NCS⁴ Gameday Security Magazine – Summer 2023

NCS4 is the nation’s only academic center devoted to the study and practice of spectator sports safety and security.

8

MISSION��

We support the sports and entertainment industries through innovative research, training, and outreach programs. Our mission is realized by working closely with a diverse group of organizations and subject matter experts to better understand the threat environment, identify vulnerabilities, communicate risk-mitigation techniques, and close capability gaps.

VISION��

We will be a leading partner with government, private sector, and sports and entertainment organizations to create and deliver critical resources for enhancing safety and security.

The NCS4 collaborates with professional associations, government agencies, academic entities, and the private sector to develop critical resources and networking opportunities, such as the annual conference and forums, as well as best practices, guidelines, and technology solution whitepapers. The NCS4 also provides industry engagement opportunities through an international technology alliance, product review and operational exercise program, and exhibitor and sponsorship options at events.

9 STADIUM SECURITY 2.0

Deploying new design strategies and technologies can help keep venues even safer and more secure.

15 DEFENDING YOUR STRUCTURE

Why vehicle-ramming incidents should be an increasingly critical part of your emergency action planning

21 GAME FACES

Facial authentication technology is speeding up the fan entry process, but don’t confuse it with facial recognition technology.

A NOTE FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Dr. Stacey A. Hall

GREETINGS, FELLOW SAFETY AND SECURITY PROFESSIONALS!

We are excited to present our summer edition of the Gameday Security magazine. This issue covers topics at the forefront of our industry, including vehicle ramming mitigation, stadium security design, and the utilization of facial technology solutions in sports venues.

The evolving threat landscape concerns venue and event managers as they consider physical and cyber mitigation strategies. Facility security design and technology solutions continue to adapt to meet security needs and enhance the fan experience. Facial recognition technology, in particular, aids the identification of bad actors, while facial authentication/validation offers a frictionless entry process for fans. In preparing for potential vehicle attacks, whether intentional or accidental, management must consider the protection of crowds and the well-being of participants. I hope you enjoy the articles included in this edition.

The NCS4 mission is to support the sports and entertainment industries through training and education, research, and outreach programs. The NCS4 continues to have a tremendous impact, and I would like to take this opportunity to share our progress on some items since the fall:

l The NCS4 successfully hosted industry forums for the marathon and intercollegiate communities, with both events experiencing the highest attendance in forum history. Planning is underway for the Interscholastic Forum (January 2024) and the Professional Sports and Entertainment Forum (February 2024). Make plans to attend!

l Two DHS/FEMA training courses are being recertified – Enhanced Risk Management and Assessment and Public Information and Emergency Notification.

l A DHS/FEMA training needs assessment was completed in spring 2023 to determine new course development options.

l NCS4 Learn continues to be a success with three eLearning options: Venue Staff Training, Crowd Manager Fundamentals, and a Senior Leader Course for Sports and Entertainment Security.

l The NCS4 worked on a specialized eLearning course for Major League Soccer (MLS).

l Over 100 certifications have been issued for the Certified Sport Security Professional (CSSP) program.

l An educational webinar and a research seminar on severe weather are now available.

l The 2023 Spectator Sport Safety and Security Survey Industry Research Report is in press.

l The NCS4 staff and research affiliates presented at local, national, and international conferences, workshops, and academic classes. In addition, they have contributed to peer-reviewed journal articles, professional publications, and podcasts.

l NCS4 executive director, Dr. Stacey Hall, published a facility and security risk assessment book for practitioners and academics.

l The NCS4 is collaborating with DHS/CISA on a Vehicle Attack Prevention Mitigation Guide.

l The NCS4 is leading a national task force on lightning safety for outdoor venues and events.

l The 2023 Technology Alliance members include Axis Communications, Esri, Microsoft, NVIDIA, S2 Global, and Xtract One Technologies.

l The 2023 Annual Conference and Exhibition has the most exhibitors in conference history. Additionally, a new young professional scholarship program was launched, with six recipients receiving awards supporting their attendance at the conference event.

The NCS4 team is grateful for our continued partnerships with government agencies, professional associations, and the private sector. We are also thankful for our extensive membership base. Furthermore, the National Advisory Board and Advisory Committees are a valuable asset to the Center, helping shape our strategic priorities to meet the challenges and needs of our industry.

At the time of this magazine print, we will be hosting our 14th Annual Conference at the JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort & Spa. The conference theme is Level-Up, encouraging our stakeholders to strive for continuous improvement as we work together to positively impact the safety and security industry.

I hope you all have a fun and safe summer! l

Best wishes,

Stacey A. Hall, Ph.D. NCS4 Executive Director and Professor of Sport Management

Professional Development at Your Fingertips

NCS4 STAFF

EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP TEAM

Dr. Stacey A. Hall

Executive Director and Professor of Sport Management

Lauren Cranford Director of Operations

Daniel Ward Director of Training and Exercise

MANAGEMENT TEAM

Brooke Graves

Senior Training Manager

Traci Johnson

Instructional Design Specialist

Sara Priebe Event and Membership Manager

Jonathan Ruffin Training Manager

Tymika Rushing Business Affairs Manager

Jonathan Stanford Training Manager

STUDENT ASSOCIATES

Enzo F. Ferreira

Graduate Assistant

Aayush Gautam Web Developer

Liana Guillemaud Graduate Assistant

Natalie Williams Graduate Assistant

The NCS4‘s eLearning platform, NCS4 LEARN, provides opportunities for individuals and organizations to access asynchronous professional development opportunities. Current offerings include the following:

• Venue Staff Training

• Crowd Manager Fundamentals

• Senior Leader Course: Sports and Entertainment Security

Please visit the website or contact us at NCS4Learn@usm.edu if you have any questions or would like to inquire about bulk registration.

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Jorge Costa

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Kevin Clark

Director, Security, D.C. United

Blake Paris

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Manager, Security Operations, San Diego Padres

Travis Winters

Associate Director of Safety and Security, ExtraMile Arena

EMERGING INDUSTRY LEADER

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Dr. Michele “Shelly” Weinstein

Medical Operations Coordinator, Marine Corps Marathon Organization

Kyle Poore

Security Coordinator, Lincoln Public Schools

Brooks Imhoff, CSSP

Director of Event Services, The Schottenstein Center, The Ohio State University

Justin Pagan

Manager, Event Security and Team Travel, Chicago Cubs

Nicholas Vajen

Director of Safety and Security, Sporting Kansas City

Shaun West

Head of Team and Arena Security, National Basketball Association

Adrianne Wynne

Director of Security, Golden State Warriors

Anthony Kosednar

Cybersecurity Consultant, State Farm Stadium

Colleen Iskenian

Facility Security Manager, Philadelphia Eagles

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Laura Dyer

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Director of Facility Security, Philadelphia Eagles

Mark Herrera

Director of Safety and Security, The International Association of Venue Managers

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STADIUM SECURITY 2.0

Deploying

By Michael Popke

A “PERFECT STORM” IS BREWING, and Russ Simons can

“I’ve been in the security business now for nearly 40 years, and I’ve seen lots of changes,” says the managing partner and “chief listening officer” of Venue Solutions Group, a facility management consulting firm. “But it seems that, particularly over the last five years, the rate of change in the industry has sped up exponentially. We actually have a perfect storm of things happening.”

Specifically, since the COVID-19 pandemic, many fans now act more selfish and disrespectful, resulting in more fights in the stands and increased mistreatment of venue employees, Simons says. At the same time, facilities are struggling with security staffing shortages and loss of institutional experience.

“We have lower staff numbers, those people are less experienced, they have fewer tools and they’re facing more intense circumstances,” Simons says. “We’ve got to solve for that.”

Increased training and bolstered communication are critical parts of that equation, he acknowledges, but so is leveraging new design strategies and advanced technology.

To that end, Simons will lead a panel titled “Trends in Facility Security Design” at the 2023 National Sports Safety and Security Conference & Exhibition in June in San Antonio. Topics covered will include design security, perimeter security and technology security. Gameday Security caught up with the industry experts who will sit on that panel for a rundown of safety and security improvements venue operators can make — whether building a new stadium or renovating an existing one.

DESIGN SECURITY: INSIDE AND OUT

To provide some context regarding how stadium safety and security concerns have escalated over the past quarter-century, Brady Spencer — a senior principal at venue design firm Populous — offers this stark comparison: “Back then, I think we were more focused on security around the stadium.

new design strategies and technologies can help keep venues even safer and more secure.

feel it.

Things like bullet-resistant glazing for ticket windows and anti-graffiti and anti-vandalism materials outside. Now that focus has really moved to the outer perimeter of stadiums.”

Lines of jersey barriers and chain-link fencing won’t be enough these days, he adds, noting that anti-scale and anti-pass fencing are becoming more common specifications for both new venues and renovation projects. Those types of barriers often feature anti-cut welded heavy steel wire mesh that make it difficult to establish a foothold or slip through a weapon to an individual on the other side.

“Stadiums are places where people gather to experience sports or concerts, and we don’t want them to look like prisons,” Spencer says. “We want them to be inviting, but they also have to be secure. It’s all about balancing those two priorities with something that is visually appealing and integrates with the design of the stadium and its surrounding environment as a whole.”

Even the use of traditional perimeter security solutions such as bollards, wedge barriers and drop arms should be reconsidered — not necessarily for practicality but for their overall effectiveness. Older barriers might not be rated, according to Matt Nebel, director of secure design for the international engineering consulting firm Walter P Moore. Today’s vendors sell products rated by various testing agencies to meet certain standards.

“When a 15,000-pound truck traveling at a certain speed rams into a barrier, how far does that truck propagate past the barrier?” he says. “When we do our assessments, we’re determining, based upon our engineering analysis, what rating for a barrier is needed at certain points of the facility. And then we work with proprietary vendors to procure and install those particular rated barriers around the site. If a barrier is not rated, it may not have the right strength to stop the vehicle.”

In fact, Nebel says he and his team of experts have started referring to “perimeter security design” as “vehicle impact design.” Many ramming vehicle incidents are not the work of bad actors but rather distracted or impaired drivers. (For more on mitigating the use of vehicles as intended or unintended weapons, see related feature article in this issue.)

DESIGN

Tuesday, June 27 12:10-1:10 p.m.

Safety- and security-related design improvements are happening inside stadiums, too. Concourses are wider and more open, and frequently used elements such as entry doors and restroom plumbing now feature stronger, thicker materials to better withstand fan abuse. Similarly, upgrading or reanchoring signage that is easily accessible and tempting for fans to steal or damage can be accomplished with tamper-resistant screws or hidden fasteners. And replacing old-technology lighting with LED lighting not only will be more energy efficient but shine more brightly on concourse areas and other indoor and outdoor spaces — especially those that previously weren’t well-lit.

Electronic ticketing is now reaching new levels of sophistication, too, according to Spencer. Many stadiums now equip suite entrances, certain elevators and other limited-access areas with ticket scanners to allow access only to authorized guests. That practice works for players, too, in the form of facial recognition readers that eliminate the need for members of a home team to carry badges to enter access-controlled spaces such as locker rooms. (For more on facial recognition and authentication technology, see related feature in this issue.)

“I’ve been in the security business now for nearly 40 years, and I’ve seen lots of changes. But it seems that, particularly over the last five years, the rate of change in the industry has sped up exponentially.”

SIMONS

miss a panel discussion on TRENDS IN FACILITY SECURITY

Cibolo 5-7

Additionally, stadiums are subject to security audits in which they receive a grade; depending on the outcome, consultants will be hired to do a facility assessment. “We do a lot of those — looking at both gameday security and non-gameday security, how those needs differ and making sure that both are accommodated,” Spencer says.

Taking a long look at venue elements that might go unnoticed in the chaos of gameday also can result in significant design improvements. For example, maybe young trees that were planted when the stadium opened have now matured to the point in which they now block illumination from some of the outside lighting fixtures. Inside the venue, loading docks typically are among the busiest locations on non-gamedays, so consider upgrading the security command center near the docks — which also then can be converted to an enhanced gameday security command center.

When planning design renovations, consider potential timelines, too. Assessments, design development and the actual improvements all take time, Nebel says.

“There’s a process to doing a perimeter security project,” he explains. “Typically, it starts with the assessment of the existing facility to determine critical locations. That can be a couple of months. Then the development of what we call the construction and permitting documents and engaging with a construction manager to do the actual construction of the perimeter security elements can take several months. If it’s a smaller project, it could be done in an offseason. But if it’s an upgrade to the entire perimeter of a very large venue, that potentially could take several offseasons to do.”

TECHNOLOGY SECURITY: AI AND MORE

As noted above, staffing is one the biggest challenges facing stadium security teams right now, which can have a direct impact on the way venues leverage technology such as video cameras.

“The more cameras you have, the more challenging it is for security personnel to manage them,” says Gene Goetz, senior security consultant for Smith Seckman Reid Inc., an engineering, commissioning and technology services firm. “And so, what’s been helpful over the last few years — and it’s really getting advanced — is built-in video analytics, which essentially puts artificial intelligence into the analysis of what each camera is seeing. That could be movement like fights happening, people being in areas they’re not supposed to be in, somebody leaving a bag behind.”

The AI-enhanced technology features preprogramming for dozens of scenarios and allows for hundreds of cameras to relay critical real-time information via audible and visual alerts to what might only be a small number of camera operators — who then can dispatch personnel to defuse the situation caught on video. Other video products incorporate analytics as part of an entire video

“Stadiums are places where people gather to experience sports or concerts, and we don’t want them to look like prisons.”

BRADY SPENCER

EDITORIAL CREDIT: KATHERINE CAREY | SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

management system, Goetz says, adding that the increased expenses associated with video technology investments could be well worth the price tag.

“When you think about the costbenefit analysis, people cost a lot more than technology, and if you’re having staffing problems, you can leverage technology to help fill some of those gaps.”

Technological advances also are helping alleviate long wait times for fans entering stadiums.

Frictionless weapons detection search technology uses vertical rods equipped with digital sensors and AI to spot concealed weapons and other threats, and its presence at sports venues, schools and medical facilities is increasing, according to Goetz. Ideally, the process eliminates the need for fans to empty their pockets and undergo bag checks, and the sensor rod stations occupy a considerably smaller footprint than traditional security-checkpoint equipment.

“No one has to come into contact with you or your stuff. You just walk through, and an alert will be based on detection of knives, guns or anything else that could be considered a weapon,” Goetz says, noting that some Major League Baseball teams debuted frictionless weapons detection search technology during opening week of the 2023 season. “This is still emerging. It’s an excellent concept and an excellent technology, but it definitely needs a little more time to mature. It still has a high false rate, which could potentially cause a lot of slowdowns. But it’s the wave of the future.”

With new design strategies and advancing technology, the opportunity to make stadiums safer and more secure than ever is within reach for venue operators. “What I love about my job is that the industry continues to evolve, and we keep learning new things,” Spencer says. “We like solving challenges, and every stadium is different.” l

Acting on the SAFETY ACT

The Department of Homeland Security’s SAFETY Act was passed in 2002 in the wake of 9/11 as a way “to provide critical incentives for the development and deployment of anti-terrorism technologies by providing liability protections for Sellers of ‘qualified anti-terrorism technologies,’” according to the act’s website. (The acronym stands for “Support Anti-Terrorism by Fostering Effective Technologies.”)

“It is up to individual venues to design for this,” says Matt Nebel, director of secure design for the international engineering consulting firm Walter P Moore. “And now measures like threat vulnerability assessments, blast-resistant design features, perimeter security and vehicle impact design are creeping into design standards.”

Renewed interest in the act by venue operators began to surge in the mid-2010s — when the number of attacks on soft targets like stadiums and arenas increased, Nebel notes. He cites as one catalyst the 2017 Manchester Arena bombing in England, when an Islamist extremist suicide bomber detonated a homemade bomb at the end of a concert by pop singer Ariana Grande.

“People cost a lot more than technology, and if you’re having staffing problems, you can leverage technology to help fill some of those gaps.”

GENE GOETZ

EDITORIAL CREDIT: KENT E ROBERTS | SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

AIRSPACE AWARENESS AND PROTECTION ARE VITAL COMPONENTS OF PHYSICAL SECURITY

BY TOM ADAMS Chief Executive Officer of AeroVigilance and Co-Architect of C-UAS Hub

AN IMPORTANT COMPONENT of a comprehensive physical security program is agility. The threats to our stadiums and venues are constantly evolving, and we must be prepared to evolve with the threat.

One physical security concern that is gaining a lot of attention lately are DRONES! Nefarious drones can easily overcome our traditional physical security infrastructure that includes gates, guns, and guards. Many people say that drones have “leveled” the playing field, but due to the legal limitations of some Counter-UAS technologies, I would suggest that drones have made the playing field unfair for those of us in the security world.

In the United States, federal criminal laws and regulations currently limit the types of technologies that can be used to protect mass gatherings. Although this is frustrating to security professionals, we should not let this limitation impact our efforts to secure our venues from airborne threats.

We may be limited in the types of technologies that can be used

to protect our venues, but the integration of technology should not be our first step. Many would consider this unusual viewpoint blasphemous, but let me explain.

We must think about airspace awareness and protection as a house. In order to build a house you must have a foundation, walls, and a roof at the most basic level.

In order to build your airspace awareness and protection “house” you must have:

• Policies and Procedures (foundation)

• Training (walls)

• Technology (roof)

I’ve never personally built a house, but I do know that the construction process does not start with the roof. In order for the roof to be effective, other parts of the house must be built first.

POLICIES provide general guidelines that outline your organization’s plan for tackling the airspace awareness and protection security issue.

PROCEDURES explain specific actions for carrying out your airspace awareness and protection policy.

TRAINING can improve the security of your facility and increase the capabilities of your security team. This new threat will require a solid foundation of knowledge and continuing education.

Before you invest in TECHNOLOGY, it is important to understand:

• The available technologies – What are the possibilities? What is legal?

• The strengths and limitations of the different technology categories.

• The user requirements of your security stakeholders.

This new physical security challenge can seem rather daunting, but we believe it can be approached in a thoughtful, logical, and informed manner. It is important to begin tackling this challenge now.

DEFENDING YOUR STRUCTURE

Why vehicle-ramming incidents, be they the result of nefarious intent or oblivious behavior, should be an increasingly critical part of your emergency action planning

By Michael Popke

In April 2022, ISIS released an audio message calling on supporters to “avenge” the death of the militant Islamist group’s deceased leader and spokesman by “carrying out knife and vehicle ramming attacks,” according to a National Terrorism Advisory System bulletin

“Vehicles are always a concern, because they are an easy mode to utilize,” says Susan Schneider, chief of active assailant security for the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), which is part of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. “There can be a large number of victims with a vehicle, and there can be widespread media attention. Thank goodness attacks are not as common as they could potentially be.”

But a “vehicle ramming” incident — or a “hostile vehicle” or “vehicle incursion,” as rogue vehicle incidents sometimes are referred to among security experts, depending on the context — doesn’t always indicate terrorism.

“Vehicles are always a concern, because they are an easy mode to utilize. There can be a large number of victims with a vehicle, and there can be widespread media attention.”

“The likelihood that it’s a terrorist act is very minimal,” says Michael Nishi, chief operating officer for Chicago Event Management (CEM), which is behind the Bank of America Chicago Marathon, the Bank of America Chicago 13.1 and the Bank of America Shamrock Shuffle. “You do, however, see a lot of these incidents occur with confused drivers, whether it’s a type of impairment, a medical issue or, in a few cases, vehicles attempting to elude authorities. They are still dangerous and deadly, and we’ve got to plan for what we can control.”

SUSAN SCHNEIDER

Regardless of the culprit or intent, a rogue vehicle can pose a massive security threat to marathon participants and spectators, stadium tailgaters and fans entering the venue, and just about anybody else present at large gatherings.

CEM officials control vehicle activity at running events in a number of ways, including the use of municipal snowplows and other heavy vehicles as barriers, as well as community outreach mailings to businesses and condominium managers along the race route so they can inform their clients and residents of street closures. Volunteers also are positioned at street intersections and parking garages on race days and armed with two-way radios “not try to stop a vehicle or get in harm’s way, but to call attention to it quickly and relay the information to authorities, so maybe those people can divert the vehicle down the way,” Nishi says. “We have eyes everywhere.”

Schneider stresses the importance of including vehicle ramming incidents in emergency action plans for any venue or event. “Everyone should know their role, just as they should with an active shooter incident,” she says.

“Every venue is different,” adds University of Florida Police Chief Linda Stump-Kurnick, who has worked with campus and City of Gainesville authorities for years to keep fans, players and personnel at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium safe on football Saturdays. “If you had all the money in the world, you would put stadiums in areas that have all the parking you need, and you would have enough space to create distant ingress and egress areas.”

In reality, though, many stadiums and arenas are located in populated urban areas — including Ben Hill Stadium, which is bordered by one of Gainesville’s primary thoroughfares, as well as campus streets and campus buildings.

Prior to receiving a grant for more than $162,000 from the Department of Homeland Security to purchase an arsenal of mobile barriers made of hardened ballistic steel and sporting bright Florida Gators team colors, University of Florida police would strategically position patrol cars, dump trucks and other large diesel equipment around the stadium to prevent a vehicle-borne attack. That strategy evolved into deploying portable water-filled barricades — a time-consuming and labor-intensive task. Then came the grant in 2019, and the resulting mobile barriers are deployed for everything from football games to 5K runs and parades, according to University of Florida Deputy Police Chief Darren Baxley.

Those efforts are reinforced with other strategies that include increased security staff on gamedays, savvy placement of trees and boulders, and a detailed security-clearance system for vendors and other commercial drivers approaching the stadium. Continuous efforts also are made to remind fans to keep an eye on their surroundings and report any suspicious activities.

“The likelihood that [a vehicle ramming incident] is a terrorist act is very minimal. They are still dangerous and deadly, and we’ve got to plan for what we can control.”

MICHAEL NISHI

EDITORIAL CREDIT: JOHN GRESS MEDIA INC | SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

EDITORIAL CREDIT: STEVE HAMANN | SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

“We do a lot of things overtly, so if somebody is scouting our site, they’re going to look around and say, ‘Man, I’ve got to go through all these layers of security, I see a lot of uniformed officers with long guns, they have lots of bollards; I better think long and hard about this,’” he says.

Even then, sometimes bolstering vehicle-related mitigation requires a mental shift beyond the precautionary methods taken in the past. “Instead of just providing a good, safe environment, start thinking in terms of defending your structure and your fans,” Stump-Kurnick says.

CISA’S VENUE ASSESSMENT TOOL

Indeed, fortifying the surroundings of a venue or event is more critical than ever.

The potential intensified after 9/11, when the threat of vehicle-borne improvised explosive devices ramped up.

“Up until that point, I just don’t know if the focus was directed toward that extreme type of safety concern — that an outside, violent offender would target Middle America during a football game,” says Stump-Kurnick, who was working at Purdue University at the time of 9/11. “People’s attention wasn’t drawn to that potential.”

Over time, vehicle ramming mitigation practices have been refined, thanks to technology improvements, grant money and the increasing role CISA plays in this area. Established in 2018 as America’s Cyber Defense Agency, CISA also serves as the national coordinator for critical infrastructure security and resilience, leading efforts to understand, manage and reduce cyber and physical risk.

The agency dedicates a section of its website to vehicle ramming mitigation, which stresses that “it is important to balance the security requirements with the operational and functional needs associated with the typical user of the facility or venue. As a result, a mitigation strategy…must be tailored to the specific physical constraints and functional demands of a given location.”

To aid in that tailoring, CISA offers the “Vehicle Ramming Self-Assessment Tool,” which was developed in partnership with the Chicago Police Department’s Crime Prevention and Information Center to help federal, state and local law enforcement agencies, as well as critical infrastructure owners and operators, make informed planning considerations and take protective measures to mitigate risk of a vehicle-borne attack. In addition to stadiums, the tool can be used to help assess mitigation efforts at schools, for parades and at other mass gatherings. The tool also provides resources for researching barriers and additional mitigation-related products.

According to CISA’s website, the tool’s evaluation criteria are separated into three main categories:

• Environmental characteristics, in which the user can select properties for the entrances or openings within the area of interest that would allow vehicular access.

• Vehicle size, which the tool suggests based on environmental characteristics.

• Pedestrian factors that evaluate the density of potential pedestrian population, as well as other aspects such as congregation features and the ability of pedestrians to escape the potential area of attack.

“We’ve had some excellent feedback,” Schneider says of facility operators who performed the assessment. “They were able to identify and prioritize different security enhancements and get buy-in from the community for doing so.”

“Instead of just providing a good, safe environment, start thinking in terms of defending your structure and your fans.”

LINDA STUMP-KURNICK

NCS4 ANNUAL CONFERENCE ALERT!

Don’t miss the session on LEVEL-UP YOUR VENUE’S VEHICLE RAMMING MITIGATION SECURITY PLANS

Wednesday, June 28 3:45-4:45 p.m. Cibolo 5-7

CISA also has protective security advisors located around the country who are trained subject matter experts in critical infrastructure protection and vulnerability mitigation who can assist facility operators in enhancing vehicle ramming mitigation efforts.

Additionally, the agency partnered with the National Center for Spectator Sports Safety and Security to create a “Vehicle Attack Prevention and Mitigation Guide,” which should be available this summer and include trends and case studies, according to Schneider. “It covers the vehicle ramming threat and really breaks it down with different kinds of barriers and other low-cost to no-cost mitigations,” she says, “because this can get very expensive.”

PLANNING AHEAD

Nishi reports that the worst vehicle-related incidents to occur at CEM events have been cars inadvertently entering the racecourse from a parking garage, and even that doesn’t happen too often.

“Those incidents haven’t created an accident or hurt anyone,” he says. “Can we say that’s because of our efforts to warn vehicles to keep off the course? I don’t know, but I hope that it is — and that our community outreach is a visible deterrent.”

That community outreach not only informs residents and businesses along race routes of street closures but also involves notifying media outlets large and small and providing online materials to help people plan accordingly. The strategy, has, in turn, created long-term relationships that contribute to making CEM events successful.

“Businesses want to be involved, and once they see the efforts that we’re making to inform their residents, customers and employees, they want to be part of that. And that can help with potential partnership opportunities down the road,” Nishi says. “These are things that you don’t need a big staff to do, and they do pay dividends — not just to ensure that you don’t have a vehicle incursion, but also by getting them to take part in the event for the community that you’re serving.”

EDITORIAL CREDIT: JOANNESTRELL | SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

As with so many components of venue and event security, the key to vehicle ramming mitigation is managing as much of the narrative as possible. Consider how food, ice and other vendor deliveries are made to Florida’s Ben Hill Griffin Stadium while football games are in progress.

“We don’t like the idea of a large vehicle approaching the stadium at that time,” says Baxley, who also teaches an onsite crowd management course for NCS4. “So we interdict that vehicle far away from the stadium and search it with a canine and make sure the credentials of the driver match who we know is the vendor. We inspect that vehicle well before we ever let it into the stadium grounds.”

Buses and their drivers are another group pre-approved prior to game time via identifying elements — helping eliminate the risk of a nefarious driver making it past checkpoints. Again, it all comes back to defending the venue and remaining nimble in that mission.

“This is ever-evolving,” Stump-Kurnick says. “If you stop thinking about these things, if you stop being flexible, you’re going to have fail points. That could be improper placement of a bollard and all of a sudden, you have a vulnerable spot. You have to really open yourself up and say, ‘What are we doing well, and what can we improve on?’”

EDITORIAL CREDIT: KEVIN MCGOVERN | SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

You asked for it, and we answered…The NCS4 industry safety and security best practices are now available in an online format. Search for and find best practices at your fingertips – on gameday, in a meeting, wherever you need them.

The NCS4 recognizes the need to help protect people, infrastructure, and information by sharing safety and security best practices. General best practices applicable to all types of venues and events are presented with the capability to navigate to industry-specific best practices, including professional sports and entertainment events, intercollegiate athletics, interscholastic athletics, and marathon and endurance events.

Scan the QR code or visit our website to view the Best Practices online.

NCS4.USM.EDU/RESOURCES/BEST-PRACTICES

FORUMS

Please mark your calendar and make plans to join us! Details coming this fall.

INTERSCHOLASTIC ATHLETICS AND AFTER-SCHOOL ACTIVITIES

January 23-24, 2024

Katy ISD | Katy, TX

PROFESSIONAL SPORTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

February 20-21, 2024

University of Notre Dame

Notre Dame, IN

TARGET AUDIENCE: Security directors and operators, facility and stadium managers, event planners/operators, law enforcement personnel, emergency managers, fire/HAZMAT, emergency medical/health services, athletic administrators and governmental representatives. These are individuals representing or supporting interscholastic athletics, professional sports leagues, and sport and entertainment facilities (concerts, festivals, e-sports, convention centers, etc.).

GAME FACES

Facial authentication technology is speeding up the fan entry process, but don’t confuse it with facial recognition technology.

By Michael Popke

In July 2020, in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, the National Football League’s Cleveland Brown’s contacted Sanjay Manandhar with a very important question: Can you help implement a touchless, convenient, fast and safe entry experience at FirstEnergy Stadium for ticketholders during the 2020 season?

“We knew we could,” says Manandhar, co-founder and chief executive officer of Wicket, a facial authentication technology and computer vision analytics company that previously was focused on corporate environments.

And, indeed, they did. The Browns tested the Wicket system’s ability to accurately identify ticketholders — even if they were wearing a facemask, hat or sunglasses — during the 2020 season and continued the opt-in service via Express Access in 2021 and 2022 as part of the team’s “Responsible Restart Plan.” To enroll, fans log in to their ticketing account, upload a selfie and enter the stadium through an Express Access gate. They can keep their phones in their pocket and instead just give a quick glance to a screen. One selfie allows access for everyone in the ticketholder’s party, which is proving to be a boon for families with children.

According to StadiumTechReport.com, as many as 6,000 fans — or 10 percent of the stadium’s capacity — were using facial authentication as of December 2022. What’s more, fans who opt in for the technology don’t change their mind and later opt out, according to Manandhar.

“Nobody says, ‘I waited in line 45 minutes last weekend, but yesterday it took me 300 milliseconds to get in. That was too easy; let me go back and wait 45 minutes again next time,’” he says.

Other NFL, Major League Soccer and Major League Baseball stadiums are experimenting with facial authentication technology, too, in various ways. For example, Mercedes-Benz Stadium, home of the Atlanta Falcons and Atlanta United FC, debuted Express Entry in 2022 using Wicket technology for season ticket holders at a limited number of gates. It is part of the venue’s evolving “frictionless”

gameday-operations dynamics — from cashless transactions to checkout-free concessions to touchless screening.

“Over the past three to four years, we’ve accelerated the screening process from the old walk-through machines to the next-generation [touchless screening] gates,” says Joe Coomer, vice president of security for AMB Sports & Entertainment, which is part of the Blank Family of Businesses that include Mercedes-Benz Stadium, the Falcons and United FC. “The backup has been the ticketing scan. Now, that is fixed. I don’t know why this type of product is not in every facility.”

As of late March, about 10,000 fans had signed up to use Express Entry, which is still in the pilot stage. Coomer says more big-picture testing is required, such as how the facial authentication system will respond when requiring access to large ticketholder groups with, say, 100 people or more.

(Another pilot program underway at an AMB training facility involves using Wicket’s facial authentication for players and personnel to enter limited-access areas — a natural development, given that the company’s roots are in software that uses facial technology to replace keycards for unlocking doors. “A key card is actually insecure, because you can give me your keycard, and I can go in as you. But really it was me, not you,” Manandhar says. “It’s harder for you to give me your face.”)

Coomer is confident the technology works — “I’m starting to trust it more and more, and our success rate is about 99.3 percent,” he says — while also recognizing that facial authentication might not be for all fans. The fan base for Atlanta United FC skews younger, for example, and that team’s supporters were initially less hesitant than some Falcon fans to give Express Entry a try, according to Coomer.

“We haven’t limited anyone’s ability to enter,” he says. “We haven’t forced this. Fans have the option to either enroll or not enroll, and we’ve got signage in place. Fans know which way to go based on their option.”

USE CORRECT TERMINOLOGY

The term “facial authentication” has become erroneously synonymous at times with the term “facial recognition.” But there are critical differences between the two technologies.

“Facial authentication is a 1:1 (one-to-one) mechanism,” notes a blog post on Wicket’s website. “This…works to exclusively match the face in the camera feed to a previously provided image from a user of the authentication tech. Not only does this protect individual user privacy by requiring opt-in, but the format reduces the risk of false positives and false negatives by nature — since the source image has to be a high-quality, clearly visible image of the user.”

On the other hand, facial recognition uses a one-to-many mechanism that compares and matches a single face in a crowd to a human face that has been previously provided. “To further simplify this,” Wicket’s blog states, “facial recognition uses a camera to run an image through a large database of faces to look out for” and can be used for surveillance and security purposes, such as finding individuals in a crowd.

Another term for “facial authentication,” according to Brian Finch, a partner in the Washington, D.C.-based law firm Pillsbury Winthrop Show Pittman LLP, is “facial validation.”

“Generally, people aren’t going to agree to use facial recognition technology, like they agree to use Face ID on their phone or actively opt-in to facial verification for fast access into a stadium,” Finch says, adding that facial recognition technology raises greater privacy and discrimination concerns. The image of an individual’s face then can be matched against, say, a database of known criminals or a terrorist watch list, he says, cautioning that “facial recognition and identification context alone is insufficient to justify an arrest.”

“We haven’t limited anyone’s ability to enter. Fans have the option to either enroll or not enroll, and we’ve got signage in place. Fans know which way to go based on their option.”

JOE COOMER

NCS4 ANNUAL CONFERENCE ALERT!

Don’t miss Brian Finch’s breakout session on A DANGEROUS WEB: POTENTIAL PITFALLS ASSOCIATED WITH USING SOCIAL MEDIA, AI, FACIAL RECOGNITION, AND OTHER TECH FOR STADIUM SECURITY

Wednesday, June 28 10:45 a.m.-Noon or 2:30-3:45 p.m. Cibolo 2

Last year, The New York Times reported on an “attorney exclusion list” created by MSG Entertainment, which owns Madison Square Garden (home of the NBA’s New York Knicks and the National Hockey League’s New York Rangers), that allows security personnel to use facial recognition technology to identify and flag down attorneys in MSG Entertainment venues.

“The company says ‘litigation creates an inherently adversarial environment’ and so it is enforcing the list with the help of computer software that can identify hundreds of lawyers via profile photos on their firms’ own websites, using an algorithm to instantaneously pore over images and suggest matches,” the newspaper reported. “Facial recognition technology is legal in New York, but lawyers have sued MSG Entertainment, saying the exclusion list is forbidden. The use of facial recognition technology to enforce it has raised an outcry not just from people turned away from Knicks games, but from civil liberties watchdogs, who called it a startling new frontier that demonstrated why the federal government should regulate the technology. The local grudge match has become part of a national debate over the specter of a privatized surveillance state.”

“The accuracy of the software can vary significantly — because there are lots of different software providers out there — and so can the quality of the images that

are captured, and there’s a chance for misidentification,” Finch adds. “A much greater chance than in the validation scenario where you’re just unlocking your phone. There are examples where the software that is being used to match the captured image vs. the stored image may have biases [such as] not being able to match up certain racial groups and genders accurately. The widely used example is that African American faces may not match as well or as accurately as white faces. And so, as a result, there’s a greater chance that an African American face that has been captured may be mismatched. I think that is what is concerning [about] the wide use of facial recognition at sports facilities.”

“That’s why we call it facial authentication,” Manandhar says. “We stay away from ‘facial recognition,’ because of the surveillance connotation. We’re a privacy-first company, and I’m a privacy nut. I do not want people doing stuff to me that I don’t know about.”

Finch urges venue operators implementing facial authentication technology to make a major effort to quell any potential confusion and concern from the get-go.

“You want to be very clear with respect to what you’re using, for what purposes and who is impacted by this identification — rather than just saying, ‘Hey, we use facial recognition to ensure the safety and security of our patrons and our employees,’” he says.

The software used for facial authentication and facial recognition differs, too, according to Finch. “In both circumstances, it’s matching against a specific image or a collection of images, but the one-to-many [application, which is facial recognition], obviously, has a far more complicated algorithm, and there are more opportunities for it to produce a mismatch than the oneto-one identification software,” he says.

“You want to be very clear with respect to what you’re using, for what purposes and who is impacted by this identification — rather than just saying, ‘Hey, we use facial recognition to ensure the safety and security of our patrons and our employees.’”

BRIAN E. FINCH

Facial authentication also takes place at kiosks outside the venue, while facial recognition typically involves surveillance cameras.

Operators of venues such as FirstEnergy Stadium and Mercedes-Benz Stadium are effectively communicating the benefits of facial authentication technology to their teams’ fan bases, and it’s clear demand exists for an even more frictionless and streamlined fan experience.

Coomer notes that people increasingly are using their face for everything from accessing their personal devices to boarding commercial airplanes, and he envisions the technology working for transactions at concessions stands and merchandise booths, as well as potentially even for age-verification purposes when purchasing alcohol at venues.

Additionally, Finch thinks facial authentication systems could work at large high school football stadiums, especially because students most likely already have an identification photo that can be used for fast and easy access. “Some of those schools where you’re attracting thousands if not 10,000-plus to a game? Why not?” he says. “I think this is definitely more than a niche technology at this point, but it’s certainly not widespread, either. It has momentum, let’s put it that way.”

Manandhar is even more optimistic “This is the future,” he declares, predicting that the field of facial authentication technology providers will expand quickly. “In five years, 80 percent of professional sports facilities will be doing this.” l

“We stay away from ‘facial recognition,’ because of the surveillance connotation. We’re a privacyfirst company, and I’m a privacy nut.”

SANJAY MANANDHAR

2023 SPORTS AND ENTERTAINMENT TECHNOLOGY ALLIANCE MEMBERS

DHS/FEMA Approved Training Workshops

SPORT AND SPECIAL EVENT RISK MANAGEMENT AWR-167

Building capabilities for multi-agency collaboration, intact teams are immersed in a collaborative environment incorporating basic concepts relative to planning, risk assessment, training, exercising plans, and recovery/ business continuity through scenario-based training modules.

SPORTS AND SPECIAL EVENTS INCIDENT MANAGEMENT MGT-404

Develops athletic department staffs, facility management personnel, campus public safety personnel, emergency response supervisors, and others involved in sports and special event management to better prepare for, manage, and recover from incidents that could occur during a sporting event or other special event.

SPORT VENUE EVACUATION AND PROTECTIVE ACTIONS MGT-412

Prepares venue operators, first responders, emergency managers, law enforcement, contractors, promoters, and owners to effectively collaborate on evacuation and protective action decision-making. The course provides flexible and scalable protective measures for planning, evacuation, and sheltering.

ENHANCED SPORTS AND SPECIAL EVENTS INCIDENT MANAGEMENT MGT-440

Prepares emergency responders, as well as event management personnel, concessionaires, athletic department personnel, and chief executives who would be involved in the preparation for and response to a large-scale incident during sporting or special events.

SPORT AND SPECIAL EVENT ENHANCED RISK MANAGEMENT AND ASSESSMENT MGT-466

Provides participants with tools and methodologies for conducting venue and event-specific risk assessments. In this course, participants will analyze risk and utilize assessment outputs to determine risk mitigation options and their effectiveness.

SPORT AND SPECIAL EVENT PUBLIC INFORMATION AND EMERGENCY NOTIFICATION MGT-467

Prepares participants to identify and navigate the sport and special event communication landscape before, during, and after an incident. This interdisciplinary course brings planners, operators, communication, government, public safety, marketing, and public relations professionals together to prepare and/or enhance venue and event communication programs.

CROWD MANAGEMENT FOR SPORT AND SPECIAL EVENTS MGT-475

Introduces public safety officials, venue operators, event planners, and community stakeholders to key concepts and considerations for crowd management, control, and dynamics. The course content is scalable and applicable to all sports and special events regardless of venue size, capacity, or type of event.

For more information about hosting or attending, contact the NCS4 Training Department:

NCS4Train@usm.edu

NATIONAL CENTER FOR SPECTATOR SPORTS SAFETY AND SECURIT Y

NATIONAL CENTER FOR SPECTATOR SPORTS SAFETY AND SECURIT Y

National Emergency Response and Recovery Training Center

CERTIFIED SPORT SECURITY PROFESSIONAL (CSSP)

OVERVIEW

Earning the Certified Sport Security Professional (CSSP) designation sets you apart from other professionals and highlights your dedication to remaining current with industry trends. Professionals in the sports security industry need to have a firm grasp of public safety measures and understand how to apply those measures in the unique environments created by sports venues and events. The CSSP certification validates expertise in the following domains:

•Business and Facility Management

•Emergency Planning

•Emergency Management

•Legal and Regulatory

The CSSP certification is awarded to individuals who meet experience, education, and professional reference criteria and pass an exam relevant to sports safety and security management. It is maintained through ongoing continuing education and industry contribution requirements every three years.

For more information, contact CertificationSupport@usm.edu.

•Crowd Management

•Security Principles and Practice

Scan the QR code or visit the website to learn more.

ncs4.usm.edu/training/cssp

SAVE THE DATE

Find Funding for Your Security Projects!

SIA’s course explains how to obtain grant funding for security projects and covers key aspects of an exceptional grant application. Course participants will also become familiar with common grant program terminology and policies—critical applications, program eligibility, and ongoing requirements.

Course Format: On-demand, self-paced learning

Course Pricing: $349 SIA members/$449 all others

PROUD SUPPORTER OF THE 14TH ANNUAL NATIONAL SPORTS SAFETY AND SECURITY

& EXHIBITION