Skip to content

Chester Racecourse Enhances Event Management with 24/7 Software

 

featured-final

About Chester Racecourse

Chester Racecourse, the UK’s most historic racecourse, sought to enhance crowd management and maintain safety during major racing events. By implementing 24/7 Software’s analytics platform, the racecourse gained real-time situational awareness, enabling proactive incident management and resource allocation. The platform’s dashboard tracked attendance, incidents, and hotspots, leading to a 13% reduction in time to close response times and enhanced visibility into the situation of an event. With 24/7 Software, Chester Racecourse turned data into decisions, transforming chaotic crowds into confidently managed events.

Background

Chester Racecourse, established in 1539, is the world’s oldest operational racecourse, hosting tens of thousands of visitors annually for major racing and other events. Operating in a fast-paced, high-stakes environment, the racecourse requires robust tools to ensure attendee safety, operational efficiency, and world-class guest experience. Effective event management hinges on real-time insights into crowd dynamics and incident trends.

Challenge

Before adopting 24/7 Software’s analytics platform, Chester Racecourse faced challenges in:

  • Limited Visibility: Lack of real-time data on crowd behavior and incidents hindered proactive decision-making.
  • Inefficient Resource Allocation: Without clear insights, security and medical teams are not deployed efficiently, delaying responses. 
  • Incident Tracking Gaps: Open incidents occasionally go unresolved due to manual tracking limitations.
  • Hotspot Identification: Identifying high-risk areas across the venue was challenging, increasing safety risks.

Solution

24/7 Software’s analytics platform provided Chester Racecourse with a powerful, real-time dashboard to monitor and manage events effectively. Key features include:

  • Attendance Monitoring: Tracks crowd size and flow to optimize staffing.
  • Event Health Metrics:
    • Ejections for disruptive behavior.
    • Alcohol-related incidents.
    • Drug searches and positive findings.
    • Hospital transports for medical emergencies.
  • Incident Management: Displays open incidents to ensure timely resolution.
  • Geospatial Analysis: Visualizes incident hotspots across zones 

This solution enabled data-driven decisions, enhancing situational awareness and operational control.

Implementation

The deployment of 24/7 Software’s platform was tailored to Chester Racecourse’s needs:

  • Customisation: The dashboard was configured to reflect the racecourse’s layout and key metrics.
  • Staff Training: 24/7 Software provided training to ensure staff could leverage the platform effectively.
  • Pilot Testing: The solution was tested during smaller events to fine-tune functionality before major race days.

Results

The implementation of 24/7 Software’s analytics platform delivered significant improvements:

  • Enhanced Situational Awareness: Real-time metrics displayed in the control room allowed key stakeholders to instantly understand crowd behavior and incidents without needing staff briefings.
  • Faster Response Times: Hotspot visualization and real-time data reduced incident response times by 13%.
  • Complete Incident Resolution: Real-time tracking ensured 100% of incidents were addressed promptly.
  • Enhanced Safety: Proactive monitoring led to in disruptive incidents.
  • Improved Guest Experience: Efficient operations boosted guest satisfaction, reinforcing Chester Racecourse’s reputation.

Conclusion

24/7 Software’s analytics platform has transformed Chester Racecourse’s ability to manage large-scale events with confidence. By providing real-time insights into attendance, incidents, and hotspots, the platform ensures safety, efficiency, and an exceptional guest experience. The success of this partnership highlights 24/7 Software’s role as a leader in event management solutions.