Using keyless digital locks to control access inside sports stadiums

Modern sports stadiums are multi-purpose buildings hosting corporate entertainment areas, VIP boxes, concession stands, meeting rooms and conference facilities, all designed to help generate an alternative revenue stream. The challenge for stadium facilities managers is how to restrict certain areas in the stadium complex once the supporters are inside. Not everyone should have free access, some areas need to be kept off-limits or be restricted to staff and VIPs only. There will also be areas where access needs to be restricted to specific groups of employees, like groundsmen, medical and catering staff.

On busy match days, there will be many hundreds of people inside the stadium and it's the job of the facilities manager to specify access control products that achieve a secure environment for the supporters and the people working inside, and to protect property.

The trouble with keys

Managing the use of locks and keys in buildings with lots of doors can often become a complex task. Keys have to be cut and issued to the correct members of staff; lost keys need to be replaced (and so too the locks); doors need unlocking and locking again, all taking time and money to manage on a large scale.

More and more facilities managers are choosing to replace locks and keys with a more convenient and modern method of door entry. Our coded lock is a standalone access control product that offers greater functionality over traditional locks and keys. Access through the door is achieved by keying in a code on the keypad. If you don't have the code, you can't get through the door. Push-button locks can be used as primary locks on most doors, including wood, aluminium and even glass.

Easy to manage

Codes are issued to appropriate members of staff for entry to rooms or areas within the stadium where access needs to be controlled, like for example in concessions stands, the trophy room, medical rooms, offices or areas where equipment is stored. If a staff member leaves, the code can be reset and issued again. Making regular access code changes will ensure our coded door locks remain effective and help deter codes from being misused or passed on.

There may also be certain areas in the stadium that need to be kept locked most of the time, but freely accessible on match days. This could be the chairman's or directors' box for example, or the team changing rooms. Our keyless entry locks have a 'code-free' mode, whereby a member of staff can open the lock before the match by entering the code and then put the lock into 'code free' mode so that the VIPs or players can come and go during and after the match. At the end of the day, access can once again be restricted.

Lockers too

It's not just doors that can be secured using digital keypad locks. KitLock is a digital locker lock and is a replacement for traditional key cam locks on lockers. The locker lock works in exactly the same way; using a code to unlock the locker not a key. The main advantage here is that the user of the locker does not have to carry a key around with them while the locker is in use, this might be useful in the players' changing room and for any lockers provided for staff to keep their belongings safe while at work.

Unlocking the potential

Compared to lock and keys, our electronic locks offer a much greater level of convenience and control. There are many applications in sports stadiums where our digital locks can provide a cost-effective and manageable level of access control, without the hassle of using keys.

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29, Nov 2012