A sell-out crowd of 45,000 spectators watching the fifth and final Ashes Test in Sydney is, in turn, being closely observed by a team of security professionals.
For the first time, the security team at the SCG is utilising 820 new cameras equipped with facial recognition technology to scrutinise the crowd for safety threats.
The cameras, which feed into an upgraded operations centre inside the ground, allow security personnel to monitor patrons as they approach the ground and while they're inside the venue, an SCG Trust spokesman said on Thursday.
The $3.5 million upgrade to security includes a new video analytics system which can detect and zoom in on unattended bags, suspicious vehicles and strange behaviour.
A trial in 2017 allowed police and security to intercept six banned spectators as they tried to enter the SCG.
"We have followed the lead of other major venues around the world in investing significantly in upgrading our security technology, providing airport-style levels of safety for sports fans," trust chief executive Jamie Barkley said in a statement.
SCG security manager Luke Schibeci says the ground will work alongside police and other law enforcement agencies to maximise the system's potential and keep patrons safe.
The new operations room is connected to a police command room at the ground and linked to the Transport Management Centre and the NSW Police operations centre.
"In particular, we want to understand how the technology can better protect our venues, workers and patrons from the threat of terrorism," Mr Schibeci said in a statement.
