Russian Stadiums Are Going Fully Digital

From biometric ticketing to ultra-dense Wi-Fi, Russia is turning its sports arenas into high-tech testbeds for connected experiences.

Russia’s sports stadiums are rapidly transforming into digital-first spaces. At the entrance, fans are met by Sport-Keeper, a system that scans faces or fingerprints, eliminating the need for paper tickets. The software cross-checks identities against its database in milliseconds and boasts an accuracy rate above 99 percent.

Fans can also enter with QR codes or smart cards. Strong encryption makes ticket forgery virtually impossible, according to Sport-Express, which cites Sergey Paukov, director of engineering and multimedia systems at IT company CROC.

Inside the arenas, connectivity is a priority. High-density Wi-Fi blankets the stands using a mesh of narrowly focused antennas that divide seating areas into 50-seat clusters. Each access point avoids interference by staying within its zone, supported by distributed antenna systems linked to cellular operators’ dedicated stations. At FC Krasnodar’s 34,000-seat stadium, the setup allows tens of thousands of fans to stream live video simultaneously without data bottlenecks.

Comfort isn’t limited to bandwidth. The Krasnodar arena uses three independent heating systems to control climate across the field and stands. The pitch itself relies on a DEVIbasic system that keeps the grass at precise temperatures, while 168 infrared heaters, running on liquefied gas, warm the east and west sections of the stands with a combined output of 6,776 kW.

The result: a showcase of how stadiums can blend security, connectivity, and climate control into one seamless digital experience.