Recognizing that game day starts the moment fans arrive, the NFL’s Indianapolis Colts sought to improve entry flow and guest access at Lucas Oil Stadium.
With outdated handheld scanners not able keep pace at peak times, the Colts deployed Alvarado UltraQ Pedestals by dormakaba for a mobile ticketing experience that gets fans to their seats faster, improves scan accuracy, and allows staff to focus on welcoming guests.
As a result of this deployment, the Colts achieved a top 10 NFL ranking in arrival satisfaction and set a new standard for stadium access innovation on game day and beyond.
“Over the past two seasons, dormakaba technology has continued to have a tremendous impact on the Colts game day experience,” said Jim Van Dam, VP ticket sales and service, Indianapolis Colts. “The ease of access, onboarding, and overall experience has been smooth and effective. The pedestals are the future.”
Previously, fans weren’t reaching their seats before game time. Handheld scanners caused bottlenecks and missed scans with inaccurate attendance data due to missed scans. Furthermore staff could become overwhelmed during peak arrival times, and it proved difficult to train or retain staff with clunky equipment.
Overall there was a need to improve the overall fan arrival experience.
Seamless fan experience from the start
Long lines and faulty scans leave guests dissatisfied. By switching to UltraQ Pedestals, the Colts gave fans control over their entry using familiar mobile barcodes and tap-and-go technology.
Pedestal-equipped gates consistently outperform handheld lanes. At the high-traffic North Gate – responsible for over 60% of total entry – just 18 UltraQ units process up to 21,000 guests and routinely clear lines five minutes before kickoff. Scan rates increased from 85% to 91%, and fan satisfaction rose accordingly. As one attendee shared: “I like how easy it was to scan my ticket by just tapping my phone on the sensor. Last year, there were staff with devices trying to scan, and it took forever.”
Operations benefits
The Colts’ staffing partner reports easier training and higher morale. Large touch screens and LED light bars with clear ‘green means go, red means no’ audio and visual cues make it easy for staff to manage multiple pedestals at once and interact with fans. In many cases, staffing needs were reduced or reassigned without compromising security.
The pedestal’s portable design enables quick repositioning to adjust entry flow and reduce congestion on the staff’s terms. Inside the stadium, the Colts also use UltraQ for credential scanning at player tunnels and restricted zones. And with branding options, the system was customized to match the Colts’ identity.
Chosen for its product quality and integration expertise, dormakaba’s solution is built for long-term flexibility and aligns with the Colts’ vision for fan-friendly, scalable stadium operations.
