North America’s elite ice hockey competition, the NHL, has announced the renewal of its partnership with US telecommunications giant Verizon.

Verizon will continue as the league’s exclusive partner in the 5G broadband, wireless services, and mobile edge computing categories, as well as serving as an official technology partner of the league.

Through the deal’s renewal, Verizon will now pilot test the addition of 5G private wireless networks to NHL arenas, tailored specifically to the needs of the NHL teams’ staff and that of businesses inside each venue.

Verizon already provides wideband networks across NHL arenas and will continue to do so to improve the fan experience by allowing supporters to use the internet faster inside the venues.

The NHL first partnered with Verizon in 2020, and the new multi-year deal will take the partnership past five years in length.

Kyle Malady, Verizon Business chief executive, stated of the partnership’s renewal: “Our collaboration with the NHL showcases what transformative network connectivity can bring to venues and fans alike. Having a forward-looking partner in the NHL opens up significant opportunities from an operational standpoint, when you look at the business of professional hockey, to enhancing in-game efficiencies and the fan experience.”

NHL executive vice president for business development and innovation David Lehansky added: “Creating the solutions and experiences of tomorrow is not only a function of applying cutting-edge technologies from world-class companies, but it’s also a function of being able to truly collaborate with them to uncover meaningful new use cases.”

The partnership’s renewal will be inaugurated during the NHL’s annual Stadium Series of regular season games played outdoors at sports stadiums. The 2024 edition of the series will take place at New Jersey’s MetLife Stadium on February 17 and 18, and Verizon will activate around the event in collaboration with the NHL, including at its official pregame event.

Other major NHL sponsors include New Amsterdam Vodka, the title sponsor of the pregame event, Navy Federal Union Credit, which is the title sponsor of the stadium series, and most recently Tourism Prince Edward Island, which has come on board as the league’s newest official destination partner.

Verizon, meanwhile, recently announced an upgrade to its partnership with the Tennessee Titans, of American football’s NFL, and their yet-to-be-completed Nissan Stadium.