SMARTair and CLIQ upgrade security at Almería’s stadium

Challenge

To upgrade security at their 18,000-capacity stadium, Spanish football club UD Almería wanted to transition from traditional mechanical locks to digital access control. However, stadiums have a broad range of openings; they needed a solution which could accommodate these diverse needs and still offer centralized management from a single, intuitive software interface. Ease of installation within existing stadium infrastructure and the ability to equip doors which receive lots of traffic were further concerns.

Key requirements

• A single system with versatility to equip a vast range of openings with appropriate digital locks
• An easily scalable solution which would simplify managing multiple user profiles, now and in the future
• Reliable, durable devices which have low maintenance requirements, minimizing ongoing costs
• Technical support from a specification team with experience and expertise on stadium project

Solution

UD Almería chose a SMARTair digital access system which, since 2025, also offers centralized management of eCLIQ digital keys and cylinders. The complementary benefits of SMARTair and eCLIQ ensure Almería’s needs are met without compromising on security or flexibility. All users and access points are managed online from SMARTair TS1000 Web software. The entire digital system operates without cables to or around openings: both SMARTair and CLIQ devices are wireless and were installed quickly, between home matches, without invasive structural work. 

The club selected SMARTair Wireless Online management for real-time control and oversight of offices, locker rooms and physio suites. Here, authorized staff use customized RFID cards which double as ID badges or mobile keys via the SMARTair Openow^® app. Visitors and external contractors receive time-limited access through mobile keys sent directly to their app, making the process convenient and streamlining visitor management.

eCLIQ cylinders protect technical rooms and interior service zones. Maintenance staff and security personnel, including police, carry an eCLIQ key programmed with their individual access permissions. Retrofitting existing doors was simple: installers simply replace the mechanical cylinder with an eCLIQ cylinder, without wiring or batteries. Power is carried to the lock via the user’s battery-powered key.

This hybrid installation ensures all Almería’s diverse access needs were met – only ASSA ABLOY could provide such a connected, unified system.