The annual pigskin bacchanal, known as the Super Bowl, demands meticulous planning and the implementation of cutting-edge security measures to ensure the safety of fans, players, and the broader community, because of its sheer size, global visibility, and celebrity attendance. Helping the authorities in that effort will be the latest in wireless-enabled technologies, according to Gary Pennington, wireless lawyer, Pennington Law Firm, who pens the newsletter Stadium and Venue Tech Tips.
“New Orleans’ approach to Super Bowl security is not just about this one event; it serves as a blueprint for future large-scale gatherings,” Pennington said. “By leveraging advanced technology, fostering inter-agency collaboration, and engaging the community, the city aims to set a new standard for event security.”
To enhance situational awareness and threat detection Drone surveillance with high-definition cameras and thermal imaging will provide security teams with real-time footage. Facial recognition deployed on cameras throughout the city and the stadium will identify potential threats and restrict entry into secure areas.
“A lot of the new security technologies implemented in New Orleans are based on wireless technology,” Pennington said. “This will be the first Super Bowl that will use AI-powered analytics.”
AI can detect suspicious behaviors, unattended items, and other anomalies and alert security personnel. Additionally, AI-powered signs can thwart in-stadium traffic jams by directing crowds on routes to leave the stadium in case of an emergency, as well as to the possibly less urgent need to visit the concession stand or bathroom with the shortest line.
The NFL doesn’t use security badges anymore. Instead, a Game Day employee’s security badge now is their face, and they use geo-fencing, which limits where an employee can go, based on their security clearance. RFID and mobile ticketing may also be used to minimize counterfeiting and track individuals entering the venue. Additionally, ground sensors may be installed around the stadium to detect unusual activity such as trespassing.
At every Super Bowl, federal, state and local officials work together on security. This year, the New Orleans Police Department, Louisiana State Police, the FBI, and the Department of Homeland Security are all collaborating to develop and execute a comprehensive security strategy, Pennington said. Joint command centers will monitor and respond to any potential threats in real-time. But this year, with the U.S. president’s attendance, the event’s need for security ratchets up to a whole new level.
“They’re going to have to shut down the airspace and the roads to get him to the stadium,” he said. “Inside the stadium, he will be in a booth but there will probably be around 1,000 Secret Service agents in the venue.”
