U.S. Bank Stadium, situated in Minneapolis, Minnesota, is a multifaceted venue with a seating capacity of 66,200. It hosts a range of events, including NFL and NCAA football games, baseball, soccer, concerts, and weddings.
To manage these events efficiently, approximately 3,500 personnel, including concession workers, cleaning staff, police, and security officers, collaborate to ensure a secure and enjoyable experience for attendees.
Enhanced Access Control Systems
During its construction phase, U.S. Bank Stadium employed a cumbersome pencil-and-paper method to manage the numerous keys necessary for its operations, resulting in inefficiencies and time delays.
In collaboration with Hoffman Security Solutions, the stadium opted for the Morse Watchmans KeyBank system, known for its efficient and cost-effective key management capabilities, to enhance its access control systems.
Implementation of Automated Key Control
Billy Langenstein, Director of Event Services at U.S. Bank Stadium, remarked on the decision, saying, "There were a few different automated key control systems we looked at, 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."
The first KeyBank system was installed in February 2016, managing 120 key locations, with an additional two expansion cabinets added in June 2017, bringing the total to 360 managed key locations.
Streamlining stadium Operations
Mr. Langenstein, highlighting the product's contribution to both security and operational convenience
U.S. Bank Stadium hosts a diverse workforce for a multitude of events, necessitating access to various areas within the facility.
The KeyBank system enables security personnel to monitor key usage with ease, tracking the keys checked out by temporary staff, contractors, and other workers each day. The system's timestamp feature aids in this monitoring, and daily reports provide clear insights into key usage, ensuring essential access control is maintained, which is crucial for the stadium's operations.
Supporting the Guest Experience Team
The guest experience team, which includes ushers, ticket takers, and scan ambassadors, requires specific access for event preparation. The KeyBank system facilitates their work by providing necessary keys while restricting access to others, thus maintaining safety. This system's user-friendly reporting features make it a critical component of the stadium's security infrastructure.
"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," added Mr. Langenstein, highlighting the product's contribution to both security and operational convenience. The system is valued for its ability to instill a sense of accountability and security for the stadium's complex operations.
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.”
