Wi-Fi-Based Active RFID Technology Increasing Event Safety At California Venue

With a capacity of more than 62,000, the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum hosts more than 100 events a year -- everything from professional baseball and football to the latest music concerts and family shows.

With so many events at the venue, coliseum officials recently installed a Wi-Fi-based active RFID system from AeroScout and VenueSoft to help staff quickly deploy personnel, such as security, police, medical or facilities staff, if issues arise during events.

With the venue being so large, a different response service may be served by each different company or department. If something occurred during an event that required immediate attention, coliseum officials wanted to make sure that the right response team is called to the right area, as quickly and efficiently as possible.

That’s where the RFID solution comes into play. More than 150 ushers positioned throughout the facility have VenueSoft’s VenueAlert handheld devices equipped with AeroScout T2 active RFID tags.

Thanks to the active RFID system, tags integrated into the handheld devices are used to determine where each usher is located. The location information is sent to a third-party facilities management system integrated with AeroScout’s MobileView software.

Located on the device are eight one-touch buttons that perform a certain function, such as “notify police,” “notify medical” and “notify cleanup crew.”

If a medical emergency occurs, the usher presses the button to call the response team that serves in the specific area of the coliseum.

“AeroScout is the ideal partner for the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum implementation because its technology is reliable and works with standard Wi-Fi networks, and because its MobileView software easily integrates with a wide range of third-party applications,” said Randy Wingate, COO of VenueSoft. “The joint VenueSoft and AeroScout solution has already been tested and used during three events. Based on the success of the project so far, facilities management at the complex is now planning to extend the solution to the ORACLE Arena as well.”

About the Author

Brent Dirks is senior editor for Security Today and Campus Security Today magazines.

Featured

  • Report: 47 Percent of Security Service Providers Are Not Yet Using AI or Automation Tools

    Trackforce, a provider of security workforce management platforms, today announced the launch of its 2025 Physical Security Operations Benchmark Report, an industry-first study that benchmarks both private security service providers and corporate security teams side by side. Based on a survey of over 300 security professionals across the globe, the report provides a comprehensive look at the state of physical security operations. Read Now

    • Guard Services

  • Identity Governance at the Crossroads of Complexity and Scale

    Modern enterprises are grappling with an increasing number of identities, both human and machine, across an ever-growing number of systems. They must also deal with increased operational demands, including faster onboarding, more scalable models, and tighter security enforcement. Navigating these ever-growing challenges with speed and accuracy requires a new approach to identity governance that is built for the future enterprise. Read Now

  • Eagle Eye Networks Launches AI Camera Gun Detection

    Eagle Eye Networks, a provider of cloud video surveillance, recently introduced Eagle Eye Gun Detection, a new layer of protection for schools and businesses that works with existing security cameras and infrastructure. Eagle Eye Networks is the first to build gun detection into its platform. Read Now

  • Report: AI is Supercharging Old-School Cybercriminal Tactics

    AI isn’t just transforming how we work. It’s reshaping how cybercriminals attack, with threat actors exploiting AI to mass produce malicious code loaders, steal browser credentials and accelerate cloud attacks, according to a new report from Elastic. Read Now

  • Pragmatism, Productivity, and the Push for Accountability in 2025-2026

    Every year, the security industry debates whether artificial intelligence is a disruption, an enabler, or a distraction. By 2025, that conversation matured, where AI became a working dimension in physical identity and access management (PIAM) programs. Observations from 2025 highlight this turning point in AI’s role in access control and define how security leaders are being distinguished based on how they apply it. Read Now

Most   Popular

New Products

  • PE80 Series

    PE80 Series by SARGENT / ED4000/PED5000 Series by Corbin Russwin

    ASSA ABLOY, a global leader in access solutions, has announced the launch of two next generation exit devices from long-standing leaders in the premium exit device market: the PE80 Series by SARGENT and the PED4000/PED5000 Series by Corbin Russwin. These new exit devices boast industry-first features that are specifically designed to provide enhanced safety, security and convenience, setting new standards for exit solutions. The SARGENT PE80 and Corbin Russwin PED4000/PED5000 Series exit devices are engineered to meet the ever-evolving needs of modern buildings. Featuring the high strength, security and durability that ASSA ABLOY is known for, the new exit devices deliver several innovative, industry-first features in addition to elegant design finishes for every opening.

  • Camden CM-221 Series Switches

    Camden CM-221 Series Switches

    Camden Door Controls is pleased to announce that, in response to soaring customer demand, it has expanded its range of ValueWave™ no-touch switches to include a narrow (slimline) version with manual override. This override button is designed to provide additional assurance that the request to exit switch will open a door, even if the no-touch sensor fails to operate. This new slimline switch also features a heavy gauge stainless steel faceplate, a red/green illuminated light ring, and is IP65 rated, making it ideal for indoor or outdoor use as part of an automatic door or access control system. ValueWave™ no-touch switches are designed for easy installation and trouble-free service in high traffic applications. In addition to this narrow version, the CM-221 & CM-222 Series switches are available in a range of other models with single and double gang heavy-gauge stainless steel faceplates and include illuminated light rings.

  • Camden CV-7600 High Security Card Readers

    Camden CV-7600 High Security Card Readers

    Camden Door Controls has relaunched its CV-7600 card readers in response to growing market demand for a more secure alternative to standard proximity credentials that can be easily cloned. CV-7600 readers support MIFARE DESFire EV1 & EV2 encryption technology credentials, making them virtually clone-proof and highly secure.