The NFL has done a great job keeping its TV viewers engaged over the years and has seen sky-high ratings because of it as America’s most-popular sport. Now, commissioner Roger Goodell wants to put the focus back on the fan experience inside the stadium in keeping the interaction high.

The quick fix we’ve all been waiting for was announced this week as the NFL plans to push for high-speed Wi-Fi to be installed in every stadium. Keep in mind, over 100 million Americans now own smartphones, so it’s about time the NFL took notice.

“We believe that it is important to get technology into our stadiums,” Goodell said. “We have made the point repeatedly that the experience at home is outstanding, and we have to compete with that in some fashion by making sure that we create the same kind of environment in our stadiums.”

For more information on the NFL Wi-Fi plan, click the photo below.

We love this because we’re currently developing an in-venue mobile application in the MLB that does exactly what Goodell is talking about — increasing fan interaction and complementing what’s happening on the field with what’s on your mobile device. This wouldn’t be possible without Wi-Fi, so we’re hoping to tap into the NFL with our application in the near future as well.

We see Wi-Fi installation opening the way for more interactive sponsor and team promotions, concession ordering, and the ability to deliver replays straight to the phone or iPad. We’re curious to see how it will impact two leading companies in the space – FanVision and YinzCam.