The National Football League (NFL) is going to implement facial authentication technology in its stadiums from this month. The system will allow fans to enter through the gates with just a glance, speeding up access and reducing queues. That’s what the league claims.
It also recognizes players and employees so that only people with the appropriate credentials can access the locker rooms and the press box. Undoubtedly, a great advance in the management of large crowds of people.
The NFL is implementing Wicket’s facial authentication technology in all 32 stadiums for the upcoming season. The system should be operational by the start of the preseason. The full installation follows a successful test conducted in several stadiums last year, including the Cleveland Browns’ stadium.
The main objective of the system is to facilitate access for accredited media, executives, staff, and guests to restricted areas such as the playing field, the press box, and the locker rooms. Through facial recognition, the NFL also aims to prevent the fraudulent use of counterfeit physical credentials. The Wicket system uses advanced facial recognition software, but it is very fast and easy to use.
First, customers must link their ticket account to their facial image through a selfie. Wicket’s artificial intelligence creates a unique digital code that represents the user’s facial features instead of storing the actual image.
Upon arriving at the stadium, registered users can access designated lanes equipped with camera devices, such as mobile phones or tablets. When users look at the camera, the system compares their faces with the stored digital code associated with their account. A successful match authorises all tickets purchased by that person. The process takes an average of two seconds per entry. Wicket claims that its technology can verify faces with 99.7% accuracy, even in low light conditions.
In addition, the system allows friends and family members using tickets from the same account to quickly follow the main ticket holder through the gate, enhancing the overall entry experience.
However, the Wicket FR system is optional, allowing users to choose between facial authentication and traditional input methods. So those who are not willing to provide their biometric data do not have to worry.
Several teams, including the Cleveland Browns and the Atlanta Falcons, have already started using this technology for ticket holders’ entry. The Browns report that 35,000 fans have enrolled in the facial authentication program Express Access, which also verifies age for purchasing alcohol at food stands.
However, details about the internal configuration of the Wicket system in stadiums are still unclear. The initial versions used Apple iPads for facial scanning, but there is a possibility of integrating it with other input hardware
