Adelaide’s iconic Coopers Stadium, renowned for hosting the Adelaide United Football Club, is poised to introduce facial recognition technology, making it the third Australian stadium to enhance security through advanced identification methods. This development follows a significant $53 million upgrade catalysed by the FIFA Women’s World Cup success last year, which drew over 65,000 fans across five sold-out matches.
Set to go live on 1 March 2024, the facial recognition system aligns Coopers Stadium with Melbourne’s AAMI Park and Sydney’s Allianz Stadium in prioritising attendee security. The debut of this technology will be at the anticipated A-League Pride Cup match between Adelaide United and Melbourne Victory on 9 March.
In preparation, Adelaide Venue Management (AVM), responsible for the stadium’s operations, has updated venue entry conditions and introduced relevant signage. Martin Radcliffe, AVM Chief Executive Officer, emphasised the goal of ensuring a safe and vibrant game-day experience, stating, “We are all about celebrating football and ensuring fans, players, and staff enjoy their time at Coopers Stadium.”
Nathan Kosmina, Adelaide United’s CEO, echoed this commitment to security and community enjoyment, particularly highlighting the alignment with efforts following the stadium’s substantial upgrades prior to the FIFA Women’s World Cup. He remarked, “The upcoming security enhancements underscore our dedication to fan safety and our aspiration to maintain Coopers Stadium as Australia’s premier football venue.”
The integration of facial recognition technology at Coopers Stadium represents a significant move towards enhanced security measures, ensuring a safe and exciting environment for football fans and families.
