MetLife Stadium, home of the NFL’s New York Jets and New York Giants, has rolled out a custom surveillance solution developed in collaboration with Axis Communications. According to the partners, this new solution will help the venue augment its security capabilities, providing high-quality video at unprecedented distances and allowing the stadium’s security team to identify details from anywhere in the facility.

“As one of the world’s largest stadiums, the safety of fans is our number one priority,” said Danny DeLorenzi, VP of security and safety services at MetLife Stadium. “Unfortunately, none of the out-of-the-box solutions we tried could provide the desired coverage at the video quality we were looking for. Axis worked with us to build a custom solution where our needs were taken into consideration from the concept phase all the way through implementation. The result was an innovative new camera capable of providing full visibility throughout the entire bowl of the stadium while also allowing us to take advantage of advanced video analytics solutions.”

Located in East Rutherford, N.J., and serving the New York City metropolitan area, MetLife Stadium has a capacity of 82,500 and regularly hosts major events ranging from concerts to NFL games. It is also slated to host the FIFA World Cup 26 Final and seven other matches throughout the soccer tournament. The venue annually ranks as one of the busiest stadiums in the world and has been named “Highest Grossing Stadium of the Year” by Billboard nine times.

The venue has been at the forefront of stadium security since it was built. The stadium is consistently rated one of the safest in the NFL, and in 2013, it was the first NFL stadium to achieve SAFETY Act certification from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. MetLife Stadium has twice been named a Facility of Merit by the prestigious National Center for Spectator Sports Safety and Security (NCS4) and has established a reputation for implementing modern security solutions. In keeping with this reputation, MetLife Stadium refused to compromise on a surveillance solution, choosing instead to adopt a device tailored to the venue’s unique needs.

“MetLife Stadium has always been committed to strong security, and it holds its partners to a very high standard,” Fredrik Nilsson, VP of Axis Communications. “When the security team explained to us that they were having a hard time finding an off-the-shelf device that met their needs, we viewed it as an opportunity to innovate and design a more tailored solution. As a result, the MetLife Stadium security team will be well positioned to detect, investigate, and respond to any security challenges that come its way.”

The new device includes a number of features specifically tailored to improve performance in a stadium setting. According to the partners, the solution provides optimal performance in a variety of lighting conditions and electronic image stabilization (EIS) capabilities that help keep the image steady even amid the raucous crowds and turbulent weather of an open-air stadium. It also features a custom-made lens that enables 8K resolution and is capable of recording images in a wide dynamic range, capturing a broad spectrum of color hues in sharp, high-contrast video.

Because the camera can more accurately identify and catalogue identifying features, it is able to run more advanced and complex video analytics. The device adheres to a form factor consistent with existing surveillance devices, enabling compatibility with the pressed concrete structure’s existing camera mounts. Additionally, MetLife Stadium ensured the device could be easily integrated with the venue’s current security stack, including its video management system (VMS), current technology partners, and local public safety agencies.

With the new surveillance solution in place, MetLife Stadium’s security capabilities are more advanced than ever—but the security team is already planning for new enhancements. Venue officials are working to identify ways to leverage the devices to enhance security while also exploring different video analytics solutions. The ultimate goal is to not just improve security but also streamline entry to the stadium, create easier access to amenities, and improve staffing efficiency.

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