The National Center for Spectator Sports Safety and Security (NCS4) at The University of Southern Mississippi (USM) has published results from its Venue Security Director Survey in an industry report.
The sporting world faces unique challenges when returning to play following a global pandemic, and many leagues, teams, and venues are exploring ways to maintain or improve their security operations. The purpose of this survey is to explore professional sports venue security issues, emerging threats, and technology solutions. Information gleaned from this study will assist venue directors in policy development, increase awareness of technology solutions, identify resource needs, and address training gaps to help protect human, physical, and cyber assets.
“This publication provides insights on sport security operational and management trends as well as emerging threats and technology utilization,” said Dr. Stacey A. Hall, NCS4 executive director and professor of Sport Management. “We are pleased with the research output and hope practitioners, academics, and technology solution providers find value in the results.”
The project was approved by USM’s Institutional Review Board (IRB), which reviews academic research involving human subjects to ensure that it follows federal and university requirements. The online survey was administered to venue security directors hosting professional sports teams from Major League Baseball, Major League Soccer, the National Basketball Association, the National Football League, and the National Hockey League. Venue demographics, staffing and training, fan behavior, technology utilization, patron screening, cybersecurity, and drone mitigation were areas of focus.
Industry recommendations and resources are also provided in the report.
“We are excited to share the results of NCS4’s venue security director survey and hope this report provides useful information and resources to venue security directors,” said Dr. Joslyn Zale, NCS4 senior research associate.
The NCS4 produces research reports, industry whitepapers, and hosts a research seminar series to inform industry professionals and academics on current sport security issues, solutions, and best practices.
To view the report, visit https://ncs4.usm.edu/research/industry-reports/.