Lumen Brings Big Bandwidth to the Big Hats: Powering the Kentucky Derby® with Network-as-a-Service

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Lumen Technologies (NYSE: LUMN) has partnered with Churchill Downs Racetrack to implement Network-as-a-Service (NaaS) capabilities for the 151st Kentucky Derby. This technological upgrade will support the massive digital demands during Derby Week, where network usage surges from 2-3 Gbps to nearly 200 Gbps daily.

The implementation will serve over 385,000 annual visitors, providing high-capacity, secure connections for media coverage, vendor support, and guest Wi-Fi. The NaaS platform replaces traditional hardwired circuits with a dynamic, on-demand solution that can be scaled instantly to match event demands.

The network infrastructure supports critical operations across 83 race days annually, including veterinary services, security systems, and mutuel platforms. Additionally, Lumen's network extends to the backside community, providing essential connectivity for equestrians and their families, including schooling and communication services.

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DENVER, April 23, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- 'The Most Exciting Two Minutes in Sports^®' just got a serious tech upgrade. As Churchill Downs Racetrack ("Churchill Downs") prepares to host the 151st running of the Kentucky Derby, the historic venue has teamed up with Lumen Technologies (NYSE: LUMN) to bring Network-as-a-Service (NaaS) capabilities to the racetrack, delivering enhanced connectivity for hundreds of thousands of guests, media outlets, and mutuel operations during Derby Week.

"When you're hosting one of the greatest sporting spectacles on Earth, speed matters — and not just on the track," said Mike Wood, Senior IT Director "With Network-as-a-Service technology, we can bring high-capacity, secure connections online in minutes to power everything from media coverage to vendor support and guest Wi-Fi. It's that kind of behind-the-scenes innovation that ensures Derby Week runs smoothly and delivers unforgettable experiences to fans in the stands and around the globe."

With more than 385,000 visitors descending on Churchill Downs each year, the digital demands of Derby Week have vastly increased —jumping from 2–3 Gbps on a normal day to nearly 200 Gbps daily. Streaming, seamless mutuel operations, high-definition live broadcasts, mobile point-of-sale transactions, and Wi-Fi access all require network connections with low latency and high reliability – especially when milliseconds matter.

"Churchill Downs is an iconic venue operating in a high-stakes, high-velocity environment," said Dave Ward, Lumen chief technology and product officer. "By replacing temporary, hardwired circuits with a dynamic, on-demand Network-as-a-Service platform, they're gaining a self-service, cloud-like network experience that scales to match the pace of the Derby. That's the future of connectivity—and we're proud to help bring it to the track."

With 83 race days annually, Churchill Downs requires year-round high-performance connectivity and by using Lumen NaaS, the team can dynamically scale bandwidth up and down as needed, delivering continuous connectivity for critical operations such as veterinary services, security systems, and mutuel platforms.

Beyond the track and grandstands, Lumen's network also supports the backside community, home to many equestrians and their families who need schooling, internet, and communication.

Get the full story of how Lumen is powering the Kentucky Derby. Watch the video and read the use case to discover how Network-as-A Service is elevating the experience at Churchill Downs: https://www.lumen.com/en-us/resources/customer-stories/churchill-downs.html

About Lumen Technologies  

Lumen is unleashing the world's digital potential. We ignite business growth by connecting people, data, and applications – quickly, securely, and effortlessly. As the trusted network for AI, Lumen uses the scale of our network to help companies realize AI's full potential. From metro connectivity to long-haul data transport to our edge cloud, security, managed service, and digital platform capabilities, we meet our customers' needs today and as they build for tomorrow. For news and insights visit news.lumen.com, LinkedIn: /lumentechnologies, X: @lumentechco, Facebook: /lumentechnologies, Instagram: @lumentechnologies, and YouTube: /lumentechnologies.  

About The Kentucky Derby

The $5 million Kentucky Derby takes place on the first Saturday in May at historic Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky. Inaugurated in 1875, the legendary 1 ¼-mile race for 3-year-olds is the longest continually-held major sporting event in the United States and the first leg of horse racing's Triple Crown series. Also known as The Run for the Roses® and The Most Exciting Two Minutes in Sports®, the Kentucky Derby is the most attended horse race in the nation. The 151^st Kentucky Derby will take place on May 3, 2024. For more information, please visit www.KentuckyDerby.com. 

Tickets for the 151^st Kentucky Oaks and Kentucky Derby on May 2-3 are available by visiting www.KentuckyDerby.com and www.DerbyExperiences.com, or call (502) 636-4447 to be a part of the most extraordinary Kentucky Derby yet.

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SOURCE Lumen Technologies

FAQ

What network capacity increase does Churchill Downs experience during Kentucky Derby Week?

Network usage at Churchill Downs increases from 2-3 Gbps on normal days to nearly 200 Gbps daily during Derby Week.

How many visitors does the Kentucky Derby serve annually at Churchill Downs?

Churchill Downs welcomes more than 385,000 visitors annually.

What services does Lumen's NaaS technology support at the Kentucky Derby?

Lumen's NaaS supports media coverage, vendor operations, guest Wi-Fi, streaming, mutuel operations, HD broadcasts, mobile point-of-sale transactions, veterinary services, and security systems.

How many race days does Churchill Downs operate annually with Lumen's network support?

Churchill Downs operates 83 race days annually with Lumen's network support.

What advantages does Lumen's Network-as-a-Service provide for the Kentucky Derby?

Lumen's NaaS provides dynamic, on-demand scaling of bandwidth, self-service capabilities, and cloud-like network experience, replacing traditional hardwired circuits for more flexible operations.