Kaliningrad Stadium, Kaliningrad

Rostec Arena (known as Kaliningrad Stadium until 2023) is one of the stadiums built in Russia specifically for the 2018 FIFA World Cup. The 35,000-seat arena formed part of the infrastructure for the world’s premier football tournament.

During the World Cup, the stadium hosted four group-stage matches featuring Croatia, Nigeria, Serbia, Switzerland, Spain, Morocco, England, and Belgium. The matches in Kaliningrad attracted a combined attendance of 132,249 spectators.

As part of preparations for the 2018 FIFA World Cup, Infomatika equipped the stadium with a modern ticketing and access control system and a spectator access control system.

Infomatika was responsible for the following tasks:

• Create ticketing and access control infrastructure capable of handling high spectator volumes on World Cup match days;
• Provide automated access control for spectators and accredited personnel entering the stadium grounds;
• Adapt the ticketing and access control system to FIFA requirements;
• Enable integration with the ticketing operator, FIFA’s accreditation system, and the 2018 World Cup Fan ID system;
• Enable centralized equipment management;
• Allow the infrastructure to remain in use after the World Cup.

Infomatika specialists carried out detailed engineering design and comprehensively equipped the stadium with the LENTA automated ticketing and access control system and a spectator access control system.

For the World Cup, LENTA application software was adapted to FIFA requirements. Integration buses were developed and implemented to enable communication with the ticketing operator, FIFA’s accreditation system, and the 2018 World Cup Fan ID system.

Infomatika served as a contractor to FIFA Ticketing for the implementation of the stadium’s access control system and provided technical support for the access infrastructure throughout the World Cup. On match days, the company’s specialists worked on site.

Key Project Components

• LENTA Automated Ticketing and Access Control System. Automates ticketing processes and brings together software components, server equipment, automated staff workstations, and ticketing infrastructure equipment.
• Spectator Access Control System. Provides automated access control to the stadium grounds and manages entrance equipment.
• Integration Solutions. Enable communication with the ticketing operator, FIFA’s accreditation system, and the 2018 World Cup Fan ID system. Additional integration solutions were implemented to support external ticketing operators after the World Cup.
• Turnstile Equipment. The stadium’s entrance areas feature pedestal-type two-arm turnstiles and motorized full-height single-lane turnstiles. Motorized gates and full-height turnstile gates accommodate specific access scenarios.
• LENTA-Linea Pro NFC Mobile Ticket Validation Terminals. Used by ticket resolution teams for additional ticket checks on site.

System Management Infrastructure

Fifteen automated workstations were installed to manage the stadium’s ticketing and spectator access control systems: 7 cashier workstations, 3 manager workstations, 3 accreditation workstations, and 2 central system node workstations.

Nineteen Wi-Fi access points were also deployed to support the ticketing and access control infrastructure.

The infrastructure supported the ticketing and spectator access control systems throughout the World Cup and was retained for the stadium’s continued operation after the tournament. Integration solutions for external ticketing operators were implemented for the 2018 World Cup legacy mode, and a ticketing system was established for FC Baltika.

For more information about our company’s involvement in the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia, see the Major Projects section.

Scope of Work:

• Detailed engineering design;

• Installation of the LENTA automated ticketing and access control hardware and software system;

• Implementation of a ticketing system for FC Baltika;
• Adaptation of LENTA application software to FIFA requirements;
• Development and implementation of integration buses connecting the system with the ticketing operator, FIFA’s accreditation system, and the 2018 World Cup Fan ID system;
• Implementation of integration solutions for external ticketing operators in post-tournament legacy mode;
• Installation of pedestal-type two-arm turnstiles — 60 units;
• Installation of motorized gates — 13 units;
• Installation of motorized full-height single-lane turnstiles — 92 units;
• Installation of full-height turnstile gates — 6 units;
• Supply of LENTA-Linea Pro NFC mobile ticket validation terminals for ticket resolution teams — 9 units;
• Deployment of Wi-Fi access points — 19 units;
• Installation of automated workstations: 7 cashier workstations, 3 manager workstations, 3 accreditation workstations, and 2 central system node workstations;
• Equipment commissioning.