Stadium security has become a central axes of global management of sports venues. However, the interaction between fans and the show experience is crucial for the event’s success. This article explores FIFA’s recent report on stadium violence in the United States and examines how biometrics, specifically facial authentication, can enhance security and comfort at sports events.
Current Challenges in Stadium Security: Revelations from the FIFA Report
FIFA’s recent report has shed light on critical challenges faced by stadiums in the United States, according to surveyed unions. The data is revealing and points to the urgent need for substantial improvements to ensure fan safety.
Current Technology Insufficiency and Identification Needs
68% of unions highlight a significant lack of technology, including CCTV systems, to identify perpetrators within stadiums. This data suggests a significant technological gap affecting sports venues’ ability to address security issues effectively.
Insecurity at Entry and Lack of Security Personnel
Another significant finding is that 71% of unions agree that “there are insufficient security records of fans entering stadiums.” This perception directly points to insecurity at stadium entrances, emphasizing the need to strengthen control procedures. Additionally, 56% of unions believe that “there is not enough security personnel on match days,” highlighting a tangible deficiency in human resources dedicated to security during sports events.
Technology and Preventive Measures: An Urgent Call
In the technological realm, 98% of unions agree that technology can contribute to improving player and fan security. Specifically, 73% consider scanners and detectors essential, while 68% emphasize the importance of facial recognition cameras. These data reveal an urgent call for implementing advanced technologies as an integral part of preventive measures in stadiums.
Priorities: Identification and Personalized Actions
80% of unions point out that efforts to identify individuals responsible for abuses should be a priority. This data reflects the need for more effective and personalized approaches rather than collective measures. In this regard, 78% of unions strongly support measures such as personalized tickets, emphasizing the importance of specific and targeted actions against wrongdoers.
Identity and Biometrics as Allies of Comfort and Security in Stadiums
Analyzing the FIFA report statistics reveals a clear demand for innovative solutions to address challenges shared by unions. In this context, the adoption of facial biometrics, accompanied by a robust CCTV system, emerges as a comprehensive and advanced response to overcome these challenges.
Unlike the common perception of biometrics as a surveillance tool, it highlights how it can be used as a solid authentication system to ensure precise identification of attendees entering and exiting stadiums. This approach not only enhances the overall event security but also prevents those who have caused problems before and had their entry restricted from entering again with another person’s ticket or season pass.
Contributing to the Prevention of Future Incidents
It is essential to emphasize that 85% of unions believe that the inability to identify perpetrators and the lack of protection for players contribute to future incidents. This data highlights the crucial importance of effective preventive measures.
For example, identity verification integrated into ticket purchase provides an initial layer of security, allowing you to know your fan and adding differential value to risk prevention. There is no room for error here: One fan, one ticket, one identity, long before entering the stadium. No ticket scam.
The second layer of protection is at the entrances. Facial authentication offers fraud-free access, eliminating physical credentials and their potential transfer, providing a frictionless experience that traditional security methods often lack because its motto tends to be “more security, more friction.” Facial biometrics position themselves in this context as a powerful tool that allows the prevention and handling of potential security issues without interfering with the fan experience.
Advantages of Facial Biometrics Over Other Technologies and Traditional Methods
Compared to other forms of biometrics, such as fingerprinting or retina scanning, facial biometrics stand out for their accessibility and ease of implementation. The ability to recognize a person simply through their face eliminates the need for physical contact, which is especially relevant in high-attendance environments like sports stadiums, streamlining entry processes and improving flow at massive events.
Facial biometrics has become a crucial solution in a sports stadium where thousands of fans converge simultaneously due to its ability to identify quickly and without contact, allowing frictionless access, reducing wait times, and improving operational efficiency. This feature is essential to ensure a positive fan experience while maintaining high-security standards in environments where speed and accuracy are fundamental.
Furthermore, facial biometrics offer a faster and smoother experience compared to traditional identification technologies like printed tickets. The need to search for and present a ticket is eliminated, significantly streamlining the entry process. This improves efficiency in stadium access and contributes to reducing crowds at entrances.
Frictionless Fan Experience: The Hand-Free Access Revolution
One of the most notable advantages of facial biometrics is its ability to offer a “hands-free” experience. Facial authentication allows fans to enter stadiums without needing a physical ticket or access card. This hand-free access revolution not only simplifies the fan experience but also contributes to reducing the use of printed materials, aligning with sustainability initiatives.
Ensuring Privacy and Regulatory Compliance
Addressing concerns about privacy is crucial when implementing biometric technologies. In this regard, Veridas’ facial biometrics provide an additional layer of data protection by not requiring physical information storage and transforming images into irreversible and interoperable biometric vectors. Moreover, 100% compliance with GDPR highlights Veridas’ commitment to respecting fans’ rights and privacy.
Global Success Reflection: The Veridas Case
In this context, Veridas’s hands-free facial access technology stands out as a global benchmark in stadium management. Renowned clubs like FC Barcelona, Real Madrid, Osasuna in the Spanish Football League, and Universidad Católica-Cruzados in Chile have successfully adopted this technology, highlighting its adaptability and effectiveness in improving fan interaction and experience.
In conclusion, security and comfort are two fundamental pillars defining the fan experience in United States stadiums. FIFA’s report highlights necessary areas of improvement, and biometrics, especially Veridas’s hands-free solution, emerges as an innovative response to address these challenges.
With a successful global track record and proprietary technology adaptable to each client’s needs, Veridas is a leader in transforming stadium management worldwide. By adopting facial authentication, security is strengthened, and convenience improves, providing fans with an unforgettable experience at every sports event.
For more detailed information on how security can be applied to benefit fan comfort, we invite you to download our E-book, “Empowering Fan Experience in Stadiums and Events.” This resource provides a deep insight into Veridas’ solutions and their impact on security and comfort in sports events.
