Panomera security system featured in stadium project

Gazprom Arena, a host of the 2018 FIFA World Cup and upcoming Euro 2021, has utilised Dallmeier's Panomera security system.

Gazprom Arena, one of the host stadiums of the 2018 FIFA World Cup, upcoming 2021 European Football Championship and home of Zenit St. Petersburg, has utilised Dallmeier’s Panomera security system features. 

Hosting major events at the Gazprom Arena requires the stadium to meet strict security regulations of FIFA, UEFA and ESSMA. The solution came from German manufacturer Dallmeier, offering multifocal-sensor systems to stadia all over the world. 

The aim was to bring in video technology for the stadiums’ interior and exterior – entrance gate approaches, rooms below grandstands and the stands themselves in one of the largest stadium video security projects. 

A high-performance system had to be completed for the 60,000-capacity stadium and remain adaptable and flexible to different demands. 

One requirement of the stadium was to capture all areas of each grandstand constantly, where traceability of offenders could be achieved. For this to work, the Russian Interior Ministry opted for two key video security requirements. 

The entire grandstand area must be captured with a “minimum resolution density” of 250 pixels per metre (px/m), corresponding to the performance criterion defined and globally valid standard DIN EN 62676-4 for video security systems for purposes of enabling identification of an unknown person. The other objective is the image frequency must not fall below a frame rate of 25 frames per-second (fps). Because it is typically only the combination of the specified minimum resolution density and a fluid representation of events, that can solidify incontestable evidence that’s usable in a court of law. 

The patented Panomera multifocal-sensor system from Dallmeier can guarantee coverage of even the largest expanses with stipulated minimum resolution density and frame rate, offering greater coverage than typical megapixel or PTZ camera technologies. 

Panomera continously captures movement in full resolution and allows high-resolution zooms – both live and in recordings. Stadium operators can then track and reconstruct events at the time or after the fact. 

Another advantage of Panomera technology is the innovative 3D planning approach, where a reproduction of the Gazprom Arena was created. This makes it easy to fulfil the 250 px/m requirement and cover each area of the stadium and see where corrections might need to be made, which could be done by the stadium with less than 100 Panomera camera systems. This is not only effective in terms of resources, but saving on infrastructure costs too. 

Dallmeier’s 3D planning also includes the automatic generation of “CamCards” – showing exactly where each camera should be mounted, how high and at what angle. It not only saves time but gives planning reliability, delivering greater accuracy and minimises levels of uncertainty.  

Dallmeier has given unwavering assistance and support throughout the project, where testing by the state technical personnel in Russia was also successful in the subsequent project phases. The result of this was that the stadium operators were able to begin operating the video security system after the final project commissioning in good timing for the 2018 FIFA World Cup. Today, over 1,000 single-sensor cameras have been installed in the Gazprom Arena in addition to the Panomera® systems – these safeguard every part of the stadium and safeguards those both inside and outside the venue. 

There are a large amount of camera and has seen the total storage capacity for the video security system come to more than six petabytes (or 6,000 terabytes) worth of data.   

High-performance recording appliances from Dallmeier are used to process all the information, with authorised personnel from various departments and stakeholders able to access the system at 80 different workstations. 

The video security system from Dallmeier has been trusted as a reliable solution at the Gazprom Arena, where the seven matches held there for the 2018 FIFA World Cup demonstrated the strong performance and capabilities of Dallmeier in running the Panomera security system and building a more secure stadium for everyone involved.   

Of course we were delighted that the security managers of Zenit St. Petersburg also decided to rely on Dallmeier again for their new home, the Gazprom Arena,” Director Sales Eastern Europe/RUS/ GUS at DallmeierKarlheinz Biersack said. 

“This success in the largest stadium project we have ever undertaken shows once again that Dallmeier’s holistic security and solution approach – above all the patented Panomera technology and our unrivalled project and consulting services represent an immense benefit for our customers.” 

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Adobe and Real Madrid Broaden AI Fan Engagement Pact

Real Madrid and Adobe have broadened their global alliance to introduce advanced AI tools designed to tailor digital experiences for the club’s international fan community.

The enhanced collaboration brings Adobe’s newest generative and agentic AI technologies into Real Madrid’s content, marketing, and fan-engagement platforms, marking a significant step in the club’s ongoing digital transformation strategy.

New Deal Anchored in AI and Agentic Innovation

The renewed deal will have Real Madrid implementing Adobe Experience Platform and Adobe GenStudio, leveraging tools for high-volume content automation, generative content creation, personalised experience delivery, and campaign optimisation.

With Adobe Firefly Services, GenStudio for Performance Marketing and Adobe Express, Real Madrid will be able to:

  • Simplify content production across global markets
  • Generate personalised assets at scale
  • Rapidly tailor messaging and visuals for various regions and fan groups
  • Give supporters the ability to design official-style graphics, banners and social content through club-branded templates

For Real Madrid, incorporating agentic AI, technology that can independently create, adjust and refine content, aims to deliver a more personal, localised and emotionally resonant fan experience, no matter where supporters are in the world.

Speaking on the significance of the enhanced collaboration, Real Madrid’s Director of Institutional Relations, Emilio Butragueno, said of the strategic deal.

“At Real Madrid, we are constantly looking for new ways to connect with our fans and make them feel part of our club, wherever they are. Our partnership with Adobe allows us to offer more creative and personalised content to all Real Madrid fans,” he said via press release.

Reflecting on the broader impact of the initiative, Enterprise CMO at Adobe, Rachel Thornton, added:

“For fans around the world, football is about so much more than what happens on the pitch. It’s the passion and stories of the clubs, players and fans that turn the sport from a competition into a community, and turn a 90-minute match into a way of life. Through the power of Adobe’s AI and agentic technology, Real Madrid will be able to create and share those stories with its global fan base, strengthening the connection with fans across the globe,” she said via press release.

With this updated deal, Real Madrid positions itself as one of the first major clubs to deploy agentic AI technologies on a global scale, a trend likely to grow as leading teams compete not only on the field but also in the sophistication of their digital fan experiences.

Cambridge United’s AI Revolution – A New Era Begins With Genie AI

Whether it is analysing player performance, recording in-game statistics or introducing ‘ref-cams’ to give a new perspective on live games, technology has been widely implemented both on and off the pitch. While some fans may lament the constant introduction of new technologies to the traditions of the beautiful game, there are clubs who continue to embrace its advantages. Cambridge United, currently gunning for promotion to League One, is one such example.

Employing the help of Genie AI, a platform founded in 2017 by University College London graduates, Rafie Faruq and Nitish Mutha – the club is seeking to improve the speed and quality of its legal operations. Furthermore, by reducing legal fees and providing access to law, Genie will ultimately look to help Cambridge navigate the legal complexities of the transfer market and drafting player contracts.

The collaboration is upheld by the platform’s mission to “empower everyone at the club to draft trusted legal agreements”, as outlined by Faruq.

Legal Help and Improving Efficiency

Following the announcement of the partnership earlier this year, Cambridge United became the first professional club to use artificial intelligence when drafting and executing player contracts.

The club’s CEO, Alex Tunbridge, has outlined why the platform is such an attractive prospect for the future.

“We don’t have in-house counsel: therefore, we thought there’s an opportunity here to use AI to upskill and also increase the quality of our work.”

Accessing and affording in-house counsel is a challenge which affects many clubs lower down in the English football pyramid. According to Genie AI’s internal research, only one out of the twenty-four teams competing in League Two have access to full-time in-house legal counsel, compared to sixteen of the twenty Premier League clubs. With estimated costs between AUD 101,000 and AUD 708,000 a year, relying on external legal support leaves little opportunity for lower-league clubs to invest in the transfer window and matchday experiences.

Responding to Challenges

In response to these difficulties, Faruq has expressed his confidence in Genie’s ability to make legal operations more efficient for football clubs, ultimately giving them the time and resources which was previously hard to come by.

“We believe our AI is the most accurate and our customers typically say that Genie is more comprehensive, more accurate and more appropriate for their business.”

He further detailed that, due to the transfer window operating within limited time periods, the need for both efficiency and speed within the club’s operations is essential. 

Financial Compliance and Legal Risks

Drafting and processing legal contracts, whether for players or commercial partnerships also carries huge financial risks for the club. Any failure to adhere to EFL or FA guidelines can result in damaging repercussions in the form of points deductions, fines or failed registrations.

In the Premier League, Everton were handed a 10-point deduction in 2023 for breaching financial rules. With regulation a growing concern across the football industry, any reliance on artificial intelligence in a club’s legal processes will have to be accompanied by continued adherence to the rules of the industry.

The introduction of AI in the legal industry is a daunting prospect, and is a common reservation recognised by Faruq himself. The Genie co-founder has nevertheless insisted on the company’s commitment to complying with FA guidelines while making the process as simple as possible for its customers.

“For player contracts, we’re not generating new language, we’re not reinventing the wheel. Instead, we are taking a club’s existing template and past contracts and generating what is effectively a fixed questionnaire which adheres to those FA guidelines.”

Final Thoughts

As technology becomes increasingly present in the modern game, it’s no wonder why the incorporation of AI represents an appealing next step for clubs seeking to minimise costs and time delays.

The alliance with Genie AI has already allowed the club to work through a busy transfer window, signing fourteen new players and renewing the contracts of three more. The platform has therefore played a huge role in ensuring the U’s’ can enter the season with the reinforcements needed to help the club achieve promotion back to League One.

As their work with Genie continues, clubs across the world should look to Cambridge as a leading example in how to effectively use AI in legal and contractual operations, while still remaining firmly committed to the rules and regulations upholding the football pyramid.

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