Chalk it up to filler on a slow news day, if you like, but I find this AP piece about terrorism at sporting events more than a little unnerving.The story points out that while professional sports have stepped up their security measures, NCAA events have security barely superior to than a junior league soccer game at the park. Numbers aren't necessarily the problem, however.
Because most college and universities outsource its security and ushering duties, the types of personnel available in the event of an emergency aren't always top drawer. Picture the saggy-cheeked grandpa or the pimply-faced teenager. Are those the guys you want watching your back while you watch the game?
I've often thought when I walked into a stadium (college or professional) that this could be a prime target for terrorist action. At least 30,000 -- sometimes up to 100,000 -- people in one confined space. How hard would it be for one individual with weapons or explosives to make it past security and carry out a suicide mission? How vulnerable would fans be with no easy exits and no plans for evacuation?
Because most college and universities outsource its security and ushering duties, the types of personnel available in the event of an emergency aren't always top drawer. Picture the saggy-cheeked grandpa or the pimply-faced teenager. Are those the guys you want watching your back while you watch the game?
I've often thought when I walked into a stadium (college or professional) that this could be a prime target for terrorist action. At least 30,000 -- sometimes up to 100,000 -- people in one confined space. How hard would it be for one individual with weapons or explosives to make it past security and carry out a suicide mission? How vulnerable would fans be with no easy exits and no plans for evacuation?
It's sad we've come to need this, but Southern Miss has developed a center for Spectator Sports Security Management, which is charged with the task of training security professionals across the country for just this type of scenario.
I just hope it isn't too late.
Security experts worry about safety at college stadiums (AP, via Yahoo! sports)
Security experts worry about safety at college stadiums (AP, via Yahoo! sports)
5 comments:
Thanks man, I'm headin to the Holiday Bowl tomorrow. I just hope "the enemy" doesn't like sports blogs.
I work security at Maryland football games sometimes (I go to George Washington), and the company that UM contracts it out to gives us no training whatsoever, they just hand us some uniforms, tell us to watch out for people smuggling booze in, and send us out there.
@Mark, sorry, hope I didn't put a hex on you. For what it's worth, I think you'll be safe.
@Anonymous - thanks for sharing. That's scary.
I attended several Wake Forest football games this year and their wecurity is conducted by city employees, mostly with the DOT. They have several checkpoints... one for tickets, one where beverages are to be discarded, several long tables where purses (no man-bags allowed) are checked, and finally before entering. I believe they do a good job. I have also been to the same stadium where it has been contracted to "Show Pros" with light police presence. This "professional" team seems less equipped than the city employees. Hopefully Wake's affiliation with the Car Care Bowl will keep it safe and sound.
Oh sure let's make it's just like the airport security mess. Fantastic. Everyone line up and take off your shoes and belts and watches and cellphones and spare change before you go watch your game! That'll slow down an already slow process, take a little more joy out of the experience.
Nice post buddy, that's all we need is more paranoid fear mongering. And is this bomb threat really such a threat? No individual can carry a bomb large enough to impact an entire stadium, it would have to be on board a large truck or SUV that was in or very very close to the stadium's central support structure, so your paranoia is misplaced.
And no points for originality either. This "attack a football stadium" idea has been around forever btw, it's a key plot point from Tom Clancy's Clear and Present Danger novel of 10 or 12 years ago, WHICH IS FICTION, so just give it a rest already...
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