ACC Liverpool is more than just an events venue – it’s a cornerstone of Liverpool’s cultural landscape. This award-winning waterfront campus hosts three world-class facilities: the M&S Bank Arena, Exhibition Centre Liverpool, and Convention Centre, creating a premier hub for entertainment and business events.
Since opening its doors in 2008, ACC Liverpool has welcomed over 8 million visitors across a spectrum of events – from international concerts and global summits to industry exhibitions.
With attendance ranging from intimate gatherings of hundreds, to arena-filling crowds of 10,000+, the site frequently hosts multiple concurrent events, creating unique security and operational challenges.
Complex Operations in a Changing Environment
Managing a multi-venue campus with simultaneous events requires extraordinary coordination. Each event brings a distinct audience, risk profile, and operational demands, requiring systems that can adapt and scale in real-time. As part of their commitment to continuous improvement, ACC Liverpool identified key opportunities to enhance their existing security framework:
- Entry flow: Enhance traditional screening methods to reduce wait times and improve visitor experience during peak times
- Communication: Streamline the coordination between control rooms, mobile teams, and stewards across multiple venues
- Situational awareness: Strengthen the monitoring capabilities across multiple venues to enable more proactive security responses
With both visitor safety and experience equally paramount, ACC Liverpool needed a future-proof solution that could strengthen security without compromising the seamless experience that underpins their reputation as a world-class venue.
“We pride ourselves on providing a safe and secure environment. The partnership with ACC Liverpool and 2CL is an opportunity for us to expand on our technology in relation to the world of security.”
James Francis
Head of Security, ACC Liverpool
A Strategic Security Partnership
2CL was appointed as ACC Liverpool’s Security Innovation Partner with a clear mandate: develop an integrated security framework that would not only address current challenges but evolve with future threats and operational needs.
The solution centred on four core technologies, expertly deployed and commissioned by 2CL’s in-house engineering team:
Motorola digital radio infrastructure: Delivering crystal-clear communications across all venues, eliminating dead zones, and ensuring reliable coordination during normal operations and emergencies.
TRBOnet command and control software: Providing control room operators with comprehensive oversight with:
- Real-time staff location tracking
- Voice logging and emergency alerts
- Integrated body-worn camera feeds
- Single-screen operational visualisation
Body-worn cameras: Complementing the radio and control systems with body-worn cameras to create a record of staff-visitor interactions, enhancing both safety and accountability.
Evolv Express screening technology: Enabling frictionless weapons detection without compromising visitor flow, using AI to distinguish between threats and personal items while gathering actionable security insights.
This integration created a “single pane of glass” for operations – transforming security across the campus and establishing the foundation for a more intelligent, responsive approach to venue safety.
Enhanced Security, Elevated Experience
The partnership between 2CL and ACC Liverpool has fundamentally transformed security operations across the campus, delivering immediate benefits while building long-term resilience:
For operations teams:
- Comprehensive situational awareness across all three venues from a centralised control point
- Faster identification of potential threats through AI-powered screening
- Data-driven insights that improve resource allocation and emergency response planning
For staff and stewards:
- Seamless communication regardless of location or venue
- Enhanced safety through real-time location tracking and emergency alerts
- Improved coordination during incidents, reducing response times
- Additional protection through body-worn camera documentation of interactions
For visitors:
- Smoother, faster entry experiences with reduced queuing
- Less intrusive security screening
- Increased confidence in venue safety without the feeling of heightened security
This strategic deployment safeguards more than just physical security – it protects ACC Liverpool’s reputation as a flagship complex where visitors and performers feel secure, supported, and welcomed.
“Our partnership with 2CL has been a really positive one. We’re really excited for what the future looks like.”
James Francis
Head of Security, ACC Liverpool
The 2CL Difference: Partnership Beyond Technology
The transformation at ACC Liverpool represents more than a technology upgrade, it’s a strategic realignment of security operations with the venue’s core mission of delivering exceptional experiences.
2CL’s approach went beyond simply installing systems; we became an extension of ACC Liverpool’s team, working side-by-side from initial planning through deployment and ongoing support. This collaborative partnership ensures the security framework continues to evolve alongside both the threat landscape and visitor expectations.
As ACC Liverpool continues to host world-class events that shape Liverpool’s cultural identity, 2CL remains their trusted partner – ensuring that behind every unforgettable performance and successful conference lies an invisible framework of security that works just as hard as they do.
Together, we have created a new benchmark for venue security: demonstrating that in the right hands, advanced security can enhance protection while improving visitor experience.
Need Integrated Comms and Security for your Venue?
To get in touch please call 0800 389 2278 or send us an enquiry below:
Also see:
- Case Study: Southampton Football Club
- News: 2CL Announced as the Security Innovation Partner to ACC Liverpool
All images courtesy of ACC Liverpool