"The main reason for upgrading the RheinEnergie stadium in Cologne by installing electronic ‘OMEGA LEGIC' cylinders from CEStronics was that we wanted to keep track of locking procedures," said Hubert Röser, press spokesman for Kölner Sportstätten GmbH, owners and operators of the stadium, which opened in 2004.
The venue in Müngersdorf, well-known as a World Cup football venue, as the host of World Youth day, and for its characteristic silhouette of the four filigreed floodlight towers, linked together with steel ropes, is hardly in need of upgrading; but day-to-day business has shown that the mechanical master key system was not meeting every aspect of the operator's requirements.
Acceptance of the new locking system is high. Employees use mechanical keys with electronic chips, which allow entry into mechanically locked rooms, as well as into those with "contact-less" locking systems, so they can easily gain access to locked offices with "OMEGA LEGIC" cylinders.
CEStronics has made visual adaptations to the "OMEGA LEGIC" identity passes for box hirers, so as to contain the logo and corporate identity of the Kölner Sportstätten.
The Cologne stadium operators opted for the "Time" version of the "OMEGA LEGIC" system from CEStronics, primarily because it was so easy to integrate into the existing mechanical master key system. But its high level of flexibility and security, and above all its future-proofing, were what caused the company to opt for LEGIC. Hubert Röser refers to the wide variety of options: "We can combine the locking system with existing or future LEGIC applications, such as our time recording system, at any time."
As owners and operators of the venue, Kölner Sportstätten GmbH gives maximum priority to the security of all its facilities, and of the fixtures and fittings that belong to more than 50 box leaseholders. The electronic locking system has to keep track of a large number of outside companies, caterers, cleaning staff, technicians etc. at all times. In the event of a problem - for example theft or damage to the contents of a box - access to the boxes is fully documented, 
providing information as to who was in which box, when and for how long. The members of staff allowed entry are named on the system, so that in the event of uncertainty or irregularity, the name of the person in question can be ascertained. And another security aspect is that box leaseholders can visit their boxes at any time of the day or night, although they need to notify their intention. They receive a LEGIC identity pass to act as the key, and this is left at the porter's desk. In addition, hostesses are available for VIP clients, so that as a general rule the box is already open as guests arrive.
The smooth organisation of the event centre with permanent "subtenants", such as the offices of 1st FC Köln, the box lease-holders, and a wide variety of different event-organisers requires very flexible key management system, which can be offered only by means of an electronic locking system. The management values the ease of use of the "OMEGA LEGIC" software that makes it possible to change the locking schedules at any time, as well as to view incidents. "PROGRAM MASTER" authorises programming media and on-site key programming.
The "OMEGA LEGIC 815 DK" cylinder locks implemented at the RheinEnergie stadium are VdS-certified and the "Time" version used at the Cologne stadium has been awarded a class B certificate. They therefore comply with the "VdS Guidelines for mechanical security fixtures / electronic cylinder locks" drawn up for the prevention of loss. 
At the RheinEnergie stadium, the previous system consisted of a mechanical locking system from CES with some 600 "Softline-SP" profile cylinders. About half of these cylinders were replaced with "OMEGA LEGIC" electronic cylinders during the first tranche of the upgrade project. Two wall terminals secure access from the underground car park into the building, and access to the Kölner Sportstätten GmbH offices. Since the "OMEGA LEGIC" cylinders fit into the PZ locks previously provided, and it was not necessary to rewire the door, there were no special demands placed on the assembly team with regard to the refitting work.
