|
|
 |
With National Collegiate Athletic Association basketball tournaments promising capacity crowds this month, stadium security is paramount post 9-11 with war looming. Springfield College (Mass.) students of sport management and recreation recently volunteered to develop a game-day safety checklist.
Students researched stadium security and terrorist tactics and obtained input from: major league football, basketball, hockey and baseball; major college athletic programs; and crowd management experts. Key precautions:
- Concrete barriers forming 100-foot security perimeter.
- Pre-event lockdown.
- No-fly zones over and around venue.
- Surveillance cameras.
- Crowd observers (one for every 250 spectators, plus in all parking lots).
- Undercover surveillance teams with radio communications.
- Anti-terrorism squad.
- Mobile van with detection equipment for biological, chemical and radioactive substances.
- Ventilation systems that can block anthrax and other hazardous substances.
- Drug stockpile to counter chemical and biological agents.
- Portable decontamination chamber for chemical, biological and radioactive substances.
- Evacuation plans.
Some other precautions on the 38-point checklist:
- Central station coordinating security.
- Bomb-sniffing dogs.
- Helicopter patrolled airspace during event.
- No deliveries starting 90 minutes before game-time.
- Security personnel on-duty for prior 24 hours.
- Air quality test prior to lockdown.
- Media personnel previously security checked and issued holographic identification cards.
- Critical areas (fields, kitchens, loading docks, communications center, etc.) restricted for unauthorized personnel.
- Employees background-checked and issued photo identification and zone passes.
- Clear plastic refuse bags for convenient inspection.
- Coordination with local and state police.
- Security personnel escorting private cleaning crews.
- Regionally accessible supplies of antidotes.
- Weapons frisk or wand-screen of spectators.
- Mobile emergency medical vehicle.
- Backpacks and large carry-ins banned.
- No venue reentry for spectators.
- Detection strips for nerve agents, cyanide and other chemicals.
- Periodic broadcast of security practices and restricted items.
- Electronically scanned tickets for attendance records of season ticket holders.
Prof. Matthew Pantera said that students created the checklist to gain experience with their sport management lessons in a way to benefit large numbers of people. “It’s real-world application of Springfield College’s century-old philosophy -- educating balanced human beings as tomorrow’s leaders serving humanity.” Next, students will survey NCAA Division I football and basketball programs with the checklist, and will release composite findings this May.
Released: 03/11/2003
|
|
|
