More than 120 safety and security officials from professional sports teams and entertainment venues from North America gathered in South Bend, IN, on the campus of the University of Notre Dame, for the 2024 National Professional Sports and Entertainment Safety and Security Forum.
Event attendees ranged from safety and security managers, operation managers, event managers and facility operators, local and state law enforcement, emergency managers, fire, HAZMAT, emergency medical services, guest services, and government officials. The event was hosted by the National Center for Spectator Sports Safety and Security (NCS4) at The University of Southern Mississippi (USM).
“Key leaders and decision-makers for safety and security operations across the country attended the event, and we got to hear firsthand industry challenges, innovative solutions, and best practices pertinent to the professional sports and entertainment community,” said Dr. Stacey Hall, NCS4 Executive Director and Professor of Sport Management.
The Forum enabled industry leaders to gather and discuss current issues facing the professional sports and entertainment safety landscape, including exploring solutions that will help venue managers enhance safety and security plans and operations.
Key discussion topics included:
- Access and Functional Needs
- Fire and Emergency Medical Planning
- Staff Training and Development
- Fan Behavior
- Emergency Communications
- Perimeter Security
Angie Nix, Vice President of Guest Services at MetLife Stadium, moderated a discussion on fan behavior at the forum. She noted, “The breakouts are always my favorite part of the forum because of the opportunity for peer-to-peer sharing of information.”
A highlight of the event was hearing from experienced leaders on expert panels, and the ability to focus on safety and security issues in roundtable settings enables the NCS4 to improve its industry Best Practices.
“Events like this are essential to stay current with best practices throughout professional sports,” said Bill Squires, Founder/President of The Right Stuff Consulting, LLC., and former editor of the NCS4 Best Practices. “ Although I come from a stadium background, I am always interested in learning what venue managers of other venues do to keep their facilities safe. These events validate the policies and procedures developed by the leadership at MetLife Stadium.”
In addition to general programming sessions, attendees participated in discussions to review the NCS4 Best Practices for professional sports and entertainment facilities.
NCS4 expressed special thanks to Solution Partners whose participation helped make this event possible, including Presenting Partners – BEST Crowd Management and Xtract ONE.
The NCS4 will host the 15th Annual National Sports Safety and Security Conference & Exhibition on July 9-11, 2024, at the JW Marriot Phoenix Desert Ridge Resort & Spa in Phoenix, AZ. Limited space is available. View the full agenda and register for the event at https://cvent.me/kx7aoQ?RefId=Summary.
About NCS4 Established in 2006, the National Center for Spectator Sports Safety and Security (NCS⁴) is the nation's only academic center devoted to the study and practice of sports safety and security. The NCS4 is partially underwritten by grants from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). The NCS4 mission focuses on three key pillars – Training and Education, Research, and Outreach. For more information about NCS4, call 601.266.6183 or visit ncs4.usm.edu.
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