflected back into the stadium. It will take out (two of the three) wireless channels completely.

MHT: How did you figure that out?

CONLEY: I had to go back to my high school geometry.

MHT: Is there any technological magic behind the scenes that might mitigate Roger Clemens joining the New York Yankees?

CONLEY: No, there's nothing we can do in that regard. It's a free market (laughs). I don't get involved in that kind of stuff.

MHT: Still, some people might think you have the best technology job in New England. Do you agree?

CONLEY: Yes. It's a lot of work, but it's a lot of fun. Especially if we repeat what happened in 2004.