Los Angeles Rams
Background
Founded in 1936, the Los Angeles Rams are steeped in history as one of the original teams that helped transform the NFL into a coast-to-coast sports league. After relocating from Cleveland to Los Angeles in 1946, the Rams quickly became a cornerstone of L.A.'s sports culture with notable Super Bowl appearances, including their 1980 debut. Today, as one of 32 NFL teams, the Rams continue their legacy of grit and glory from their state-of-the-art practice headquarters in Woodland Hills, California.
Located near the Warner Center campus, this nearly 100-acre facility includes two full-size natural grass fields and modular spaces for team offices, meeting rooms, and training facilities. Designed as a premier practice space, it also lays the foundation for a future sports and entertainment district that will serve as the Rams’ true home base in the city.
The Challenge
As the Rams transitioned from a quieter hillside location to the heart of L.A., security demands grew exponentially. Jeff Graves, Director of Information Technology, oversees the team’s tech needs, from cybersecurity to gameday operations. “Moving to our new practice facility amplified the need for a more comprehensive and scalable security infrastructure,” explains Jeff. He describes Verkada’s platform as the ideal fit: “We were previously using four or five vendors to handle security, access control, and guest check-ins, which added unnecessary complexity and cost. Verkada unified our security management, making it simpler and more effective.”
Verkada’s security solutions, implemented with the support of long-time partner Pacific Low Voltage (PLV), have helped the Rams navigate their new urban setting by providing features like remote door unlocking, guest badging, and cloud-backed video monitoring across the facility.
The Solution
With the expertise of PLV, the Rams deployed a suite of Verkada products throughout their practice headquarters, including cameras, access control systems, alarms, intercoms, and guest management solutions. These technologies provide in-depth coverage across critical areas, from training rooms to meeting spaces. Jeff highlights the ease of adopting Verkada’s platform, noting, “Implementation was straightforward, and the platform’s user-friendly interface made training a breeze.”
Features like AI-powered search for people and vehicles have proven invaluable. “It’s been helpful to quickly locate specific events, individuals, or cars without sifting through hours of footage,” Jeff shares. The Pass app has modernized access management by allowing personnel to unlock doors with their mobile devices, enhancing both convenience and security. “People don’t forget their phones like they used to with badges,” Jeff explains. “Access is always at hand.”
The Result
Verkada’s integrated platform had a significant impact on Rams’ operations. Highlights include:
Increased Security: The Rams achieved full-scale protection across perimeters, parking lots, storage areas, and other sensitive zones. With Viewing Stations streaming up to 300 camera feeds on a single display, the 24/7 security team can prioritize active areas and respond swiftly to incidents. On construction jobsites, plug-and-play cameras pair with horn speakers to deter theft and issue real-time audio warnings to potential intruders.
Remote Management: Remote unlock capabilities allow Jeff to manage access requests directly from his phone. “If a coach needs access at 4 a.m., I can unlock the door for them remotely. I no longer need to pull over, grab my PC, connect to a hotspot, and wait to load a website. Now, I can do it all from my phone in seconds,” Jeff recounts. The ability to monitor live camera feeds, share footage, review recent alarm activity, and receive actionable alerts on his mobile device keeps him looped into site security—whether on-site or off-duty.
Streamlined Entry: License Plate Recognition (LPR) cameras integrate with access control to automatically identify and admit registered vehicles by reading pre-approved plate numbers. Visitors are welcomed through Verkada Guest, streamlining check-in and maintaining a digital logbook. Video intercoms at gates and entrances provide an added layer of verification, alongside access-controlled doors set with custom schedules.
Reliable Long-Term Storage: Hybrid cloud cameras with built-in storage and unlimited cloud archiving empower the Rams to meet the most competitive retention needs. Per NFL requirements, footage in server rooms is stored on-camera for 60 days to maintain operational security. 365-day cameras installed along the perimeter retain footage on-device for up to a year, supporting compliance with player union guidelines.
Efficient Monitoring: Verkada’s hybrid cloud storage and schedulable cloud backup options reduce network load, allowing Jeff’s team to focus on security management without worrying about bandwidth limitations. Cameras operate at a steady-state uplink of just 20-50 kbps, easing bandwidth demands while supporting seamless monitoring across the Rams’ facilities.
Partnering with Pacific Low Voltage
Jeff views his long-standing partnership with PLV as a cornerstone of the Rams’ security success. “PLV has been a trusted partner since I started here in 2016, from advising on deployment to ensuring smooth installation,” Jeff notes. Their continued support has been instrumental as the Rams settle into their new headquarters.
Looking Ahead
As the Rams lay down roots in their new home base, Jeff envisions future technology improvements, including a potential security upgrade across their business offices. “Verkada has been a real game-changer for us. I would recommend it to any organization looking for an all-in-one, scalable security system.” With Verkada’s ongoing updates and feature releases, the Rams look forward to enhancing security and optimizing operations, all while continuing to build their legacy in Los Angeles.
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