November 14, 2025
From Connectivity Crisis to Strategic Advantage: How IT Infrastructure Transformation Drives Business Growth
When the San Diego Padres were running their entire ballpark on a single 10-megabit internet connection, VP of IT Ray Chan knew something had to change. Today, Petco Park operates more like a smart city than a traditional venue—and that transformation holds powerful lessons for any organization ready to turn their IT infrastructure from a constraint into a catalyst for growth.
In today's digital-first landscape, connectivity isn't just infrastructure. It's the foundation for innovation, competitive advantage, and the ability to deliver on your biggest ambitions.
Three San Diego organizations discovered this truth firsthand, transforming not just their technology but their entire capacity to serve customers, fans and communities. The following stories illustrate their journeys.
The Stadium That Evolved into a Smart City: Petco Park's Digital Transformation
Ray Chan still remembers the early days when Petco Park limped along on that single 10 Mbps connection. "That is not going to be good enough for a home nowadays," he reflects with a knowing smile. The transformation that followed wasn't just an upgrade—it was a complete reimagining of what a modern venue could be.
Building Infrastructure for World Series-Level Experiences
Working with Cox Business, the Padres scaled their connectivity from that original 10 Mbps to 2 Gbps, with plans already in motion for 10 Gbps redundant circuits. But this story goes far beyond bigger pipes. The enhanced infrastructure now powers capabilities that seemed impossible just a few years ago:
- Mobile ticketing and contactless payments at every concession stand
- 4K and 8K media transmission for global broadcasts
- Seamless connectivity across multiple venues, including spring training facilities
- Enhanced fan experiences through augmented reality and social sharing
"Everything relies on technology, you name it, from security engineering to fan experience," Chan explains. The results speak volumes: record-breaking attendance of 3.4 million fans, with nearly every game selling out. The infrastructure doesn't just support operations—it enables the Padres to deliver championship-caliber experiences every single day.
Breaking Down Silos: How SAY San Diego United Their Mission Through Technology
For nonprofits like SAY San Diego, technology transformation means something profoundly different. It's about maximizing every dollar to serve vulnerable communities better. IT Director Ben Mortensen faced a challenge familiar to many nonprofit leaders: multiple locations operating as isolated islands, each struggling with outdated infrastructure.
From Copper Wires to Cloud-Powered Impact
"We were running copper, which is slow between our point to point," Mortensen explains. "There was one location where if it rained, we just lost telephone, and we would lose internet." The solution came through RapidScale's managed services approach [RapidScale, a Cox Business company], which fundamentally changed how the organization operates.
Instead of Mortensen managing complex Cisco routers across multiple sites, RapidScale took over the entire infrastructure management. "They are another staff member. They literally take a load off of me," he says. "The fact that RapidScale came in and set up everything and they managed it, just took that all off my plate. So now I have more time to focus on other things."
The transformation delivered immediate operational benefits:
- Unified communications across all locations
- Cloud-based systems enabling staff to update client records from anywhere
- Elimination of paper-based processes
- Dramatically improved reliability and speed
But the real victory? Staff can now spend more time with clients and less time fighting technology. The organization is even exploring AI capabilities to further streamline operations—possibilities that simply didn't exist with their previous infrastructure.
Betting on Digital Excellence: Jamul Casino Resort's 24/7 Innovation Platform
At Jamul Casino Resort, IT Operations Manager Tara Sparks understood a fundamental truth about modern hospitality: technology excellence equals guest excellence. In an environment that never sleeps, infrastructure failures aren't just inconvenient—they're unacceptable.
Creating a Foundation for Future Innovation
"Connectivity is no longer a backend concern. It's the backbone of the guest experience and operational success," Sparks emphasizes. The casino's partnership with Cox Business to implement 10-gigabit fiber represented more than an upgrade; it was a strategic investment in possibilities not yet imagined.
The transformation touches every corner of the casino's operations.
- Gaming systems that never lag
- Seamless hospitality services
- Robust security infrastructure
- Reliable back-office operations
Each element works in concert to create experiences that keep guests coming back.
"That upgrade was a game changer for us," Sparks confirms. "It provides smoother mobile experiences and more responsive digital services. And behind the scenes, that upgrade allows us to support advanced digital experiences."
What truly sets this transformation apart is its forward-looking approach. "With 10 Gbps fiber, we're not only solving today's challenges, but we are building the foundation for future innovation like IoT integrations, cloud-based operations and AI-powered guest experiences," Sparks explains. The support model matters too. Cox Business provides responses within an hour, ensuring the casino never misses a beat.
The Strategic Partnership Advantage: Why Vendor Relationships Are Evolving
These three transformations reveal a crucial insight for IT leaders navigating today's complex landscape: the right technology partner doesn't just provide connectivity; they engineer possibilities. Each organization faced unique challenges, yet they all found solutions through partnerships that transcend traditional vendor relationships.
Beyond Service Delivery to Strategic Enablement
For the Padres, partnership meant scaling from 10 Mbps to infrastructure capable of supporting a small city's worth of concurrent users and devices. For SAY San Diego, it meant unifying disparate locations and freeing IT resources for strategic initiatives. For Jamul Casino, it meant building a foundation for innovations that haven't even been invented yet.
Ray Chan captures the essence of this approach perfectly: "I think it's going to teach and make us more efficient, create automations, especially when you have an infrastructure like what we have at Petco Park."
The lesson is clear: when your technology partner understands your business goals—when they become an extension of your team rather than just a vendor—transformation becomes not just possible, but inevitable.
Your Infrastructure Should Match Your Ambition
These stories demonstrate that whether you're entertaining millions of fans, serving vulnerable communities or creating unforgettable hospitality experiences, your technology infrastructure should amplify your ambition, not constrain it. The organizations that thrive in tomorrow's digital landscape will be those that treat infrastructure as a strategic asset today.
As Tara Sparks wisely advises: "Invest in scalable, high-speed networks to help future-proof your operations. Collaborate closely with partners who understand your landscape and can help the growth of your operations."
Ready to transform your connectivity crisis into a strategic advantage?
Contact Cox Business to discover how our expert advisors can help accelerate your organization's growth and innovation potential.
Let’s build the foundation for what’s next.
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RapidScale is Cox Business’s cloud innovation hub, offering a full suite of private and public cloud solutions to simplify IT and accelerate innovation. From IaaS to AI, RapidScale delivers top-tier managed services backed by 400+ expert certifications.
