When talking about baseball in the United States, it’s hard not to think of the Chicago Cubs and Wrigley Field. With a history spanning more than 100 years, the Chicago Cubs are one of the most recognised teams in professional sports. Every season, millions of loyal fans flock to home games at iconic Wrigley Field.
Built-in 1914, it’s the second oldest ballpark in the majors. Living up to its nickname, ‘The Friendly Confines,’ it warmly welcomes all to experience an all-American baseball game.
The challenge
After the completion of the 1060 Project at Wrigley Field, the Chicago Cubs sought to enhance its security technology. Following a review, the team found multiple security systems which had been installed over the years affected the safety and security team’s investigation processes.
The organisation also sought a solution that would enable it to remain compliant with video retention requirements well into the future. They needed a scalable platform that would also help them become more proactive in their approach to security.
Products used
- Genetec Security Centre: Comprehensive unified security.
- Security Centre Omnicast: Scalable video management.
- Streamvault: Streamvault security infrastructure solutions.
The solution
Unified ballpark security
Genetec™ Security Centre allows operators to see what’s happening and respond faster
By unifying all video and sensor information, Genetec™ Security Centre allows operators to see what’s happening and respond faster.
They also use a map layout to easily find cameras, doors, and alarms. “We’re seeing a higher level of efficiency across our team,” said Lindsay.
Scalable and reliable infrastructure
Deploying Omnicast™ onboard the Streamvault™ infrastructure solution was a critical piece of the puzzle for the Chicago Cubs.
Following implementation, the team ramped up processing power and storage capacity. They have space left for expansions beyond the required minimum retention requirements.
Set up for future growth
Plans include deploying Genetec solutions at Sloan Park in Mesa, Arizona, and the Chicago Cubs Academy in the Dominican Republic.
They’re also looking at taking advantage of various analytics within the platform to enhance the guest experience.
Visual and intuitive enhancements
“We’re excited to use the many features of the platform, including the visual and intuitive enhancements it provides for our operators. The integration between video surveillance and access control has been a significant upgrade. Genetec has expanded our ability to have real-time visibility of our facility," said Doug Lindsay, Vice President of Security, Chicago Cubs.
Results
Chicago Cubs security team manages high-definition and multi-lens cameras all across the Wrigley Field campus
The Chicago Cubs security team manages high-definition and multi-lens cameras all across the Wrigley Field campus from their Joint Operations Centre (JOC) through Genetec Omnicast.
They also integrated an existing access control system within Security Centre and deployed multiple Genetec Streamvault appliances with built-in failover and redundancy.
Scalable, feature-rich platform
“Genetec is a leader in the physical security industry and delivers a platform that’s scalable, feature-rich, and progressive. To top it off, Security Centre is an open platform with hundreds of compatible integrations and had API capabilities that no other solution could match."
"When we chose Genetec Security Centre, we were thinking about our objectives 10+ years down the line. That flexibility opens us up to so many other possibilities in the future,” said Steve Inman, Vice President of Technology for the Chicago Cubs.