Stadium Security Technology
If you’ve ever attended a sporting event or concert at a large stadium, you’re familiar with the stadium security process. If you frequently attend these events, you’ve undoubtedly noticed a shift from physical security to more technology-based security over the years. These technological advancements are the foundation for a more streamlined and stronger security process.
Some stadiums already employ cutting-edge technology to enhance security and improve the fan experience. It’s imperative that stadiums audit the security measures they currently use and keep up with new trends in security technology so they can protect their venues and attendees to the best of their ability. And that starts with addressing stadium security immediately.
Why Addressing Stadium Security Now Is Critical
Now more than ever, addressing stadium security is critical. New technology in stadium security helps event staff monitor attendees and stop a potentially dangerous situation quickly. Thanks to increased stadium capacities and new threats to ticketholders, enhanced stadium security helps to prevent catastrophic incidents.
Stadium security teams are now armed with technology like local area networking and facial recognition software. These advancements help stadiums stay safe. However, if stadium operators don’t continue to address issues with their security, the result could be catastrophic.
What Can Happen If Issues with Stadium Security Are Not Addressed Now
Issues with stadium security need to be addressed immediately to prevent a catastrophe—including property damage, injuries, or even loss of life.
Stadium security helps the event staff provide attendees with a safe and enjoyable stadium experience. However, unfortunate incidents like a small fire or a disagreement between opposing sports fans can turn a fun outing into a dangerous incident. Proper stadium security allows the security personnel to quickly identify the source of a problem so they can defuse a potentially catastrophic situation.
Factors That Have Driven Up Threats to Stadium Goers
Each year, new threats to the fan experience force the global stadium security market and stadium operators to think on their feet and provide new security solutions.
Here are a few of the factors that have driven up threats to stadium goers in recent years:
- Larger and upgraded stadium complexes that offer amenities like hotels, restaurants, and casinos
- Threat of terrorist attacks
- Crowd unrest or stampedes
And there’s one more factor that has recently threatened stadium goers: the COVID-19 pandemic.
How the Pandemic Has Changed Stadium Security
Most stadiums were temporarily closed to fans when the COVID-19 pandemic began. As mask use and vaccinations increased, stadiums welcomed more ticket holders to each event. However, keeping the patrons safe and protected from the virus proved to be a challenge for stadium operators everywhere.
Global regulations vary, but many stadiums now require proof of vaccination to enter. In efforts to reduce interaction with stadium security personnel, some only accept digital tickets and use a clear bag policy. These are just a few of the important security measures that stadiums take to protect their staff, attendees, and the actual stadium.
Important Security Measures Taken by Stadiums
Every stadium needs security measures to protect attendees, staff, and the venue itself. The goal is for every stadium across the world to increase security technology. However, not all geographical regions have the budget or foundational security capabilities to invest in such technology.
Some stadiums use only basic security screening methods. With the recent evolution of stadium safety, there is hope that someday all stadiums across the globe will institute high-end security technology.
Examples of How Sports Stadium Safety Has Evolved in Recent Years
One of the best examples of how sports stadium safety has recently evolved is the development of the smart stadium. For example, large venues like Wembley Stadium in London have added many cameras and sensors that help security staff monitor the crowd.
Should an incident like crowd unrest begin, stadium safety technology uses facial recognition and motion sensors to determine where the problem is and who is in danger. Thanks to the video footage that the security systems collect, stadiums can help law enforcement piece together events that led up to the incident.
Technologies that Stadiums Use to Assist with Security
Stadiums use a variety of technology to assist with security. Here are a few examples of this technology and how a venue might use it:
- Smart stadium applications to alert the security team to an incident
- Drone detection to keep the airspace over the stadium clear
- Access control to prevent fans from entering unauthorized areas
Additionally, some venues use automatic surveillance. This technology reduces the manpower required for crowd control and can streamline the process to improve security. Automatic surveillance is one of the best security advancements that stadiums currently use.
Basic Security Screenings That Most Stadiums Currently Use
If you’ve been to a stadium in the last couple of decades, chances are you’ve had to stand in a security line before you can enter the venue. Most stadiums use standard physical security screenings like metal detectors to ensure that no attendee is able to enter with contraband.
These basic screenings do more than stop a stadium goer on a budget from sneaking in their favorite snacks. Since stadium security personnel also screen for weapons and other dangerous items that a ticketholder could try to bring inside, such screenings help prevent fires, riots, and terror attacks.
Basic screenings may continue to be a standard process for many stadiums. However, some new trends in stadium security technology are developing to make each event safer for everyone inside the venue.
New Trends in Stadium Security Technology
Stadium operators are using new developments in stadium security technology to bolster their security processes. Software developers continue to improve existing programs and innovate with new technologies to boost security in all sorts of stadiums, from sporting venues to concert arenas.
Developers of the Latest Trends in Stadium Security Technology
The global stadium security market is working to develop new technology to improve security. Strong security starts from the very beginning and follows through to each game day. Here are a few examples of who develops the latest trends:
- Stadium designers. Smart stadium design is a huge step toward great security. Venues need to provide a fun fan experience and have strategically-placed entrances, exits, and space for the crowd to flow.
- Law enforcement. Each city wants its venues to be safe. Law enforcement often develops technology that can also assist their local stadium.
- Tech companies. Companies like IBM, Microsoft, and Intel constantly develop new technological innovations and create new trends. The global stadium security market can partner with these companies for access to the latest security technology.
Another recent trend is the development of technologies like AI and analytics. Security teams can now rely on this powerful technology to help increase the safety of everyone at an event.
How AI and Analytics Are Changing Physical Security in Stadiums
AI and analytics are some of the most powerful technological innovations that stadiums have recently added to their security processes. CCTV imaging technology and facial recognition can identify people engaged in unwanted behaviors—and the artificial intelligence aspect of these programs determines whether the behavior is threatening or benign. AI and Machine Learning can also be applied in the form of computer vision, enabling live occupancy monitoring as well as people counting and tracking. More advanced types of imaging, such as RF and quantum imaging, can also enable vision at night and in low-visibility situations such as smoke from a fire.
Additionally, stadiums can use augmented reality to guide fans to their seats. This helps the security personnel focus on monitoring the crowd and addressing any unwanted behavior. The new technology can even broadcast a message through the stadium’s sound system and automatically open exits in case of emergency. And one of the linchpins in making all of this happen quickly is 5G.
5G’s Role in New Stadium Security Technology Trends
Although it’s been met with some controversy, 5G is a great addition to stadium technology. The enhanced speed keeps online security systems running quickly and seamlessly. Event staff can stay in better contact because the bandwidth issues of yore are no longer a factor. And although the COVID-19 pandemic has caused some disruption, the 5G forecast remains strong. 5G offers high reliability, low latency and high bandwidth, making it an ideal backbone to connect sensors, data processing and data services.
5G also enhances the fan experience by letting event attendees know which security lines are longest so they can avoid the wait and get inside more quickly. In some sports stadiums, fans can even use 5G to put themselves right into the game’s action. In time, 5G is expected to play a larger part of the future of stadium security.
The Future of Stadium Security
As humankind evolves, so will new threats to stadium security—and thus the need for stadium security solutions. Fortunately, strong technological infrastructure and edge platforms are helping pave the way for a strong and secure future.
Consider the technology that has become a major part of everyday life in the last twenty years alone. Two decades ago, the internet was a fraction of what it is today. Smartphones hadn’t been invented. Fast-forward to today, when technology is simply everywhere. Just think of what sports stadiums will look like in twenty more years.
What Sports Stadiums of the Future Will Look Like
Regardless of what sports stadiums of the future will look like, it’s imperative that they include cutting-edge security technology.
Newly built stadiums like Allegiant Stadium in Nevada and AT&T Stadium in Texas provide a glimpse into the future. And in 2022, SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, employed excellent Super Bowl security. If current trends continue, here are a few security aspects that all future sports stadiums might include:
- Various cameras with sensors covering the entire stadium property
- AI, facial recognition, and analytics
- Large video boards and strong sound systems throughout the stadium
- Smartphone apps to provide security teams and attendees with all the venue and event information they need in real time
Simply put, the stadiums of the future will rely heavily on state-of-the-art technology to enhance the fan experience and improve security.
How Technology Can Protect and Improve the Future of Sports and Stadium Events
In the past, technology has helped provide clues about how a security breach or crowd unrest unfolded. Now, technology can prevent these incidents from happening altogether.
Software developers will continue to create new security solutions. As new stadiums are built to include these innovations, the global stadium security market gathers new data that they can use to build even more robust technology. This technology will keep improving both stadium security and the fan experience.
How Future Technology Will Protect Stadium Security While Ensuring the Privacy of Event Attendees
Part of new technology means protecting stadium security systems and the privacy of all event attendees. Yes, technology has evolved—but so have hackers who want to attack security systems and steal private information.
The move to digital tickets over their paper predecessors has already improved security because it’s harder to falsify tickets. However, digital tickets pose privacy concerns as hackers try to gain access to private information. Fortunately, multifactor identification and encryption programs further help to protect everyone involved in a stadium event. And as technology grows, so will this protection.
Another stadium security trend to keep an eye on in the future is the use of CCTV and facial recognition. These video surveillance tactics help security teams identify problematic attendees. However, each venue must abide by data privacy regulations that protect both the event goers and the venue. These regulations aren’t yet completely clear. Still, with the US Government Accountability Office predicting that the global market for facial recognition technology will grow to $7 to $10 billion by 2024, laws surrounding its use must evolve.
Enhanced Stadium Security Technology Is an International Effort
IEEE works tirelessly with its global partners to advance technology for humanity. Our international community is improving life as we know it—including in the stadium security technology field.
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