AAMI Park deploys facial recognition technology ahead of A-League season
Melbourne’s AAMI Park is implementing new facial recognition technology as part of its security monitoring and surveillance system at the venue.
The technology is one of several tools used by the venue to prevent banned individuals from entering the venue, ensuring a safe and enjoyable experience for all attendees, guests, players and staff at AAMI Park.
Similar technology is already in place at other stadiums around Australia.
The upgrade follows crowd trouble at the stadium during the 2022/23 A-League season, where several spectators invaded the pitch during December’s Melbourne Derby, injuring City goalkeeper Tom Glover. Many of those spectators received bans from attending matches, some for life.
Melbourne Victory Managing Director, Caroline Carnegie, said she welcomes the new technology to the stadium ahead of the new A-League season.
“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,” Carnegie said.
“We are extremely excited for the season ahead and look forward to our members and fans supporting our boys and girls in blue and creating an atmosphere that rivals what we witnessed during the recent Women’s World Cup. We want an atmosphere that is representative of everything we love about football and that enables us all to represent our Club together.”
The technology may be used to identify individuals who have been banned by Football Australia, the Australian Professional Leagues, competing clubs as well as persons who pose a threat to the safety, security, or integrity of the event, venue, or precinct.
Upon detection, a banned person will be denied entry or ejected by an Authorised Officer or Victoria Police.
The venue’s Conditions of Entry have been updated to recognise the use of facial recognition at AAMI Park.
The A-League returns to AAMI Park on October 21 with Melbourne City hosting Western United, before the Victory hosts Newcastle the following week.
See all upcoming football matches at AAMI Park >
A-League fans will also be treated to a host of other upgrades that were completed at the venue ahead of the FIFA Women's World Cup, including new curved video screens, sports lighting and corporate facilities.
