Case Study: Drone Ops at the MLB All-Star — Stress Testing Connectivity in Real Time

Situation

During MLB All-Star week in Cobb County, tens of thousands of fans filled stadiums, streets, and public spaces. Public safety leaders used the moment to test drone operations in the most challenging conditions: a crowded, congested network environment where seconds matter.

Challenge

Drone feeds are no longer “nice-to-haves.” They are tools for situational awareness, tactical response, and officer safety. But in congested environments, even a single live feed can freeze or collapse, leaving commanders blind at critical moments.

The question was simple: can the network carry multiple live feeds and devices in real time, under stress?

Action

An operator tested his normal setup side by side with an alternate configuration built for priority.

- Normal setup: struggled to sustain even one drone feed. Video froze and dropped, making it unreliable for operations.

- Priority-based setup: successfully streamed two drones simultaneously, while also running a laptop and multiple phones. The operator was able to view the live drone feed directly on the laptop while both drones stayed in the air.

His feedback was clear:“I streamed two drones, had my laptop and phones running, and could watch the feed live on the laptop. Under my normal setup, I can barely keep one drone in the air — and not well.”

Results

- Normal setup: could not carry one drone feed reliably.

- Priority-based setup: carried two drones plus other devices with stable video throughout.

- Operational advantage: uninterrupted situational awareness gave leaders confidence to make decisions in real time.

Leadership Takeaway

Connectivity is no longer a technical purchase. It is a leadership responsibility.

- Frozen video = frozen command. If feeds collapse, so does decision-making.

- Policy is paperwork. Architecture is assurance. Promises on paper don’t carry missions; tested systems do.

- Credibility is on the line. When the community and your people assume you’re ready, failing to test in advance isn’t a tech miss — it’s a leadership miss.

- Test before the mission, not during it. Proof only comes from stressing systems in your environment, with your equipment, your people, and your mission load.

The lesson: public safety leaders cannot delegate connectivity to “IT.” It’s as mission-critical as radios, vehicles, or protective gear. Leadership must own it, test it, and prove it works before the next big event.