ARENA NÜRNBERGER VERSICHERUNG feels safe with VERSO CLIQ

Nuremberg - With about 420,000 visitors in its main hall every year, over 250,000 visitors in its ice sports centre and numerous guest performers and sports persons, the NÜRNBERGER VERSICHERUNG ARENA relies on a flexible, comprehensive security concept. IKON’s VERSO CLIQ locking system from ASSA ABLOY Sicherheitstechnik GmbH enables the operators of this multi-purpose hall to use a security system which combines highly developed microelectronics with intelligent data encryption. With almost daily changes to access authorisations, the locking cylinders concerned can thus be reprogrammed in a very short time. Key losses also no longer present a security risk as lost keys can simply be deprogrammed from the system.

The NÜRNBERGER VERSICHERUNG ARENA is a multi-purpose hall for sports and cultural events.  Located immediately next to Nuremberg’s Frankenstadion, currently renamed the easyCredit-Stadion, this state-of-the-art arena is well-known beyond the bounds of the region.  With a capacity for 8,500 visitors for first division matches for the Nuremberg ice hockey team, the Sinupret Ice Tigers, and over a 10,000 spectators for shows, concerts and other public events, the  NÜRNBERGER VERSICHERUNG ARENA is amongst one of the largest multi-event venues in Germany.

The arena is not only home to the Sinupret Ice Tigers, but also to countless other ice hockey and figure skating clubs. Regional curling clubs and other amateur teams also hold matches and train in the multi-purpose hall. Thousands of spectators descend on the NÜRNBERGER VERSICHERUNG ARENA for basketball matches, concerts, congresses, incentive events as well as other public shows and exhibitions.  Close to the Nuremberg convention centre, this multi-purpose hall is host to national and international performers and their road crews around 70 times a year.

Varied use requires a high level of flexibility

Due to the high number of sportsmen and women in home teams using the hall as well as the many visiting teams, performers and visitors who have access to the arena for a short time, there needs to be a comprehensive security concept.    “With such a large hall and such varied uses, a high level of flexibility also plays a major role in addition to security aspects,” explains Christian Schneider, Technical Manager at Arena Service GmbH.  “For this reason we were looking for a locking system which could best fit such requirements.” After trying out several mechatronic and electronic locking systems by different manufacturers, Arena Service decided on IKON’s VERSO CLIQ locking system from ASSA ABLOY Sicherheitstechnik GmbH.  “VERSO CLIQ really won us over; the locking system meets our requirements exactly,” says Christian Schneider.  “As we already had an IKON mechanical locking system, we knew that we could count on ASSA ABLOY and our local specialist dealer as reliable partners for high-quality products.”

Main problem: Lost keys

The main problem with the mechanical locking system at the NÜRNBERGER VERSICHERUNG ARENA was lost keys and the consequent vulnerability with regard to security.  “With VERSO CLIQ, access authorisation can be quickly and easily eliminated by reprogramming the cylinder when a key is lost.  That saves money and time while still ensuring a high level of security,” says Schneider. “Whereas before locking cylinders had to be quickly replaced at a high cost, today we can quickly and easily re-programme the system. The keys concerned are deprogrammed and access authorisations are eliminated from the system.” Employees are also pleased as there are fewer keys.  “Due to changes and increases in responsibility for trainers, players and arena personal, locking system hierarchies and authorisations were always changing,” recalls Schneider. “In the past, an employee had up to ten keys as they were given more and more individual access authorisations over time.  VERSO CLIQ enables each person with access authorisations to have just one key, into which all authorisations can be programmed individually for the required time scale.” This is precisely here where the advantage lies for the operators of the NÜRNBERGER VERSICHERUNG ARENA. For instance, with guest performers and their employees being only temporary visitors to the arena, access to spaces such as dressing rooms, stages and catering areas can be authorised using so-called events keys for the duration of their stay.  Access using these keys will be denied at any other time.

Reliable control

A further advantage of VERSO CLIQ is the option to selectively control locks. Consulting an events memory enables the user to determine who entered which room at a particular time.  “With access authorisation traceability we are able to prevent theft and thus reduce losses,” explains Christian Schneider.  “Knowing an access log can be read represents a significant psychological barrier for potential offenders.”  The operating company was also won over by the low installation costs, VERSO CLIQ’s ease of use and the fact power supplies are activated using the key.  “We believe VERSO CLIQ’s cost-performance ratio is perfect,” says Schneider.

A total of around 450 VERSO CLIQ locking cylinders were used. “All access doors in and around the building as well as in the fencing are fitted with the IKON system.  This also includes boxes, changing rooms, performers’ dressing rooms, catering areas, a sports shop associated with the arena, the whole administration wing along with lifts, electrical control cabinets and padlocks for refuse containers,” says Christian Schneider. “We feel secure with VERSO CLIQ. What’s more, if we need to extend our locking system, it is very easy to do with VERSO CLIQ, even if we want to do so in ten years’ time.”