These spaces, which permanently receive thousands of people, have been the scene of violent acts that have forced the rulers to devise new security strategies that make them immune to these criminal acts.
By Juan Carlos George*
Until very recently, the security of Latin American stadiums depended solely on the police officers who were in charge of this work. However, the criminal acts that occur inside and outside these public spaces have forced the authorities to establish stricter measures to guarantee security in the spaces.
For example, in September 2012 – and given the violence caused by the country's "barras bravas" – Chile's National Congress enacted a law requiring football clubs to hire private companies to ensure security inside and outside stadiums.
Also, in 2013 the government of Ecuador was forced to temporarily suspend police surveillance within the country's sports venues because an officer was assaulted by fans of a local team. After almost a month of negotiations between authorities and directors of Ecuadorian football clubs, the country's police restored surveillance in Ecuadorian stadiums.
Something very similar happened in Peru, where that same year approximately six football matches were suspended because there were no necessary security guarantees for the attendees and because of the violent acts against the referees. This is not the first time that security has been violated in Peruvian stadiums, in the 60's an arbitral decision provoked a vandal reaction among the attendees, who invaded the court and when they were cleared with tear gas, they engaged in a stampede that left 318 people dead and 500 injured.
Video management software (VMS), essential for protection in modern stages
A case worth mentioning is that of the Governador Magalhães Pinto stadium, which during its preparation to host the last World Cup Brazil 2014, formed a technology committee made up of representatives of companies interested in participating in the project, following the standards of technology, systems and IT and telecommunications solutions required by FIFA.
In a first phase, this project included a security system consisting of 275 cameras of maximum resolution and 89 mobile cameras with optical and digital zoom.
The second stage of the work involved an investigation to find companies that could meet the expectations of the project to invite them to join it, while defining the needs and obligations required. After a long process, the firm Johnson Controls was hired to provide all the materials and services validated by the technology committee.
In this stadium Sony SNC-DH180 cameras were implemented, which were equipped with anti-vandalism protection and infrared lighting, ensuring the highest quality in the images, even in the dark. To handle all these images, Johnson Controls chose milestone Corporate 5.0 CCTV management software, which allowed for image monitoring and storage. According to spokesmen for the stadium's security area, this software allowed maximum performance to an unlimited number of cameras, users and sites.
In France, the MMArena was inaugurated in 2011 and included the latest safety technology in its equipment. 106 video surveillance cameras (including 104 new Sony IP devices) are connected to each other with a fiber optic cable controlled by Milestone's XProtect® Corporate video management software, which was selected for its open platform architecture that guaranteed scalability and sustainability in its investments.
More security in university stadiums
The United States is no exception, and local security concerns have forced federal governments to invest in modernizing security in public spaces. This is how Kansas State University (KSU) – identified as one of the points of greatest risk against terrorist attacks – responded preemptively by installing an IP surveillance network, using Milestone software as the basis of a huge security project in the community, which can grow as the financial resources to do so arise.
The campus police force includes 25 officers and a fleet of cars (with and without identification) and a fully equipped communications center. Now the university has significantly increased its security with a video surveillance system, using Milestone Systems' XProtect® software and the Axis PTZ213R camera network. ISG Technology – a Milestone certified partner and Axis partner with multiple offices in the Midwest – implemented this system in 2005, bringing its expertise in IT systems, training, maintenance and support.
This university has a Milestone Product Maintenance Agreement (PMA) that ensures free updates of new versions of the software, always keeping them up to date with the latest technology and functionality. Additionally, ISG provides training to KSU-assigned system operators, constant hardware maintenance (as required) and an 800 line for its support center in Wichita, Kansas, to address any issues presented by users.
This same integrator (ISG Technology) was in charge of the project carried out in Charles Koch Arena (of Wichita State University), where it was taken into account that in a sports space in which emotionally affected crowds converge, it is possible that disorders may occur, especially with people who have consumed alcoholic beverages. In addition, the combination of campus and community increases the likelihood of assaults or robberies. Therefore, the campus police wanted to ensure the best safety net to proactively take care of the environment and maintain the highest levels of safety and enjoyment.
The requirements of the project included the possibility of visualizing the entire infrastructure with the surveillance system, but having it installed in such a way that it does not affect the attractive appearance of the campus. Therefore, the cameras are periodically installed around the architecture of the building.
The solution implemented was the XProtect® Entrerprise IP video surveillance software, which was installed on an HP Proliant server that is responsible for managing, scheduling and controlling the 31 Axis cameras, in a combination of fixed models and PTZ (pan-tilt-zoom).
Finally, it is important to mention the case of the King Power Stadium, home of Leicester City Football Club, a team that competes in the English Premier League. The sports stage has capacity for more than 32 thousand spectators for which it is essential to converge in a safe environment and for this, this stadium has an ultra modern video surveillance system that is made up of 80 cameras that give the possibility of detecting any event that occurred in this sports center, at any time of the day.
Milestone's XProtect® software is the backbone of this security system, since without its extensive capabilities it would be very difficult to monitor the stadium during a football match, especially if you consider that if a camera fails, it is likely that approximately 4,000 people will be left off the radar and therefore, your security is at potential risk. This situation would imply that the game was suspended, with the consequent economic losses that this would represent.
That is why for this stadium it is a relief to have the 24/7 support offered by Milestone and that allows that with just one call it is possible to contact someone who knows exactly how the system works.
*Juan Carlos George is Sales Manager Mexico, Central and South America (except Brazil and the Caribbean) of Milestone Systems
