An efficient stadium is an enjoyable stadium, for fans and the front office alike. But to keep a venue running like clockwork — while entertaining tens of thousands of fans — requires a holistic operational ecosystem, where each link in the chain is as important as the next. What may sound like a logistical headache requires minimal effort and can help venues maximize their efficiency.
High-traffic entertainment events like gamedays and concerts run more smoothly with fully integrated technology, which ultimately enhances the visitor experience. Smart stadium technology transforms the entire fan journey, beginning on arrival.
Crowd management solutions
As venues become more digital, many stadiums’ operations have evolved to include video displays for informative signage and wayfinding. Samsung’s vivid, eye-catching screens — which are a big part of The Venue Experience, Redefined — tell fans what they need to know clearly and directly, and keep traffic flowing in the right direction. This applies to both foot traffic and vehicles; large outdoor displays can direct cars to parking lots or drop-off points, helping to reduce road congestion and confusion.
Arriving at an event venue is associated with packed gates with tedious lines. But when a venue has connected technology throughout, sensors placed around entry gates can monitor crowd data and communicate with back-end software to inform fans of each gate’s estimated wait — shared on digital displays in real time. This reduces bottlenecks and overcrowding, speeding up entry into the stadium. It also means fewer staff members need to provide face-to-face directions. And with visitors more evenly dispersed, the stadium has lower risk of safety and security hotspots.
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Inside the stadium, a network of displays throughout concourses direct fans to their seats, the restrooms and the nearest food and beverage options. Thanks to a faster entry process, fans have more time available to enjoy those add-ons.
Behind the concession counter, vendors can use digital displays to share updated menus, placed along the queue so fans can make their selections before reaching the counter and already be informed of what’s in stock. During game breaks or event intermissions, customers who have preordered concession items can follow displayed directions to the correct pickup location.
Exit strategy
Crowdflow is relatively easy to manage before the event starts, as fans arrive in waves and venue capacity is staggered over several hours. The real challenge comes at the end of the event, when everyone in the stadium leaves at the same time. Operations and security teams can alleviate this stress with digital signage.
First, wayfinding digital signage can divert fans from bottlenecks and direct them to other exits. Throughout the venue, screens can also promote incentives for fans to stick around a while, whether for a special deal at the team store or live entertainment in the promenades. This both staggers the flow of traffic out of the stadium and adds to fan satisfaction by offering more unique in-person experiences they can’t get at home.
Action, not reaction
In an emergency situation, venues with the right technology can respond with crucial speed, providing a system for operations and security teams, as well as spectators, to be kept informed and up to date. Should a fan fall ill during an event, operators can use individual displays to draw a direct line to first responders. In the event of an evacuation, digital signage makes it easy for operations teams to display protocols and safely direct crowdflow out of the venue.
In less extreme cases, such as inclement weather that could delay the event, being prepared is key. Venue owners and managers can use signage-integrated data analytics to prescribe plans of action ahead of time, rather than having to respond reactively.
On a centralized platform, which functions like a stadium OS, operators can take all of their individual systems — such as venue ticketing, security, inventory, logistics and fan appreciation, including the game data feed — and unite them in a single multipurpose solution. In a connected system, all the previously separate parts can communicate with each other, giving venue operators unprecedented and fully consolidated visibility.
From entry to exit, digital displays combine with integrated data to deliver streamlined operations, helping ensure security and safety throughout an event venue. Simultaneously, venue owners can use their displays’ advanced operational intelligence to keep visitors informed and entertained. As they decide whether to travel to the stadium or watch from home, fans will be influenced by these efficient digital solutions, which help set apart the in-person gameday experience.
Find out how you can revamp or build new venues to ensure you maximize your investment for years to come in this free guide. And discover Samsung’s full lineup of innovative venue displays designed to enhance live events and sports.
