Brazil’s Beira-Rio Stadium Implements Facial Recognition Access Control System

The comprehensive upgrade, coinciding with the stadium’s 56th anniversary, includes installation of facial recognition equipment at 100 percent of the venue’s entry points. The system is currently in its registration phase, with full activation expected by the end of July.

This implementation follows a broader trend of biometric access control adoption in major sporting venues, particularly as stadiums worldwide seek to enhance security and streamline entry procedures.

The new system offers several key benefits, including personal and non-transferable access to combat ticket scalping, rapid entry processing through fast reading capabilities, remote registration options for fans, and the elimination of physical tickets or cards. By linking each ticket to a specific individual, the system effectively reduces unauthorized reselling. Additionally, the elimination of physical tickets or cards streamlines the entry process and reduces environmental waste.

Beyond facial recognition, Imply provides the stadium with a comprehensive technology suite, including the Mundo Colorado App, a web portal, multi-channel ticket sales, membership management, loyalty programs and gamification, support services, and ERP integration.

The implementation represents part of Imply ElevenTickets’ growing presence in Latin American sports venues, with the company currently holding a 31 percent market share in Brazil’s Série A Championship as of 2024.

While facial recognition technology in public spaces has faced scrutiny over privacy concerns, stadium implementations have generally focused on controlled, opt-in applications for ticketing and access control, distinct from surveillance applications.

The Beira-Rio Stadium project represents one of the largest-scale implementations of facial recognition technology in a Brazilian sporting venue to date, joining a growing number of stadiums worldwide adopting biometric access control solutions.

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February 5, 2025 – by the ID Tech Editorial Team