Key Principles of Stadium Safety

30^th June 2025

Creating a safe environment for fans, staff, and performers is essential to any successful event. Guided by the Sports Ground Safety Authority’s five core principles, we help stadiums and arenas meet the highest standards of safety through smart, scalable communication and security solutions.

Protecting Every Person, Every Time

When crowds gather at sports grounds, stadiums, and arenas, safety is not just a legal obligation, it’s a moral responsibility. The Sports Ground Safety Authority (SGSA) outlines five foundational principles for ensuring the safety of all attendees. These principles not only guide venue operators but also shape the practices of suppliers, partners, and safety teams working behind the scenes.

At Ninehundred Communications Group, with over 45 years of experience in public safety and communications, we are proud to support these principles through tailored solutions that help venues meet the highest standards of safety, compliance, and crowd management.

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1. Grounds Have a Responsibility To Keep All People Safe

This principle establishes the foundation of event safety: everyone involved in delivering the event has a role to play. It applies to managers, organisers, staff, and contractors alike. More importantly, it reinforces that safety is not just about protecting spectators, it extends to athletes, media representatives, emergency services, and even casual passersby near the venue.

Whether it’s a football match, a music concert, or a charity run, no individual’s safety is less important than another’s. Every venue must build its safety strategy around this inclusive mindset.

How We Can Help

We supply high-performance two-way radios that provide instant, secure communication between all departments – security, crowd control, first aid, operations, and more. In time-critical moments, clear communication can save lives and reduce confusion.

2. You Must Know and Understand the Safe Capacity

Understanding safe capacity is not just a numbers game, it’s about knowing how many people can be safely managed within each part of the venue, from seated stands to concourses, queueing areas, restrooms, and exits. Exceeding capacity, even by a small margin, can severely hinder evacuation efforts and increase the risk of crowd crush incidents.

How We Can Help

Our Opengate Threat Detection System and CCTV surveillance solutions allow organisers to monitor real-time crowd movement and headcounts across the venue. These tools support proactive decision-making and help prevent overcrowding before it becomes dangerous.

3. You Must Assess the Risks Involved

Risk management isn’t just for large-scale events, it should be a core part of planning for any public gathering. Each event presents unique challenges, whether it’s weather-related hazards, the potential for crowd surges, or infrastructure vulnerabilities. A thorough risk assessment identifies these challenges early and informs mitigation plans.

How We Help

We equip teams with mobile and fixed communication systems, body-worn cameras, and video analytics tools that help identify and address threats before they escalate. Having these technologies in place ensures your team can operate efficiently, even under pressure.

4. Safety Management Procedures Are Just as Critical as the Physical Environment

Effective safety requires a balance between good infrastructure and well-trained personnel. You can have the best-designed stairwells and barriers, but without properly trained staff and strong communication protocols, they may be misused or ignored.

Equally, relying solely on personnel to compensate for poor layout or signage is a recipe for failure. Both design and operations must work hand-in-hand to deliver seamless safety.

How Can We Help

Our tannoy and PA systems ensure real-time announcements reach all spectators in seconds, especially during emergencies or crowd redirection. Combined with two-way radio systems, they give event operators total command over communication, from the back office to the grandstands.

5. Safety Cannot Be Achieved in Isolation

No venue is an island. To ensure safe access, movement, and evacuation, stadiums must collaborate with local authorities, police, ambulance services, transportation providers, and other stakeholders. This collective responsibility extends beyond the gates to what is called Zone Ex – the perimeter area where fans enter, exit, or gather before and after the event.

While venues may not control Zone Ex directly, they must engage with partners to ensure safety is planned and coordinated in these crucial areas.

How We Can Help

Our Push-to-Talk over Cellular (PoC) radios provide wide-area communication that extends coverage into surrounding neighbourhoods, transport routes, and car parks. Our cloud-based CCTV systems allow remote monitoring of Zone Ex in real time, helping teams keep an eye on access points, public transport queues, and footfall hotspots.

Why Partner with Ninehundred Communications Group for Your Stadium Safety?

With a long-standing history in communication and security solutions, Ninehundred Communications Group has supported sports venues, emergency services, and public organisations for decades. Here’s what sets us apart:

45+ Years of Experience – A trusted name in communication and public safety solutions

25+ Active Industry Partnerships – Collaborative relationships with top-tier suppliers

Fully Accredited – We meet the highest safety and quality assurance standards

Proven Expertise – A track record of successful project delivery

Customisable Solutions – Tailored systems for unique venues and events

Whether you’re managing a 5,000-seat arena or a 75,000-capacity stadium, we have the tools, technologies, and expertise to help you deliver an event that’s safe, secure, and successful.

Explore Our Stadium Security Solutions 0845 600 4 900

Take a look at What Our Customers Say

If there is one thing that makes me keep coming back to Ninehundred Communications Group is Ursula Russell when looking at what our site need regarding criteria Ursula always points me in the right direction not only doe’s Ursula give me the best advice for radios we also have a good chat and laugh and I think that is what is missing now days with companies.
Just going that extra mile and chat to the person ask them how they are etc that is what makes a sale nothing to do with price or items it’s about the customer service we get I have had to mention Ursula as I believe she does a fantastic job for you but also for me.

John Witham,
Veolia ES Merseyside

Very helpful with order products and sending engineer out to program radios in a timely manner. Thank you!

Cassie Sternbach,
Brentford FC Ltd

I wanted to take a moment to sincerely thanks to KIM STARR for excellent support during the two-way radio hire for our recent project. From start to finish, your coordination and attention to detail were truly outstanding, exceeding our expectations at every step.

Your efficiency in arranging everything seamlessly made a significant difference in ensuring smooth operations. Your professionalism, responsiveness, and dedication were greatly appreciated, and it was a pleasure working with you.

Thank you again for your exceptional support, I look forward to working with you on future projects.

Bava Patel,
ASL Group – PowerStream Services Ltd

Every time I order from you I feel like no question is too small and I feel assured that you will do the best you can. Thank you to the team behind eorders@, you make my life easier with your promptness and kind approach to your work.

Alicia Eccleston,
Walk the Plank

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Communication with Ninehundred has been absolutely brilliant. They answer emails really quickly, we’ve discussed prices, so we’ve been able to negotiate a bit and time wise delivery of the goods and installation has been fast.

Christina Mallender,
Frodingham Infants

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Ninehundred stands out for us with the quality of the service and the product and the competitive pricing. In 2025, we’re going to be coming back bigger and better. We’ve got some really ambitious targets to reach, and we know that Ninehundred are going to help us, support us in reaching those targets and making sure our events are the best they can be.

Stephanie Wakefield,
Cancer Research UK

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With Ninehundred continuously offering new products to the market they work alongside us to ensure we are at the forefront of technology and always have the best equipment available to the teams and the resort.

Tom Handley,
Alton Towers Resort

Great service and communication as always – The radios arrived far quicker than expected – thank you very much!

Peter Crozier,
E.On UK

Usual really, service and products are excellent, communication also excellent. Couldn’t be happier.

Darren Williams,
Bramhall High School

Great service and communication from Ninehundred, new radio equipment supplied very promptly and as always worked straight out of the box. Highly recommended.

Graham Richardson,
Logistex Ltd