Introduction

Turnstiles are used to control entry to a site or event.  They restrict access to one individual at a time.  This is especially important where fares, fees, or tickets are a prerequisite to entry.

From a business/revenue standpoint, turnstiles enable a venue to have an accurate, verifiable count of total attendance.  From a security standpoint, they lead patrons to enter single-file, so security personnel have a clear view of each patron.  This enables security to efficiently isolate potential trouble or to confiscate any prohibited materials.  Thus, turnstiles are a tool which leads to a more safe and secure atmosphere throughout a site.

Where are turnstiles used?

Turnstiles are used at a wide variety of settings, including stadiums, amusement parks, museums, mass transit stations, office lobbies, retail sites, cafeterias, temporary exhibits, casinos, and souvenir stands, to name but a few.

Benefits of Turnstiles

Turnstiles discourage – and often prevent – any attempts (intentional or unintentional) at “free entry” into a site.

Turnstiles provide an accurate attendance count, which provides a venue or event with an indisputable number which can be provided to sponsors.  Sponsors will have accurate information on the level of exposure their message received.

Likewise, turnstile counts can be used to match tickets collected.  This increased accuracy provides better financial data.

When a site has turnstiles, fire marshals will have an accurate turnstile count (as opposed to an estimate), which prevents premature or disputed closings that could potentially limit a site’s revenue. 

Types of turnstiles

There are three major styles of turnstiles:

Waist High: Sometimes also referred to as “half-height” turnstiles, this “fixed arm” style has traditionally been the most popular type of turnstile. There are many variations of this style available, including one which is designed to be accompanied by a matching ticket box, and one with a ticket box built in.  Some styles are designed to allow entry only after a payment (actual coins or tokens) are inserted, while others allow access after a valid barcode is electronically read.

Optical: Optical turnstiles are an alternative to the traditional “arm”-style turnstile and are increasingly used in locations where a physical barrier is deemed unnecessary or unaesthetic.  Optical turnstiles generally use an infrared beam to count patrons and recognize anyone attempting to enter a site without a valid entry pass.

Full Height: These seven-foot high turnstiles are most commonly used at sites where security is paramount to appearance, such as high-attendance stadiums or in commercial or industrial facilities.  Operating in a manner similar to a revolving door, they allow only one entrance at a time, and eliminate the possibility (inherent in the waist-high style) of anyone jumping over a turnstile unit.   

Considerations

When considering the purchase or use of turnstiles, here are some of the factors to take into account about the quality and dependability of the product:

Warranty: Does the supplier provide a warranty on all parts?  You should strive for at least an 18-month warranty.

Maintenance: How much maintenance will be necessary on your end?  Look for turnstiles which will be low maintenance (meaning that your only task will be to provide lubrication for the moving parts).

Construction: Particularly for the traditional waist-high turnstile styles, the turnstile cabinet should be fabricated from 14-16 gauge stainless steel.

Clean/aesthetic appearance: A concealed anchoring mechanism (which affixes the turnstile to the floor or the wall) will result in an unobtrusive look

Self-centering: A mechanism should automatically return the arm assembly to the home position, regardless of the force used to pass through the turnstile.

Lock-ability: Where tickets must be collected, the turnstile should feature knobs which can temporarily lock the turnstile during ticket verification.  Turnstiles should also feature a lockable ticket collection compartment.

Conclusion

Turnstiles are used at numerous sites for the dual beneficial purposes of attendance accuracy and crowd control.  There are a number of different styles designed to meet the varying needs of a wide array of venues. For any sites or events which require paid attendance, turnstiles are a necessary, efficient tool to ensure the accuracy of attendance information and revenue totals.

What visual symbolism is associated with the act of viewing a big football game?  The opening montage of NBC’s “Sunday Night Football” telecasts reaffirms that turnstiles and football go together – not just literally in stadiums, but also figuratively in the minds of fans.

Each week, the telecast’s opening video (which features singer Faith Hill and a number of NFL stars) shows fans going through stadium turnstiles.  Quick-cut close-ups of the turnstiles themselves are included.  And a few recognizable players, such as Baltimore linebacker Ray Lewis, are shown as they pause at a turnstile entrance.

NBC and the NFL obviously know that fans will have a positive reaction to the almost-subliminal insertion of video images of turnstiles.  Why? At a stadium, the process of entering turnstiles is a right of passage which takes a fan from the outside world into the world of big-time professional football.  Viewers at home, watching this opening video minutes before the kickoff, will feel like they are experiencing the same transition: See those turnstiles?  We’re now at the game!

Although the use of hand-held scanners to monitor access control is increasing, many sites still prefer the traditional turnstile with the mechanical arm. Traditional turnstiles send positive physical and psychological messages to patrons.  In addition, they have positive impact on a site’s security and revenue protection.

* For a patron, passing through a turnstile is a milestone.  It is the transition point from being outside the site – outside the event he or she is anticipating – to being on the inside.  They separate those at the event from those not at the event. Studies have shown that people generally have a positive reaction to turnstiles in part because of this physical and intangible symbolism.

* Turnstiles make life easier for a site’s security personnel.  The single-file, one-at-a-time aspect of traditional turnstiles helps security staff to identify potential concerns.  They also result in less unauthorized “slippage” of patrons; traditional turnstiles make it both physically and psychologically harder for someone to attempt to “cheat the system.”

*Turnstiles increase attendance accuracy and protect paid revenue.  Mechanical arms are more accurate than hand-held scanners in making sure everyone is counted, and that everyone who enters is indeed authorized to enter.  Thus, sites with turnstiles experience fewer of the logistical problems that arise when non-ticketed or unauthorized entrants (who may, intentionally or not, slip by hand-held scanners) end up in seats or spaces belonging to legitimate patrons.

None of this is to suggest that efficient, patron-friendly modern features – such as the reading of bar-coded tickets or passes – clash with the use of traditional turnstiles.  To the contrary, many major sports and entertainment facilities feature the best of both worlds – efficient turnstiles which read barcodes and still provide both patrons and facility personnel with the benefits noted above.

Similarly, many sites (such as major sports or concert venues) feature personnel with hand-held barcode readers who are located at turnstiles. The patron is actually going through two “check points” almost simultaneously.  Thus the veracity of tickets is assured (as invalid counterfeits will be identified by the scanner), and the usual psychological and security advantages of the turnstiles are intact.  And venue management will quickly be alerted to a problem if the barcode reader count and the turnstile count do not match.

Turnstile Arms Earn Money for You

Many facilities have discovered a way to make their purchase of turnstiles pay for itself.  By selling the placement of company logos or advertising messages on the arms of your turnstiles, you can recoup your investment in turnstiles quickly and easily.  It’s an easy sell, as advertisers like the fact that every patron not only sees, but touches, these turnstile arm covers.

Facilities and teams throughout North America are seeing that their traditional turnstiles can become a whole new revenue stream.  For more details on how you can benefit from turnstile advertising with custom made Turnstile AdSleeve Armcovers, visit Entry Media at www.entrymedia.com.