Topgolf Migrated Systems to Save $11.3 Million
Topgolf replaced VMware software and VxRail hosts with VergeOS and Dell PowerEdge servers to cut infrastructure costs.
Updated on Oct. 13, 2026 in Data Centers
Live Poll
Do you trust that businesses will pass software cost savings on to their customers?
Topgolf has successfully migrated 12,000 virtual machines from VMware to VergeOS to avoid massive projected cost increases. The company reduced its total infrastructure expenses by more than $11.3 million through this transition.
Why it matters
The shift occurred after Broadcom discontinued VMware perpetual licenses and raised prices, threatening Topgolf with a 400 percent cost hike. Topgolf also sought to overcome technical limitations regarding cluster segregation that were present in their legacy VMware environment.
Topgolf replaced 650 VxRail hosts with 400 Dell PowerEdge servers, achieving an 87 percent reduction in hardware spend. Additionally, the company secured a five-year enterprise license agreement with VergeIO that lowered software costs by 77 percent.
The players
Topgolf
Topgolf is a global sports entertainment company that operates large-scale golf venues featuring high-tech ball-tracking technology.
VergeIO
VergeIO provides VergeOS, a virtualization software platform that allows companies to manage cloud and on-premises data center workloads.
Broadcom
Broadcom is a global technology company that acquired VMware and subsequently altered its licensing models and pricing structure.
Dell
Dell is a multinational technology corporation that manufactures the PowerEdge server hardware and VxRail hyper-converged infrastructure systems.
The details
The migration required a complete overhaul of on-premises workloads, including replacing server stacks, rewiring columns, and transitioning to a Kubernetes-based gaming architecture. Topgolf is currently working to remove all remaining VMware installations from its remaining venues.
Timeline
Topgolf began using VxRail infrastructure in 2017.
The report on migration cost savings was published in October 2026.
Topgolf expects to finish removing VMware by the second week of December 2026.
The Tech Race
This migration reflects a broader trend of enterprises abandoning long-standing VMware virtualization suites in favor of alternatives like VergeOS. It signals a shift in the data center market as companies react to the consolidation of proprietary software stacks under new ownership.
For the average user, this infrastructure upgrade helps maintain the reliability and speed of the gaming technology found at Topgolf venues. The transition ensures that venue operations remain cost-effective without impacting the quality of the customer experience.
The takeaway
Topgolf's massive infrastructure migration demonstrates how companies are proactively re-architecting their tech stacks to escape vendor lock-in. Businesses can often achieve significant operational savings by auditing legacy software dependencies when pricing models shift.
What happens next
Topgolf is scheduled to complete its total transition away from VMware software by the second week of December 2026.
Further reading
For more on evolving infrastructure trends, visit the Data Centers section.
Live Poll
Do you trust that businesses will pass software cost savings on to their customers?
