AI Security Takes Center Stage at Seattle's Climate Pledge Arena

By Alexander Harris

SEATTLE, WA – September 28, 2026 – The modern sports arena is no longer just a concrete bowl for spectators; it is a highly calibrated machine designed to maximize both safety and revenue. At the heart of this evolution is the delicate balance between securing a perimeter and moving thousands of fans through the gates before the first puck drops. Today, Evolv Technologies Holdings, Inc. announced a pivotal victory in this high-stakes operational theater, securing the contract to deploy its Evolv Express® AI-powered screening systems at Seattle’s Climate Pledge Arena.

The agreement marks a significant commercial milestone for the Waltham, Massachusetts-based security tech firm. Climate Pledge Arena, owned by One Roof Sports & Entertainment and operated by Oak View Group (OVG), is a crown jewel of the Pacific Northwest. Home to the NHL’s Seattle Kraken, the WNBA’s Seattle Storm, and the PWHL’s recently launched Seattle Torrent, the venue is globally recognized as the world's first Zero Carbon Certified arena. Now, it is overhauling its ingress operations, phasing out its incumbent security infrastructure in favor of Evolv's frictionless screening technology.

The Frictionless Fan Experience and the Economics of Entry

For decades, the standard for venue security has been the traditional walk-through metal detector (WTMD). While effective at identifying metallic threats, these systems are notoriously slow, processing roughly 300 to 500 patrons per hour. This creates massive exterior bottlenecks—a vulnerability that homeland security experts emphasize can turn un-screened ticket plazas into attractive soft targets.

Evolv Express flips this paradigm by utilizing an array of extremely low-frequency electromagnetic (ELF-EM) sensors fused with optical cameras and computer vision. The system is designed to identify the specific magnetic signatures of firearms and large weapons while ignoring everyday items like cell phones, keys, and belts. This free-flow architecture can process up to 3,600 people per lane per hour, effectively eliminating the "empty pocket" friction that has long plagued live events.

"At Climate Pledge Arena, we're constantly looking for ways to enhance both security and the overall guest experience," said Jim Dermody, Director of Security at Climate Pledge Arena. "After evaluating a number of screening solutions available, we selected Evolv Express because it aligns with our operational goals and our commitment to providing an efficient and welcoming arrival experience for fans, artists, athletes, and staff. Evolv's approach closely matches our mission of delivering a safer and world-class experience for every guest."

Beyond security, the business case for frictionless entry is compelling. Stadium operators and sports economics researchers note that every minute a patron spends queued at a security gate is a minute they are not spending at the concession stand. Industry data indicates that accelerating ingress can increase early-arrival concession spending by an estimated $5.00 to $6.00 per attendee. By moving fans rapidly into the arena's interior concourses, venues can simultaneously harden their security posture and boost their bottom line.

The technology is not without its real-world nuances. While fans overwhelmingly praise the removal of divestment trays, the extreme sensitivity required to detect threats can lead to nuisance alarms. Heavy, dense metallic objects—such as large stainless steel water bottles, oversized umbrellas, and certain laptops—frequently trigger secondary inspections. Venues have had to adapt by ramping up pre-event communications, educating fans on clear-bag policies and item restrictions to maintain the system's high throughput rates.

A Strategic Displacement in the Pacific Northwest

From a corporate strategy perspective, Evolv’s victory at Climate Pledge Arena is a calculated competitive displacement. When the arena opened in late 2021, Oak View Group initially partnered with Xtract One Technologies to deploy its SmartGateway systems. In late 2022, OVG even formalized an enterprise-wide alliance with Xtract One across its broader portfolio. Evolv’s ability to unseat a deeply entrenched rival at OVG’s flagship Pacific Northwest property signals an aggressive shift in the competitive landscape of venue security.

This contract also cements a dominant regional hub for Evolv. Within a tight five-mile radius in downtown Seattle, Evolv now controls the security perimeters for the region's most prominent sports properties. The company's technology was deployed ballpark-wide at T-Mobile Park for the Seattle Mariners ahead of the 2025 MLB season, where average ingress screening times dropped from 15-minute peaks down to mere seconds. Furthermore, in April 2026, the University of Washington Athletics department contracted Evolv to secure Husky Stadium and Alaska Airlines Arena, a decision heavily influenced by the system's proven success at neighboring professional venues.

Navigating Growth Amid Regulatory Scrutiny

While Evolv’s commercial footprint continues to expand—surpassing 4.5 billion people screened globally since 2019—the company's trajectory has required navigating intense scrutiny. As a publicly traded entity operating a Software-as-a-Service and Hardware-as-a-Service model, Evolv secures multi-year subscriptions that typically range from $2,500 to $3,500 per lane, per month. For a facility the size of Climate Pledge Arena, industry benchmarks suggest the contract is valued between $1.3 million and $2.5 million over a standard four-year term.

However, the rapid adoption of AI screening technology has drawn the attention of regulators and security researchers. The Federal Trade Commission previously scrutinized early marketing materials that touted "weapons-free zones" and absolute detection rates, leading Evolv to recalibrate its public communications to reflect realistic operational thresholds.

More recently, in late 2024, the company weathered an internal board-led investigation into past sales practices. The probe revealed that between mid-2022 and mid-2024, extra-contractual terms with certain channel partners led to the premature recognition of $4 million to $6 million in revenue. The subsequent accounting fallout triggered a comprehensive leadership overhaul, bringing in Chief Executive Officer John Kedzierski and Chief Financial Officer Chris Kutsor to stabilize operations, execute restatements, and rebuild market confidence.

Despite these hurdles, Evolv retains a critical structural advantage in enterprise procurements: its technology holds a SAFETY Act Designation as a Qualified Anti-Terrorism Technology (QATT) from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. This designation provides statutory liability caps for both Evolv and its venue clients in the event of an act of terrorism—a powerful risk-mitigation shield that many lower-cost, overseas competitors cannot offer.

The Future of Venue Security

As professional sports leagues systematically revise their security guidelines, the transition from analog metal detectors to AI-driven, free-flow portals is accelerating. The market is fiercely competitive, with Evolv facing pressure from CapEx-focused hardware providers like CEIA USA and software-hybrid rivals like Xtract One. Yet, by locking down multi-tenant behemoths like Climate Pledge Arena, Evolv is proving the resilience of its subscription-based, analytics-heavy model.

"As we continue expanding across professional hockey, Evolv is expected to be deployed at a significant number of NHL teams' venues during the upcoming season, reflecting the growing adoption of modern security screening technology," said John Baier, Vice President of Sports & Entertainment at Evolv Technology. "Climate Pledge Arena’s focus on innovation, operational excellence, and guest experience mirrors the values that drive our work, and we're excited to help them welcome millions of visitors each year, while setting new standards for innovation and leadership across the industry."

The deployment in Seattle is more than just a localized infrastructure upgrade; it is a bellwether for the live entertainment industry. As venues seek to balance the dual mandates of frictionless hospitality and rigorous threat detection, the integration of artificial intelligence at the turnstile is no longer an experimental luxury, but an operational necessity.