A Future-Proof Access System For 1. FC Magdeburg
With the successful completion of extensive renovation work, the Avnet Arena, home of 1. FC Magdeburg, is entering a new era.
Over the past few months, the Bundesliga 2 club’s stadium has undergone major technical modernisation and now shines with a comprehensive access solution from Axess, placing equal emphasis on safety, efficiency and comfort.
The Avnet Arena, formerly known as MDCC Arena, is the largest stadium in Saxony-Anhalt and a central meeting point for the blue-and-white football community far beyond the state’s borders.
With the renaming and extensive renovations, not only was the brand identity refreshed – the stadium also set new benchmarks in infrastructure and achieved a record crowd of 28,780 against Eintracht Braunschweig.
Modern access system for full stands and high safety standards
At the heart of the modernisation is the new access solution; a total of 35 AX500 Smart Gate NG were installed in the arena, equipped with the proven Axess SMART SCANNER 600 NFC. This combination guarantees fast and contactless entry via QR code or NFC technology—regardless of ticket type or medium.
A special safety feature is the integrated panic function, which allows all lanes to be opened immediately in an emergency, ensuring a quick and orderly evacuation. This not only enables efficient fan flow on matchdays but also meets the highest safety standards.
The system is complemented by 20 Axess HANDHELD scanners, which stadium staff can use flexibly both inside and outside the venue – for example, in guest areas, temporary checkpoints, VIP zones, or mobile re-checks. The mobile terminals guarantee maximum flexibility, even in the case of last-minute organisational changes on matchdays or when hosting third-party events.
Private cloud solution for future-proof operations
As in other top stadiums in Europe, no local server infrastructure is used in Magdeburg anymore. Instead, the club relies on the private cloud solution, which guarantees centralised system management, automatic updates and high reliability. This makes it possible to control the entire access system remotely and adapt it flexibly to future requirements.
Integration with existing ticketing systems is achieved via standardised interfaces—all ticket data is automatically transferred and processed in real time, from the online purchase to the turnstile.
Reliability, flexibility and control
“Our new access technology not only supports us logistically, it also makes a significant contribution to the positive atmosphere at home games,” says Thomas Schäfer, Head of Ticketing at 1. FC Magdeburg.
“When the Avnet Arena is filled with well over 27,000 fans – as it was recently at the league opener – every second, every entry, every piece of security technology counts,” he emphasised.
“From the initial kick-off to the final project approval, the project implementation was always carried out in open and cooperative communication and, most importantly for us as the client – on budget and on time.”
Axess – Partner for Modern Arenas
The modernisation of the Avnet Arena is a strong statement of the connection between football tradition, fan engagement and forward-looking technology. Axess is proud to support this development with innovative solutions—for more efficient operations, higher security and an emotional stadium experience.
Images: Axess
