Cambridge United Football Club, based at Abbey Stadium, recognised the urgent need to upgrade its security system to ensure the continued safety and security of fans and staff as the existing CCTV system was outdated and resulting in insufficient coverage of the stadium. After reviewing the case, GCIS decided to team up with SPRO to transform Abbey Stadium’s security setup.
Andy Pickard, Matchday Safety Officer at the stadium, said, “The safety and security of our fans and staff are non-negotiable. We knew our previous CCTV system was falling short. This was an area GCIS and SPRO immediately identified and addressed.”
Gavin Bush, Operations Director at GCIS said, “At this level of football, unfortunate incidents of hooliganism surface. Cambridge needed a system where they could definitively identify ‘that person’ and use the evidence accordingly.”
The previous system suffered from multiple blind spots and poor video quality, making it difficult to monitor and manage the crowd during peak times and identify potential security threats. The key challenge was to upgrade the system without causing major disruptions to the ongoing events at the stadium.
GCIS reviewed the stadium’s requirements and proposed a partnership with SPRO to provide a security upgrade encompassing SPRO’s 4K resolution cameras (DHIPD80/ARW/40M-T) as well as 25x zoom PTZs (DHIPPTZ40/25XR-V2).
Gavin remarked, “These cameras monitor each of the stands in a criss-cross pattern. The 25x zoom capability is so powerful that you can read the seat numbers from one side of the stadium to the other!”
Cameras were strategically placed to cover the entire stadium, from the seating areas to the entrances, exits and car park.
Gavin elaborated, “We’ve got cameras covering every crucial area. If there’s an issue, the control tower can manually control the PTZs, letting one operator conduct a general overview while another handles the specific incident.”
SPRO and GCIS’s combined effort led to a successful overhaul of Abbey Stadium’s security infrastructure. The high-definition CCTV cameras improved surveillance capabilities and enabled more effective monitoring and identification.
The comprehensive coverage has helped identify and alleviate potential crowd bottlenecks in real-time, enhancing crowd management.
With a safer environment, fans felt more comfortable and secure, contributing to a more positive overall stadium experience.
Andy, the Matchday Safety Officer, satisfied with the SPRO system, shared his positive experience: “I love it. The operators love it. The police love it. We’d had some issues with certain members of the crowd slipping under the radar. But with the new system, we’ve caught some of the troublemakers and got them banned. There’s no doubt about identification now. The system is paying for itself.”
