Expert Explains the Hidden Crowd Engineering Behind Event Venues | WSJ Pro Perfected

Summary

This video explores the intricacies of crowd management at large events like music festivals and sports games. Experts discuss the importance of designing efficient entry and exit systems, including queue layouts and strategic crowd dispersal to ensure safety and maximize revenue. From flattening the arrival curve to optimizing food service and managing post-event crowd flow, the planning behind crowd movement is essential to a smooth, enjoyable experience. The video highlights how meticulous design can prevent chaos and make the difference between a successful event and a potential disaster.

Takeaways

• 😀 Efficient crowd management at major events is crucial for safety, happiness, and profitability.
• 😀 The goal of crowd movement is to ensure a smooth entry, maximize revenue, and prevent dangerous situations.
• 😀 Flattening the 'arrivals curve' helps manage the flow of people by encouraging early arrivals through fan zones or activities.
• 😀 Queue design plays a major role in crowd behavior, with options like disorganized, multiple lane, and single lane (Disney) queues.
• 😀 Multiple lane queues provide equality but can cause indecision as people choose the best lane.
• 😀 S-shaped single lane queues ensure fairness but might slow down initial service due to longer walks for the first person.
• 😀 Hybrid queues combine the best features of single and multiple lane queues, providing both fairness and speed.
• 😀 Simple menus and fast service at concession stands help increase sales and reduce customer decision time.
• 😀 Bottom-up beer taps are an example of technology that speeds up service, helping venues increase revenue.
• 😀 Effective crowd dispersal at the end of an event involves directing people to different exits or stations to avoid overcrowding, as seen in venues like Wembley Stadium.

Q & A

What is the main goal of crowd management at major events?

The main goal is to keep people safe, happy, and to ensure the venue makes a profit. Efficient crowd movement is crucial for achieving these objectives.

What can happen if crowd control is not handled properly?

In the worst-case scenario, losing control of the crowd could result in fatalities, making crowd management a critical part of event planning.

What are the key stages in managing a crowd during an event?

The key stages are arrivals, halftime, and departures. Each stage requires careful planning to ensure smooth flow and safety.

What is the 'arrivals curve' and why is it important?

The arrivals curve refers to the pattern in which people arrive at the event. Flattening this curve is important because it reduces congestion and helps manage the crowd more effectively.

How can event planners flatten the arrivals curve?

Event planners can encourage early arrivals by setting up fan zones or activities before the event starts, which helps spread out the crowd and reduces congestion at the entrance.

What is the importance of keeping people happy during entry?

Keeping people happy during entry is vital to avoid frustration and negative crowd behavior. Smooth entry systems and clear communication can help achieve this.

How does the design of queues impact crowd behavior?

The design of queues can influence how people behave. For example, disorganized queues can lead to pushing and frustration, while well-designed queues with clear lanes can prevent these issues.

What is the 'S-shaped single queue' and why is it effective?

The S-shaped single queue, often called the Disney queue, ensures equality by having everyone join and exit at the same point. It minimizes confusion and prevents people from jumping ahead in line.

How can event planners increase efficiency at concession stands?

Event planners can increase efficiency by having simple menus, clear signage, and systems that allow servers to serve more items in less time, such as bottoms-up beer taps.

What strategies can be used to manage crowd movement during departures?

To manage departures, event planners can break the crowd into smaller groups, release them in waves, and provide alternative routes to avoid large, unsafe queues at stations.

How did the crowd management system work during the 2012 London Olympics?

For the London Olympics, a system was designed to manage crowds of up to 15,000 people, using pens to hold people in a controlled space. This allowed them to move safely across streets and into narrow station entrances without overcrowding.