Super Bowl-Sized Crowds: A Day in the Life of Stadium Queuing Systems

The Super Bowl is more than a game; it’s an unparalleled event, bringing together nearly 100,000 fans in person for an unforgettable experience.

As the Super Bowl continues to grow in popularity, so does the scale of event venues and crowds. For example, Caesars Superdome in New Orleans added 100,000 square feet of space to host Super Bowl LIX in 2025. With a capacity of 83,000 fans, it will accommodate 10,000 more attendees than last year's Super Bowl at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas. 

The Superdome exemplifies the trend of already oversized stadiums expanding to accommodate even larger audiences, while enhancing fan experiences. As these crowds continue to grow, the challenges of effectively managing them becomes increasingly complex.

Here we take you on a stadium tour — from parking and security to merchandising, dining, and post-game exits — and spotlight how cutting-edge queuing solutions drive smooth operations and elevate the fan experience at every turn.

Arrival and Parking

As vehicles pull into the massive parking lot and people start walking to the stadium entrance and tailgate parties get into full swing, the excitement is palpable. But with cars and people moving in all directions, it’s also a potential danger zone. 

Thankfully, hours before fans started to arrive, parking staff put in place durable but lightweight, yellow-and-black-striped Tempest outdoor retractable safety barriers, blocking vehicle access where needed, creating pedestrian safety lanes, and giving security teams the flexibility to adjust zones based on traffic flow throughout the day. 

Security and Ticketing

As fans approach the stadium’s security lines, they’re delighted to see order, and not chaos. Queue lanes created by industry-leading Beltrac retractable belt stanchions enable lines to expand as needed. With sturdy posts and portable sloped bases, the barriers stand firm even when wind gusts or surfaces aren’t totally flat. 10 and 15-foot retractable, customizable belts do double duty, providing reliable crowd control and brand messaging, while ADA-compliant double belts ensure safe navigation for all attendees.

Worries about long waits and wayfinding melt away as bold overhead signage clearly indicates the various ticketholder sections: general population, VIPs, wheelchair access. The holistic queue solution also includes stanchion post-top signs with key safety messages, like “Security Check Ahead” or “No Entry,” adding clarity and confidence at every turn. 

Magnetic base stanchions are a new and innovative solution for managing Super Bowl stadium ticketing queues, offering a small footprint, easy reconfiguration, and a secure magnetic connection that doesn’t damage floors.Their sleek design ensures a polished look, while optional emergency breakaway belts add a further layer of safety.

The stadium queuing system is designed for speed and efficiency — much like world-class airports, where individual wait times for security are typically no more than 12 minutes, even with tens of thousands of people arriving in a short timespan.

Concessions and Merchandising

As fans step into the concourse, the aromas of nachos and fresh-popped kettle corn entice  them toward concessions. Though the crowd thickens, lines move steadily with post and panel barriers preventing concession queues from spilling into the busy walkway. Efficient lines filled with happy patrons means higher revenue for your concessionaires — and for you.

Hinged frame panels catch the eye with vibrant branding. Just ahead, NeXtrac merchandising panels cleverly extend retail store’s checkout queues — and impulse-buy merchandise — beyond permanent walls, turning the checkout queue into an opportunity for additional sales. It’s a thoughtful design that’s being used to great success at the Braves Clubhouse in Atlanta.

Imagine this: just last week, this store was filled with college bowl team gear, and next week, it’ll feature concert memorabilia. NeXtrac portable store gondolas allow management to effortlessly swap event-specific inventory to create consistently professional-looking displays.

As fans wait, a digital display — part of the store’s electronic queuing system — highlights promos and exclusive fan zone experiences. A gentle chime and flashing light signals them to the next available cashier for a speedy checkout.

VIP Lounges

As VIPs make their way through the stadium, a variety of signage solutions, both overhead and at eye level, serve as clear guides. Your special guests glide through queues enhanced by portable stanchions, elegant swag velvet ropes, and branded barrier panels welcome guests at the entrance to the VIP area for an elevated touch. Innovative wall-mounted retractable belts attach to glass or metal surfaces, eliminating the need for stanchions and complementing the space's clean, modern atmosphere. The belts are in the team colors and custom-printed with the stadium or team logo, or with VIP insignia.

Half-Time (Restrooms, Food, Merch, Fan Experience Zones, Info Booths)

As half-time hits, the extra-long 65-foot JetTrac belt barriers are put into play, restricting access to the field, the half-time show, team tunnels, and other areas that need to be secured as waves of fans get out of their seats and walk around. An easy-to-implement solution, super-sized JetTrac belt barriers provide the extended length that today’s large venues have been seeking.

To manage the concourse crowd rush, portable stanchions with retractable belts and strategic signage help fans navigate their way to concessions, restrooms, photo opps, and shopping. Wall-mounted retractable barriers optimize concourse space and maintain the venue’s clean look and reroute traffic in busy areas. 

Post-Game Exit

JetTrac belt barriers shine again as the final whistle blows, swiftly creating long, clear traffic lanes to guide the crowd safely toward exits, parking lots, and mass transit stations. Their extended reach and quick deployment streamline post-game crowd management.

Outside, whether the sun is dimming or night has fallen, Tempest stanchions with built-in solar-powered safety beacons flash brightly, adding a welcome layer of visibility and safety.

What a journey! Your fans have now experienced the seamless flow of crowd management from start to finish at one of the world’s biggest events. You’ve won them over and created a loyal base with your commitment to fan enjoyment and safety, and gained rave reviews from your concessionaires and security teams for looking out for their best interests, too. Let’s just say, everyone comes out a winner.

Innovative Queuing Solutions For Large-Scale Events

From professional football to bowl games to major arenas for basketball, hockey, baseball, concerts — or any large-scale event — queue management solutions, complete with safety barriers and signage, consistently play a pivotal role in managing people inside, outside, and all around the arena.

And it’s not just pro venues. College stadiums, like Michigan Stadium and Penn State's Beaver Stadium, host over 100,000 fans, while high school venues, like Eagle Stadium in Texas and Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Ohio, regularly accommodate tens of thousands — underscoring the need for effective, adaptable crowd management systems and queue solutions.

Even older venues can gain greater efficiencies without having to make large-scale capital investments. Modular stanchion products and signage bring new life and modern convenience by maximizing space, reducing congestion, and improving wayfinding.

Ready for maximum impact? Schedule a consultation with our team and discover how Lavi’s queuing and public guidance systems can transform the fan experience at your venue and deliver a higher standard in large-scale crowd management.