Combined and digital ticket and 3G check
23 September 2021
Agility and digitalisation are nice marketing buzzwords that everyone likes to claim. We have tried to fill these terms with life and have developed a pragmatic and easy-to-implement solution over the last few months to carry out the required "3G check" at the entrance to the venue.
Verification of 3G certificates in EVENTIM.Access
For this purpose, we have extended our EVENTIM.Access access control software, which was developed for the digital scanning of tickets, to check 3G certificates (Vaccinated, Tested, Convalescent).
The admission process remains as straightforward as ever: in addition to the ticket, admission staff now also read the digital health certificate. If both the ticket and the health certificate meet the valid, individually defined criteria, the visitor is granted access. Otherwise, visitors can be directed to the local rapid test, for example.
Likewise, it is also possible to use the 3G proof of health function via EVENTIM.Access if another service provider is responsible for scanning the tickets. In this case, the free scan app can be installed on all common smartphones and used for scanning the 3G proof.
EVENTIM.Access in combination with third-party software
The three clubs mentioned use our EVENTIM.Access access control software for ticket scanning. Other clubs, such as Borussia Dortmund, Hertha BSC and FC St. Pauli, use third-party software for ticket access control, yet they have chosen to perform the 3G check with EVENTIM.Access. Dortmund, Berlin and Hamburg also have two rings, similar to Düsseldorf. The health certificate is scanned at the first ring and the ticket at the second ring. Thus, the check of the health certificates in EVENTIM.Access also works in combination with third-party software.
The entry scenarios
Basically, there are different ways to scan the tickets and 3G proofs. The order of the scanning process is interchangeable. It is possible to start scanning the proof of health as well as the ticket. As long as both scanning processes have not been completed, the ticket is considered to be unadmitted. In addition, there is the option to skip the health check, for example if a fan does not have a digital vaccination certificate but shows the "yellow vaccination book" instead.
Example 1: Combined scan at Eisbären Berlin
The Eisbären Berlin welcomed 6,450 spectators to the Mercedes-Benz Arena for the season opener of the DEL season against Red Bull Munich. The familiar 3G rules applied - every fan had to be able to present proof of vaccination, convalescence or testing.
For years, the Eisbären Berlin and the Mercedes-Benz Arena have been using EVENTIM.Access as their access control software. For this season, the scanner rules were adapted so that the fan may only enter the arena if proof of health and ticket are valid. The 3G certificate and the print@home ticket were scanned at the entrance and the personalisation on the ticket was checked.
Even though the season opener against Munich was unfortunately lost, the team is very satisfied with the technical implementation of the admission process.
"We are very happy about the further development of EVENTIM.Access, which allows us to check the digital tickets and health certificates in one process. Our fans are able to come to the arena as usual and only need their proof of health in addition to their ticket. The entry process worked great, there were no long queues and we received positive feedback throughout."
Marten Schumacher, Senior Director Ticketing, Eisbären Berlin
Example 2: Scan in two steps at the Düsseldorf EC
Another option is to split the two scanning processes. In this case, the health certificate is scanned first and the ticket is scanned in a second step.
This option is practised by the Düsseldorf EG, for example. Six hand-held scanners are used for the 3G check in advance. The security staff intercept the fans before the actual ticket scan in order to carry out the 3G check. After the check, the fan may continue towards the main entrance of the PSD BANK DOME for a process they are already used to. At the entrance to the hall, tickets are checked and validated by ticket scan columns.
"By displaying the personal data of the 3G proof on the hand-held scanners, the matching with the photo ID can be done conveniently on this basis. Our spectators were for the most part relaxed and 99.9% also had their 3G proof and photo ID with them."
Sebastian Snitzelaar, Director Ticketing & Hospitality, Düsseldorfer EG
Example 3: "Fastlane" and combined scan at Deggendorfer SC
In addition to the Eisbären Berlin and the Düsseldorfer EG, smaller clubs such as the ice hockey Oberliga club Deggendorfer SC also rely on the new EVENTIM.Access function. In addition to the combined ticket scan, which the Eisbären Berlin also carry out, the Deggendorfer SC also relies on a "pre-scan".
Deggendorfer SC fans can already have their health certificate checked two hours before kick-off. Two extra info points have been set up at the main entrance for this purpose. There, fans with a valid 3G ID will hold a coloured wristband that entitles them to use the "Fastlane", so that they only have to scan their ticket upon entry. This is to prevent queues from forming at the entrance shortly before the start of the match. Fans who have not picked up a wristband in advance will go into the "normal" queue at the entrance and will have to have both their ticket and their health certificate scanned in order to gain access to the hall.
"We regularly exchange information with other clubs and also get helpful tips from the consultants about what works well in other leagues. The idea of the wristbands was not new, but we adapted it according to our possibilities. We have fans coming from all sides to the hall, so we can't intercept them beforehand for a check. Hence the idea of the info points and the fastlane. The 3G check worked well and quickly. Everyone was in the hall on time."
Stefan Liebergesell, Head of Marketing & Sponsoring, Deggendorfer SC