Q:
- How do you handle security of the individual suites?
- Do you have a system in place to keep non-suite holders out of a suite?
- Is it technology- or people-driven?
A:
At both our stadium and arena, club seat holders are able to access the level the suites are on. We keep all suites locked to start and then when a guest arrives with a suite ticket, we will unlock that particular suite. This is completely people-driven -- we have about four or five ushers with radios that roam the club (hallway outside suites). When someone comes through an entrance with a suite ticket, they are notified on the radio by ushers checking tickets to open suite x. The usher closest will wait at the suite to verify the ticket matches the suite and then let the guest in. From that point forward, the suite is open; however, we believe the people in the suite will be good gatekeepers for the remainder of the event.
A:
At our football stadium, we have one level of 12 suites that opens directly into one of our club lounges. We used to have issues with people wandering in to steal beer from the fridge or try to sit in the suite and a few incidents of theft. Then we placed an usher/security person outside each door to monitor that only ticket holders for that suite were getting in, and we've had no problems since then. Prior to the placement of ushers, we did have a suite holder request to have a numbered combination keypad put on their door, but it was a huge pain because either it wouldn't work or guests/hosts didn't know the code, so we had to prop the door open, which defeated the purpose. An usher at each door seems to work just fine and adds a nice touch, like their own "bouncer." They try to assign the same staff person at each door, so they get to know that suite holder and help build that face recognition and relationship.
A:
Our suites do share a common space, so we have an usher at each door.
A:
Many of our suites do share a common space. We have staff at entry points and roaming the suite level.
A:
Our suites share a common space and have had issues with break-ins. We have installed electronic scanners from Boundary Devices. The units run about $2,000 per unit. We are a Ticketmaster venue.