Commitment to Fan Safety Spurs Security Innovation
When the MetLife Stadium security team had trouble finding a camera that met their needs, they didn’t compromise. Instead, they collaborated with Axis Communications to design a tailored solution capable of checking every box.
MetLife Stadium solidifies its reputation as a leader
As the home field for two NFL teams and a frequent venue for concerts and other large events, MetLife Stadium is one of the largest and highest-grossing stadiums in the world. Located just miles outside New York City, the venue has a maximum capacity of more than 82,000—the equivalent of a small city—and keeping things operating safely and smoothly is no small task. For the MetLife Security team, nothing is more important than guest safety, and the team’s commitment to security technology, training, and processes has led to an industry-wide reputation for excellence.
A History of Security Leadership
MetLife Stadium is consistently rated one of the safest venues in the NFL, thanks to a forward-thinking strategy that puts guest security at the center of every decision, a commitment to implementing modern technology and procedures, and a high-class security team. The venue’s reputation for prioritizing security is nothing new—in 2013, it became the first NFL stadium to achieve SAFETY Act certification from the US Department of Homeland Security. This ongoing commitment to security has been widely recognized, and MetLife Stadium has twice been named a Facility of Merit by the prestigious National Center for Spectator Sports Safety and Security (NCS4). The venue has invested significant resources into creating an environment that makes fans feel protected…and troublemakers feel uncomfortable.
MetLife Stadium has long been at the cutting edge of technology: as early as 2014, the venue was already winning awards for its security capabilities. In 2015, MetLife Stadium set the standard for security screening, replacing traditional metal detectors with less invasive walk-through magnetometers a full two years ahead of the NFL’s deadline to do so. In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, the stadium also implemented new safety protocols emphasizing mobile ticketing, touchless transactions, and grab-and-go concessions. While these measures improved visitor health and safety, they also greatly increased the efficiency of the ticketing and concessions processes, streamlining operations and improving the fan experience.
MetLife Stadium’s dedication to safety and security applies not just to the technology in use at the venue, but to its personnel as well: the venue is one of the few stadiums that manages its own security services, conducting its own hiring and training practices rather than contracting out to a third-party provider. This ensures security personnel are well acquainted with both the unique qualities of the venue and how to use the security solutions deployed within it. This focus on training and experience has led to a league-wide reputation for knowledgeable, highly trained staff who know how to respond to difficult and challenging situations.
We want to make good people feel safe and bad guys feel uncomfortable.
Elevating Security
Venue officials decided to implement further security upgrades, with the ultimate goal of enabling clear, high-resolution video from one side of the stadium to the other. The desired devices needed to meet a number of specifications while also maintaining a bullet camera form factor consistent with other security devices. But MetLife Stadium wanted to do more than just comply with regulations—officials wanted to drive home the venue’s reputation for security excellence with a device capable of providing safety, security, and operational insights that outpaced the capabilities of other venues. MetLife Stadium’s goal was to implement devices capable of producing video coverage at the highest possible quality.
The scale of modern arenas presents a unique challenge for video surveillance, requiring cameras capable of delivering clear images at significant distances. Additionally, stadiums are generally made from pressed concrete, limiting the ability to drill new mounts and housings for equipment, while the traditional bowl design can present visibility challenges such as odd angles and obstructed sightlines. The open-air nature of the stadium also posed a challenge: with no roof, cameras are often mounted far from the seats they need to watch over and are more heavily impacted by changing atmospheric conditions. It was critical for MetLife Stadium to identify a video security solution capable of overcoming those challenges and providing complete coverage at the necessary resolution.
Collaboration Generates Innovation
The MetLife Stadium team identified a list of specifications the new security devices would need to meet, including resolution, focal length, zoom, form factor, and price. But when the time came to identify a solution capable of meeting those needs, they repeatedly came up empty. None of the vendors MetLife Stadium worked with could provide an off-the-shelf-solution that checked every box, but the security team was relentless in its pursuit of a solution—and a manufacturer—capable of achieving its goals. Rather than accept a partial solution, the security team sought out a new partner that could deliver a custom device tailored to the venue’s unique needs.
The collaboration between MetLife Stadium and Axis Communications began with a thorough exploration of the specific challenges a video solution would need to address. By working with Axis in an open and collaborative manner, MetLife Stadium ensured its specific needs were met from the concept phase all the way through implementation. The result? A custom-designed camera capable of seamlessly integrating with the venue’s existing security stack, including its video management system (VMS), existing devices and technology partners, and local public safety agencies. MetLife Stadium chose the path of innovation rather than the path of compromise.
As one of the world's largest stadiums, we always make the security of fans our number one priority. Axis came out and understood the problem and said, ‘The camera you are looking for doesn’t exist…but we can make it for you.’
Custom-Made Camera Exceeds Specifications
Released just 9 months after the initial collaboration began, the new camera features a custom-made 150mm Canon lens available exclusively to Axis, enabling 8K (33 megapixel) resolution at 30 FPS and 41 megapixel resolution at 15 FPS. The device uses dual ARTPEC-8 chips—a proprietary system-on-chip designed by Axis—capable of providing optimal performance in a variety of lighting conditions, and electronic image stabilization (EIS) capabilities help keep the image steady even amid raucous crowds and turbulent weather. The camera provides high-quality video at unprecedented distances, giving the security team an unparalleled level of visibility throughout the bowl of the stadium.
By ensuring excellent image quality and high resolution, the device allows the security team to leverage advanced video analytics capabilities, such as the ability to identify aggressive behavior, medical emergencies, and other potential security incidents. This enables faster response times, allowing the security team to intervene before potentially dangerous situations can escalate and remediate security incidents with minimal disruption to both spectators and performers. The new devices ensure that the security team always has access to accurate, high-quality security data.
Taking Security to the Next Level
Of course, MetLife Stadium is always looking ahead—and the security team already has plans to enhance the venue’s security even further. The team is currently investigating opportunities to expand the capabilities of their existing devices to achieve this goal. The highly interoperable nature of the devices ensures that the security team has access to a wide range of video analytics, which the team plans to use to streamline entry to the stadium, create easier access to guest amenities and concessions, and improve staffing efficiency to reduce queue times.
Setting the Standard for Stadium Security
Rather than settling for an out-of-the-box solution that met only some of the venue’s needs, MetLife Stadium partnered with Axis Communications to create a bespoke security solution capable of meeting the venue’s own high standards. MetLife Stadium’s refusal to cut corners has long made it one of the safest venues in football, and the awards MetLife Stadium has received underscore the venue’s continuing commitment to providing best-in-class security capabilities and protecting fans, players, performers, employees, and anyone else who sets foot inside.
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