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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‘Wunderbar’ – FC Bayern turns to enterprise AI with Wonderful partnership

FC Bayern Munich is taking another step into the world of artificial intelligence after agreeing to a three-year global partnership with enterprise AI company Wonderful. The deal makes Wonderful the German club’s Official Enterprise AI Partner until 2029. The partnership will focus on putting AI into real-world use across Bayern’s operations, rather than limiting it to experiments or demonstrations.

AI to assists Matchday Fan Services

Wonderful’s first project will target one of the busiest and most varied areas of the club: matchday fan support. Specifically, initial implementation will be an AI agent designed to provide digital ticket support. Matchdays create a huge spike in demand for customer service for all manner of reasons: fans may struggle to access tickets, encounter account problems or need help with time-sensitive issues shortly before kick-off.

Bayern plans to use Wonderful’s technology to handle these requests faster than previously. Instead of each individual case entering a traditional support queue, the AI agent can process requests instantaneously, interacting with the club’s existing systems to hopefully resolve it. The aim is simple: get fans answers in moments, and into their seats!

The system will be integrated into Bayern’s existing technology environment – important as the AI will not operate as a separate chatbot disconnected from the club’s data and systems. It is being designed to work within the infrastructure Bayern already uses.

How Wonderful AI works

Wonderful describes its platform as an ‘enterprise AI system built to create, operate and improve AI agents.’ Those agents can perform tasks rather than simply generate text. They can work with company data, access connected systems and complete multi-step processes. The platform uses a system of reusable “skills”. Each skill can contain the instructions, tools, information and checks needed to complete a particular task. An agent can then use the appropriate skills depending on what a user needs.

For Bayern, that could mean an agent identifying that a fan has a ticket-access problem, retrieving the relevant information from the club’s systems and helping resolve the issue. Wonderful also connects its agents to existing enterprise systems. Its platform is designed to work with data platforms, customer relationship systems and other systems of record. This allows an agent to act on current information instead of relying solely on a static database.

More than a ticketing tool

Bayern and Wonderful have indicated further enterprise AI use cases will be introduced during the partnership. While customer support is an obvious starting point, AI agents could theoretically assist internal teams, automate administrative workflows or help employees find and process information.

Wonderful’s platform is designed to support customer-facing agents as well as internal and back-office workflows. It can operate across channels including chat, email and voice, giving the partnership room to expand beyond the first use case. The company also uses a deployment model built around teams working directly with organisations to put AI into production.

Bayern’s AI Strategy Enters a New Phase

The partnership signals a broader shift in how football clubs can use AI. Rather than focusing solely on analytics, Bayern is looking at AI as part of its everyday operations.

The first test will come through fan service. If the ticketing agent can reliably solve problems during the pressure of matchdays, the club will have a practical foundation for expanding AI into other areas. For the club, the biggest opportunity is therefore not one chatbot, but the creation of AI infrastructure that can support multiple parts of its organisation.

The three-year partnership gives the club and Wonderful time to develop that infrastructure. The first use case is focused and practical. The longer-term ambition is considerably broader. The next phase will be about proving that technology can make the experience better for fans while also making the organisation more efficient behind the scenes.

LaLiga and CANAL+ strengthen anti-piracy alliance across nearly 50 countries

LaLiga and CANAL+ have strengthened their partnership with a new anti-piracy agreement covering almost 50 countries. The deal spans Europe, Sub-Saharan Africa and Haiti. It brings together the league’s anti-piracy capabilities with CANAL+’s technology, intelligence and enforcement resources. The move reflects a growing commercial priority for sports rights holders. Protecting live content has become essential to protecting the value of broadcasting deals.

LaLiga and CANAL+ will share intelligence and coordinate their response to illegal distribution networks. They will also work on joint investigations and enforcement activity. The partnership builds on an existing relationship between the two organisations. CANAL+ distributes LaLiga content across multiple international markets. The new agreement now takes their relationship beyond broadcasting.

The partnership creates a joint focus on protecting the underlying value of the rights being sold. While broadcasters invest heavily in football rights, illegal streaming undermines revenue and weakens the commercial proposition of legitimate broadcasters.

LaLiga’s latest figures highlight the importance of audiovisual income to professional clubs. Broadcast revenue across Spanish professional football fell 5.2% to $2.3 billion (1.43 billion Euros) in the 2024/25 season. Commercial revenue reached $2.4 billion (1.58 billion Euros) and became the largest revenue source.

Piracy therefore represents a direct business risk. Illegal access can reduce the value broadcasters place on future rights packages, ultimately affecting the money flowing back into clubs and competitions.

LaLiga and CANAL+ are responding by pooling resources. For CANAL+, the agreement also protects its investment in international sports rights. The broadcaster operates in nearly 70 countries and has expanded its relationship with LaLiga alongside its international growth. For LaLiga, stronger enforcement can help protect the value of its global media proposition.

The partnership also carries implications for the wider sports industry. Rights holders increasingly need technology, legal expertise and cross-border cooperation to tackle illegal distribution. The message is clear. Winning a rights deal is only part of the commercial battle. Sports organisations and broadcasters must also protect the content once it reaches the market.

LaLiga and CANAL+ are betting that closer cooperation can make that protection more effective. This agreement may provide a model for other leagues and broadcasters facing the same challenge.

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