Tag: Entertainment

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:

1. Access and Functional Needs
2. Fire and Emergency Medical Planning
3. Staff Training and Development
4. Fan Behavior
5. Emergency Communications
6. 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.

The National Center for Spectator Sports Safety and Security (NCS⁴) at The University of Southern Mississippi (USM) will host the 2024 National Professional Sports and Entertainment Safety and Security Forum on Feb. 20-21 at the University of Notre Dame.

Join your peers to address the key safety and security challenges facing the professional sports and entertainment industry and to share best practices for continuous improvement.

The threat environment surrounding high-profile sport and entertainment events is continually evolving. Discussing current issues and exploring solutions in a forum environment will help safety and security managers, operations managers, and local and state law enforcement enhance safety and security plans and operations.

“The National Professional Sports and Entertainment Safety and Security Forum provides ongoing education, networking, and access to industry-leading technologies,” said Billy Langenstein, Senior Director of Security Services for the National Football League (NFL). “Attending the forum presents opportunities for timely and relevant topics to what industry professionals are concerned about, and the technology vendors match those needs. Top-notch speakers, high-quality education, training collaboration, and ample networking time with peers make this forum a must-attend event."

Forum participants will hear from experienced professionals and experts on sports betting, drone operations, illicit drug usage at events, lessons learned from recent events, the human factor in security, and the impact of social media influencers. In addition to general programming sessions, attendees will participate in moderated discussions to review the NCS⁴ Best Practices for professional sports and entertainment venues.

Moderated discussion topics include:

1. Access and Functional Needs
2. Fire and Emergency Medical Planning
3. Staff Training and Development
4. Fan Behavior
5. Emergency Communications
6. Perimeter Security

“We are excited to bring this group together again in person for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic began. Emerging threats, business challenges, and industry standards will be discussed to ensure continuous improvement,” said Dr. Stacey A. Hall, NCS⁴ Executive Director and Professor of Sport Management.

“World events dictate the need to constantly research and improve physical and technology-based security strategies. The NCS⁴ keeps industry professionals proactively ahead of the game through collaboration, information sharing, product reviews, and informative gatherings, such as Forums,” said Darren F. Johnson, Director of Stadium Safety & Security for the Detroit Lions/Ford Field. “Attendees stand to gain vital information, introductions to cutting-edge safety and security technology, beneficial relationships, industry threat trends, and a wealth of knowledge from their peers. Do yourself a favor and get onboard; the NCS⁴ train is steamrolling the safety and security industry.”

The target audience for the event includes 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. Private sector companies may only attend the forum as Solution Partners.

Thank you to our Solution Partners whose participation helps make this event possible, including Presenting Partners - BEST Crowd Management and Xtract One, and Signature Partners - 3AM Innovations Inc., Allied Universal® Event Services, Hanwha Vision, HiveWatch, Meridian Rapid Defense Group, and RAVE Mobile Safety, a Motorola Solutions Company.

Pricing for attendees is $425. Limited space is available. View the full agenda and register for the event. Hurry, the room block ends on January 18.