Latest News

Back to Latest News back

 

Melbourne’s AAMI Park to deploy facial recognition during A-League season

Melbourne’s AAMI Park to deploy facial recognition during A-League season
September 29, 2023

Facial recognition technology is to be introduced at Melbourne's AAMI Park for A-League fixtures this season.

The decision, resulting from a violent pitch invasion during a fixture between Melbourne Victory and Melbourne City in December last year, will see AAMI Park join a growing number of Australian sporting venues using the crowd monitoring technology.

Melbourne Victory has advised that the technology would be rolled out ahead of the 2023/24 A-Leagues season to identify people banned from entering the stadium, as well as being used to monitor those who otherwise pose a security threat.

Explaining the introduction of the facial recognition technology, Melbourne Victory Managing Director, Caroline Carnegie advised "we have had an enormous amount of feedback from our members and fans around stadium security measures and how we can ensure a safe environment for everyone to enjoy our games.

"As a club, we are pleased that AAMI Park will have improved security measures in place this season."

A statement from Melbourne Victory noted that AAMI Park's conditions of entry were updated to reflect the use of facial recognition.

As of Thursday, the venue's conditions of entry stated the venue and the Melbourne and Olympic Parks precinct - includes AAMI Park along with Rod Laver Arena, Margaret Court Arena, John Cain Arena, Centrepiece and Kia Arena - is now fitted with electronic surveillance including facial recognition technology.

It added that Victoria Police or authorised officers would eject banned people from AAMI Park if they were detected through the facial recognition technology.

Consumer advocacy organisation Choice in July this year said several Australian stadiums were using facial recognition including the Sydney Cricket Ground, Allianz Stadium, Melbourne Cricket Ground and Qudos Bank Arena.

The December pitch invasion saga saw crowd restrictions imposed by Football Australia on Melbourne Victory and the club incur $550,000.

Three dozen people were charged after a public campaign to identify the pitch invaders, and Football Australia doled out bans including five-year, 20-year and lifetime prohibitions to some of those involved.

Images: AAMI Park (top, credit: Visit Melbourne) and Melbourne Victory fans invade the pitch during last December's A-League clash with and Melbourne City (below).

Related Articles

29th September 2023 - Adelaide Venue Management sacks Chief Executive Anthony Kirchner over Melbourne Victory fan ban

25th September 2023 - Calls for changes over AFL Grand Final ticket allocations as Collingwood and Brisbane Lions fans miss out

24th August 2023 - Coopers Stadium bans Melbourne Victory fans for A-League Men games

22nd August 2023 - Geelong turf management and horticultural apprentices gain world-class experience at AAMI Park

21st August 2023 - FIFA Fan Festivals exceeded all expectations

6th July 2023 - Consumer group expresses concern about use of facial recognition technology at major Australian stadia

17th June 2023 - Curved videoboards installed at Melbourne’s AAMI Park

26th May 2023 - VMA launches Venue Safety and Security education program

24th April 2023 - Melbourne Victory unveils community development strategy

30th January 2023 - More media scrutiny of Melbourne’s AAMI Park after A-League player injury

10th January 2023 - Football Australia announces record financial and sporting sanctions against Melbourne Victory

30th December 2022 - 32 people charged over Melbourne A-League pitch invasion

23rd December 2022 - Football Australia announces first sanctions against Melbourne Victory after AAMI Park pitch invasion

20th December 2022 - Questions over security at AAMI Park during A-League pitch invasion

28th October 2022 - A-League Pride Cup at AAMI Park receives funding boost

8th October 2022 - Melbourne Victory secures new financial backer from multi-club investment network

22nd August 2022 - Melbourne’s AAMI Park to get $25 million in improvements ahead of FIFA Women’s World Cup

10th April 2022 - Pitch invasions at weekend NRL games raise questions about venue security

26th November 2020 - Centaman introduces new facial recognition solution for Australian and New Zealand aquatic, fitness and sport centres

23rd August 2019 - England’s Manchester City warned against using facial recognition on fans

5th June 2019 - Privacy Commissioner questions use of facial recognition technology at Queensland stadiums

14th December 2018 - Facial recognition software used to detect security risks at Taylor Swift Los Angeles concert

2nd August 2018 - Suncorp Stadium and The Gabba to install facial recognition security cameras

13th November 2017 - Facial recognition to drive new sporting revenues

9th June 2017 - Facial recognition being considered for Gold Coast Commonwealth Games access