In Focus / Crowdguard: Zone Ex Protection At Sports Stadia - Budget Smart Risk Mitigation

Secure Your Venue Without Blowing the Budget

As safety expectations continue to rise, stadium operators and event organisers are under growing pressure to enhance protection in public areas. Permanent solutions aren’t always viable, but with the right support, temporary Zone Ex HVM can offer a flexible, proportionate way to manage risk and keep events safe.

At Crowdguard, we help venues of all sizes implement proportionate and temporary hostile vehicle mitigation (HVM) systems. These solutions are supporting safer event environments across the UK by providing a cost-effective way to reduce risk and enhance security where it’s needed most.

What Is Zone Ex Protection and Why Does It Matter?

Zone Ex protection focuses on safeguarding the external areas of stadiums and venues, which are often the most exposed zones due to their openness and high foot traffic. These areas are particularly at-risk during ingress and egress, where large numbers of people gather outside controlled access points.

Even if permanent HVM isn’t feasible, temporary Zone Ex protection can play a critical role in mitigating risks by deterring vehicle threats, restricting unauthorised access, and buying valuable time for response protocols.

Cost Conscious Zone Ex Protection That Delivers

We understand that stadiums and sports clubs must operate within financial constraints. That’s why our temporary HVM solutions offer a practical, flexible approach to security without the commitment of permanent infrastructure.

Key benefits:

– Surface mounted, so no groundwork or fixed installation required

– Deployable, moveable and removable for event specific needs

– Pedestrian friendly with maintained crowd flow management

– Tested and rated to prevent unauthorised vehicle access

– Easy to store between uses

Crowdguard in Action: Zone Ex Protection In-Situ

The Kia Oval – Cricket Fixtures Summer 2025

We delivered 26 Husson H Stop units for summer fixtures at The Kia Oval. The layout provided adaptable Zone Ex protection while maintaining accessibility for attendees and service vehicles.

Our long-standing partners at The Kia Oval offered the following reflection on our latest deployment:

“At The Kia Oval, managing crowd safety during major fixtures is paramount, especially in a busy urban environment. With thousands of fans arriving and leaving within tight timeframes, we needed a hostile vehicle mitigation solution that offered both strong protection and operational flexibility.

“Crowdguard delivered exactly that. Their deployment of the HVM-rated Husson H Stop system in partnership with Omnis allowed us to secure surrounding roads quickly during ingress, reopen them seamlessly once everyone was inside, and then redeploy rapidly for egress. This ensured fans could arrive and leave safely, while also minimising disruption to local traffic and businesses.

“The Husson H Stop proved to be a highly versatile and effective solution, and the Crowdguard team were responsive, efficient, and professional throughout. Their support helped us maintain a safe environment without compromising the flow of the event or the city around us.” – Matt Williams, Venue Operations and Security Manager

Murrayfield Stadium – Concert Deployments

During some major concerts year-round, including the recent Robbie Williams show, Crowdguard supports Murrayfield Stadium with tailored temporary HVM deployments. The systems help control perimeter access and reduce the risk of hostile vehicle threats.

Combine Security with Branding & Commercial Impact

Our HVM barriers can be wrapped in club colours, sponsor logos, or wayfinding graphics, turning a necessary risk mitigation measure into an opportunity for visibility and revenue generation.

This adds real value by:

– Enhancing the visitor experience

– Showcasing partnerships

– Supporting wayfinding and communications

– Helping offset the cost of deployment through sponsorship

No One-Size-Fits-All – But Time Matters

Zone Ex protection is designed to create real world resilience, it’s about putting effective, proportionate measures in place to deter threats, delay hostile actions, and support a fast, coordinated response. The right solution doesn’t just protect space, it protects confidence, continuity, and peace of mind.

Final Thoughts: Take Proportionate Action Within Your Security Budget

Waiting for legislation to take effect shouldn’t delay action. Risk remains, and proactive mitigation shows leadership, duty of care, and preparedness.

If your venue isn’t ready for permanent security measures, temporary Zone Ex protection is a flexible, scalable alternative that reduces risk while enabling event operations to continue.

Crowdguard is here to support your club or venue with solutions that make sense both operationally and financially.

Images: Crowdguard