crawfish
12-26-2007, 01:16 PM
I haven't really thought about it in a while, but saw this article and wondered what your thoughts are on the subject....if any? I usually feel pretty safe at Tiger Stadium; I'm always impressed with the amount of security that's scattered throughout the stadium each game. I didn't make any away games this year, but what's the security like at your team's stadium and do you feel pretty safe?
http://assets.espn.go.com/photo/2006/0817/travel_g_lsutigerstad_740.jpg
Stadium security worries experts (http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/more/12/25/bc.stadiumsecurity.ap/index.html)
Here the beginning of the article from S.I.
HATTIESBURG, Miss. (AP) -- After more than a decade in counterterrorism, Jim McGee can no longer relax and enjoy watching a sports event. The fans look like potential victims of terrorism to the former FBI agent turned college instructor. The players are possible targets and the security gaps are easy to detect. "It's always in the back of my mind, even when I'm watching them on TV," McGee said. "You're kind of looking at things. The thing is if I can sit there or any spectator can sit there, and think, 'Hmmm, that doesn't look right,' that's probably a little bit of a risk there." It was long McGee's job to worry about security at stadiums and arenas. Now, as part of the University of Southern Mississippi's Center for Spectator Sports Security Management, it's his job to teach others the concerns that face event managers in the post-9/11 era.
While professional leagues and NASCAR appear to be taking security seriously, officials worry enough isn't being done at college sports events. Those contacted about the issue believe it's only a matter of time before another domestic or international terrorist attack targets a sports event. This time of year is especially worrisome because of all the high-profile games during bowl season. Bill Flynn, head of Homeland Security's protective security coordination division, said stadiums and arenas are "a concern, something that we want to pay attention to. Why? Because we've seen attacks overseas in resorts, hotels and arenas, so obviously while al-Qaida and the terrorists have attempted to hit hard targets like refineries, soft targets and commercial facilities become more of a target of opportunity."
U.S. Rep. Bennie Thompson, D-Miss., chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee, said basic procedures followed by professional sports security managers aren't followed by all colleges, leaving vulnerable those who cut corners because of cost or other reasons. "What we found is that there's a need for athletic administrators, campus police, emergency medical service, for all those people to have training," Thompson said. Read more (http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/more/12/25/bc.stadiumsecurity.ap/index.html)
http://assets.espn.go.com/photo/2006/0817/travel_g_lsutigerstad_740.jpg
Stadium security worries experts (http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/more/12/25/bc.stadiumsecurity.ap/index.html)
Here the beginning of the article from S.I.
HATTIESBURG, Miss. (AP) -- After more than a decade in counterterrorism, Jim McGee can no longer relax and enjoy watching a sports event. The fans look like potential victims of terrorism to the former FBI agent turned college instructor. The players are possible targets and the security gaps are easy to detect. "It's always in the back of my mind, even when I'm watching them on TV," McGee said. "You're kind of looking at things. The thing is if I can sit there or any spectator can sit there, and think, 'Hmmm, that doesn't look right,' that's probably a little bit of a risk there." It was long McGee's job to worry about security at stadiums and arenas. Now, as part of the University of Southern Mississippi's Center for Spectator Sports Security Management, it's his job to teach others the concerns that face event managers in the post-9/11 era.
While professional leagues and NASCAR appear to be taking security seriously, officials worry enough isn't being done at college sports events. Those contacted about the issue believe it's only a matter of time before another domestic or international terrorist attack targets a sports event. This time of year is especially worrisome because of all the high-profile games during bowl season. Bill Flynn, head of Homeland Security's protective security coordination division, said stadiums and arenas are "a concern, something that we want to pay attention to. Why? Because we've seen attacks overseas in resorts, hotels and arenas, so obviously while al-Qaida and the terrorists have attempted to hit hard targets like refineries, soft targets and commercial facilities become more of a target of opportunity."
U.S. Rep. Bennie Thompson, D-Miss., chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee, said basic procedures followed by professional sports security managers aren't followed by all colleges, leaving vulnerable those who cut corners because of cost or other reasons. "What we found is that there's a need for athletic administrators, campus police, emergency medical service, for all those people to have training," Thompson said. Read more (http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/more/12/25/bc.stadiumsecurity.ap/index.html)