The U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota, accommodating up to 66,200 visitors, plays host to various sporting events including NFL and NCAA football, baseball, soccer, as well as concerts, weddings, and other significant gatherings.
On event days, the stadium is bustling with approximately 3,500 staff members ranging from concession workers to security officers, all dedicated to ensuring both the safety and enjoyment of all attendees.
Upgrade to automated access control
During its construction phase, the stadium relied on a cumbersome pencil-and-paper method for key management which required users to offer collateral for key removal, proving inefficient over time. In search of a more effective internal access control solution, the stadium, in collaboration with Hoffman Security Solutions, selected Morse Watchmans’ KeyBank system. This choice was driven by the system's cost-effectiveness and advanced key management capabilities.
"There were a few different automated key control systems we looked at," stated Billy Langenstein, Director of Event Services at U.S. Bank Stadium. "In terms of financials, capabilities, and infrastructure, Morse Watchmans KeyBank stood out. If given the chance to open another stadium, I would choose this system again." Initially installed in February 2016, the system began by managing 120 key locations. By June 2017, two additional cabinets were integrated, expanding management to 360 key locations.
Enhancing stadium operations
This choice was driven by the system's cost-effectiveness and advanced key management capabilities
The stadium's diverse events demand varied access for contractors, temporary staff, and personnel involved in day-to-day operations. Utilizing the KeyBank system, staff members must check out keys through a process that logs and timestamps each transaction.
Daily reports are generated, documenting who accesses keys and when they are returned, thereby aiding in efficient key accountability—an essential aspect of the stadium's security and operations strategy.
Facilitating guest experience and security
The guest experience team, comprising ushers, hosts, and ticket handlers, begins their preparations early, requiring specific access.
The KeyBank system provides this access while monitoring and communicating activities to security personnel. By ensuring that only necessary keys are allocated to each member, the system supports stadium-wide safety and access control. "We’re considering installing another KeyBank because of our growing needs," added Mr. Langenstein. "It delivers the security, convenience, and accountability we require."
U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota is a 66,200-person venue, hosting regular football games for the NFL and NCAA as well as baseball and soccer games, concerts, weddings, and many other events.
Approximately 3,500 people make up the staff on a game day or during a major event. These concession workers, cleaning personnel, police, guest experience team, security officers and supervisors, operations managers and more are on site to deliver not only a safe and secure event, but also a memorable experience for all guests in the stadium.
Access control systems
While under construction, U.S. Bank Stadium managed their keys by using a complicated pencil-and-paper system that required key users to provide collateral against key removal; this proved to be both time-consuming and inefficient.
When looking to upgrade their internal access control systems to provide the security and efficiency they required at such a large facility, U.S. Bank Stadium while working with Hoffman Security Solutions, chose Morse Watchmans’ KeyBank system for cost-effective, highly capable key management throughout their facility.
Automated key control systems
“There were a few different automated key control systems we looked at,” said Billy Langenstein, Director Event Services, U.S. Bank Stadium. “But when it came down to not only the financials, but also the capabilities, reporting and infrastructure that Morse Watchmans KeyBank has, I personally believe there’s nothing comparable on the market that amounts to how we wanted to use the system here at the stadium. This is the first time I’ve used this system in my career, and if I have the opportunity to open up another stadium, Morse Watchmans will be installed there as well.”
In February 2016, Hoffman Security Solutions installed one KeyBank managing 120 key locations throughout U.S. Bank Stadium. In June 2017, they added 2 expansion cabinets to fill out the system, bringing their total managed key locations to 360.
Maintaining business operations
Each day, U.S. Bank Stadium has different staff working throughout the stadium to fulfill the varied roles needed for their many events. Contractors working on the facility itself, temporary staff, and other day-to-day workers all require access to different workspaces.
By requiring that staff check out a key from the KeyBank system, U.S. Bank Stadium security staff are able to account for all the keys in the system, who removed each key, and what time they were checked out or returned through the KeyBank’s timestamp feature. At the end of each day, a report is delivered to security staff that displays this data in an easy-to-read manner, allowing staff to account for the many keys they use throughout the stadium during the day. With access control a strong component of U.S. Bank Stadium’s security, consistent reporting of key access is essential to maintaining business operations.
Guest experience team
U.S. Bank Stadium’s guest experience team, consisting of ushers, lobby hosts, ticket takers, scan ambassadors, and others, arrives early each morning and requires their own separate access. Through the KeyBank system, they are allowed to prepare for a game while simultaneously reporting that access to security staff.
Each team member is given access to the keys they require, while ensuring safety throughout the stadium by keeping other keys restricted. This ease of use and reporting ability are what have made KeyBank an essential element of U.S. Bank Stadium’s access control and security systems.
“We’re looking at installing another Morse Watchmans KeyBank here at the Stadium because we’re already outgrowing the one we have, and we want to start creating efficiencies within our own departments,” said Mr. Langenstein. “Having a Morse Watchmans KeyBank gives us a sense of security and a sense of convenience while providing the level of accountability that we want. It’s a fantastic product that we’re very proud to have here.”
