Starting August 8, the National Football League (NFL) will roll out facial authentication technology in its stadiums. The system allows fans to quickly pass through the entrance gate with just a glance, shortening queue times. It also identifies players and staff, so only those with the appropriate credentials have access to the locker room and press box.
The National Football League (NFL) will roll out Wicket’s facial authentication technology to all 32 stadiums in the new season. The system will be operational before the start of pre-season. The system will be fully installed following a successful trial last year at multiple venues, including the Cleveland Browns Stadium.
The main objective of the system is to facilitate access to restricted areas such as the playing field, press box and dressing rooms for accredited media, officials, staff and guests. By using facial recognition technology, the NFL also aims to prevent fraud by forging physical documents. The Wicket system uses advanced facial recognition software, but is fast and easy to use.
Customers must first take a selfie to link their ticketing account with an image of their face. Rather than storing an actual image, Wicket's artificial intelligence creates a unique digital code that represents the user's facial features.
Upon arrival at the stadium, registered users can enter designated lanes equipped with camera equipment, such as tablets. When a user looks into the camera, their face is compared to a numerical code stored in their account. After the comparison is successful, all tickets purchased by the user will be authorized.
The verification process only takes an average of two seconds per ticket. Wicket claims that its technology can achieve 99.7% facial recognition accuracy even in low-light environments. In addition, the system enhances the overall admission experience by allowing friends and family with tickets on the same account to quickly follow the primary ticket holder through the gate.
The WicketFR system is opt-in, allowing users to choose between facial authentication and traditional input methods. Therefore, people who are unwilling to hand over their biometrics need not worry.
Several teams, including the Cleveland Browns and Atlanta Falcons, have begun using this technology with ticket holders at their gates. The Browns reported that 35,000 fans have signed up for the "Fast Track" facial authentication program, which also verifies age when purchasing alcohol in concession stands.
However, details about how the Wicket system will be set up inside the stadium remain unclear. An early version uses an Apple iPad for face scanning, but there is potential for integration with other portal hardware.
Facial recognition technology is also increasingly used in other sports. The New York Mets have installed the Wicket system at Citi Field. Football leagues around the world are installing similar systems, but not necessarily Wickett's. Currently, 25 of the world's top 100 football stadiums use facial recognition technology to monitor fans, indicating that the sports industry is moving towards tightening security measures.