Stadium Security

Stadiums attract millions of visitors each year. Because of the crowds, stadiums and live entertainment venues are prime targets for terrorists. In fact, Inspire Magazine, the leading propaganda magazine for ISIS specifically points out the desirability of attacking stadiums.

As the attack on Stade de France stadium in Paris, France's most iconic stadium, illustrated, stadium and fan security can no longer be taken lightly. Threats can come in various forms and any lapse from any of the various stakeholders can result in a catastrophe responsible for loss of life and millions in property damages, not to mention the associated liability lawsuits.

As a result of this and other threats, law enforcement and stadium operators worldwide had to reexamine their stadium security policies. New advisories were issued to stadiums detailing new security screening procedures and restrictions were placed on bags and bottles in many stadiums. There's also an increased police presence and a heightened state of alert at every event. While this seemingly has made stadiums safer, the fan experience has been negatively impacted.

The added lines and increased waiting time to enter stadiums have hurt the fan experience and, as we all know, any damage to fan experience lowers attendance at future events.

8% of attendees are intoxicated and intoxication is the leading cause of fan violence

And this is before the fan even gets to their seats. Once inside, the fan is facing another danger. Fan violence. While studies show fan violence isn't really a bigger problem, cell phone videos and posted online send the message that fan violence is growing and sporting games are no longer a safe place to take ones family.

Consistent damage to fan experience coupled with advancements in broadcast quality and pay-per-view events is allowing fans to easily stay away from stadiums and still enjoy the sporting or concert events live and in full digital clarity.

The challenge for stadium operators is to find a balance between improving fan security and also maintaining a good fan experience so that fans will feel safe and still find it enjoyable and worthwhile to attend an event in person. However, that's one of those things that's easier said than done. Protecting tens of thousands of people in and around a stadium while ensuring a positive fan experience requires meticulous planning and a huge investment in manpower, equipment and technology.

For instance, in the past, ushers witnessing a problem in the stadium would have to scream into a microphone over the roar of cheering stadium or concert level sounds. Too many mistakes get made and too much information is missed. TapToReport offers stadium staff discreet messaging whereby vendors, paid staff and volunteers can report everything from stray packages to drunken fans to violent acts. TapToReport allows ALL event staff to be the eyes and ears for security and to report and respond to events as warranted. For instance, janitorial can respond to a spilled beverage report, clean it as appropriate and remove a slip-and-fall potential. Likewise, security can respond to a dangerous situation or medical staff to someone in physical distress. All with the touch of a button and crowd noise is no longer a factor. TapToReport is a cost-effective tool that helps improve venue security and improves the fan experience. It's easy to use, easy to implement and maintain.

"What good is a rapid response team if they can't get early notification of an escalating problem?"

What's more, with TapToReport, every reported event goes to create an incident tracking database. You'll know which types of events have increased violence, where those events most often occur and you'll be better able to anticipate security requirements and staff positioning. Plus, security will be able to document their response allowing you to understand response times and to document each incident.