Ryder Cup 2025 Showcases AI-Ready Networking

The 2025 Ryder Cup, attracting nearly a quarter of a million spectators, served as a real-world test for AI-ready networking. Technology partner HPE created a centralized hub with a data visualization dashboard, enabling tournament staff to make operational decisions based on real-time data insights. This infrastructure highlighted the critical role of networking in AI implementation.

Connected Intelligence Center

The event featured a Connected Intelligence Center that ingested data from sources like ticket scans, weather reports, and AI-enabled cameras. This data was analyzed through an operational intelligence dashboard, providing staff with an instant view of activity across the grounds. Jon Green, CTO of HPE Networking, emphasized the importance of networking in AI, stating, "Disconnected AI doesn’t get you very much; you need a way to get data into it and out of it for both training and inference.">

Two-Tiered Network Architecture

To handle variable spectator density, engineers built a two-tiered architecture with over 650 WiFi 6E access points and 170 network switches. This infrastructure maintained continuous connectivity and fed a private cloud AI cluster for live analytics. The setup ensured seamless data flow and real-time decision-making, even under fluctuating crowd conditions.

Future of AI in Networking

As businesses move towards physical AI applications, many are rethinking their architectures. Edge-based AI clusters are being deployed to process information closer to the source, driving a trend of operational repatriation. This shift is enhancing speed and security, with workloads returning to on-premises infrastructure.

Self-Driving Networks

AI is also making networks smarter. HPE analyzes anonymized data from billions of connected devices to identify trends and refine network behavior over time. This advancement is paving the way for self-driving networks that handle repetitive tasks and automatically fix issues, transforming enterprise network management across industries.

Conclusion

The performance of the network increasingly defines business performance, whether coordinating live events or streamlining supply chains. Building a robust networking foundation today will separate those who pilot AI from those who scale it effectively. The Ryder Cup 2025 demonstrated the potential of AI-ready networking, setting a benchmark for future AI integration in large-scale events.