High Profile Security
Hard Rock Stadium opts for single source integrated solution
- By John Burke
- Feb 01, 2019
South Florida’s Hard Rock
Stadium is home to worldclass
entertainment events
and sports teams, including
the Miami Dolphins, University
of Miami football team, Orange Bowl
and concerts. As with any high-profile entertainment
complex that draws more than one
million visitors every year, the stadium faces
complex and constantly evolving security
challenges.
In 2015, stadium owners began a massive,
$350 million renovation of the arena,
and were committed to partnering with a
single security provider. They selected G4S
to deliver a single-source, integrated security
solution. The stadium’s security program
consists of modern software and hardware
to manage access control, identity management,
video surveillance and incident management.
The hub of the solution is the G4S
Security Command Center.
Operating 24/7, highly-trained security
staff maintain a watchful eye inside and
outside the stadium and are able to communicate
with concierge, gate and roving patrol
staff who can respond quickly to incidents in
and around the facility. The command center
not only centralized the stadium’s security
operations, but also enhanced the efficiency
of communications, surveillance and control.
Security staff consist of custom protection
officers (CPO) and upscale security officers
(USO), who are recruited and screened
according to their experience, temperament,
training and the unique environment they
will be standing post. Both CPOs and USOs
meet stringent qualification guidelines that
require a degree in criminal justice, police
science, security administration or military
or law enforcement experience.
Staff are equipped with Secure Trax, a
mobile officer-management platform that
enables guard tour check-ins, checkpoint
verifications and compliance reporting to increase
efficiency. Secure Trax allows security
managers and CSOs to see where and what
officers are doing at all times. It also provides
customized safety and facility inspections
and real-time incident reporting.
Prior to the renovation, Hard Rock Stadium
maintained multiple security vendor relationships,
which were costly and difficult to
manage. Partnering with a single-source provider
for hardware, software, systems integration
and security staff greatly streamlined the
process during the construction/installation
phase and ongoing security program management.
Working with one company simplified
communications and saved money.
Hard Rock Stadium selected AMAG
Technology’s Symmetry Access Control
system. The system provides a modern, networked
and integrated solution, ensuring
that only people with appropriate access are
able to enter specific areas. It automatically
locks and unlocks doors on schedule, providing
tighter security for more sensitive areas
such as offices and locker rooms. Instant
lock-down capabilities also allow the security
team to change the level of security if
an emergency takes place, allowing security
staff to better control the situation.
Security and safety incidents occur every
day, and the stadium must proactively investigate
and manage them before they escalate.
To help manage incidents, Hard Rock Stadium
chose RISK360, an incident and case
management platform also from AMAG
Technology. The platform collects data and
automates alerts so security officers can ensure
proper procedures are followed and
communicated. The platform allows the security
team to identify trends and potential
threats and address them before they escalate.
Across the entire facility, more than 400
high-resolution cameras provide surveillance.
The strategically placed cameras provide
“eyes everywhere,” for the security team,
which is critical in massive crowd situations
like football games or concerts.
“We’ve had positive results with the integration
of the security force and technology,
said Joe Cicini, senior director of security,
Miami Dolphins and Hard Rock Stadium.
“The security team proactively uses surveillance
and access control systems to track incidents
to their origin and follow through using
the RISK360 case management platform
that sends real-time alerts directly to me.”
Hard Rock Stadium determined their
risk posture to design and deliver a modern,
integrated security solution that consists of
video, access control and security staff. The
outcome is a model for stadium security that
protects employees, athletes
and celebrities and
allows visitors to enjoy entertainment
in a safe and
secure environment.
This article originally appeared in the January/February 2019 issue of Security Today.