A study recently conducted by the National Center for Spectator Sports Safety and Security (NCS4) at the University of Southern Mississippi found that the safety and security measures of venues is a key consideration among those who attend games across various sports leagues.
In fact, the study, which polled over 600 participants across a range of demographics, found that 73.2% fans consider safety and security measures when deciding to attend an event and 77% prefer that these security measures be visible throughout the venue. In addition, an overwhelming majority of those surveyed supported many of the measures that are currently utilized by stadiums and other venues across the country, including: law enforcement presence (83.9%); walk-through screening technologies (85.1%); security wand metal detection (85.7%); bag searches (77.4%); surveillance cameras (89.1%); and K-9 units (74.2%).
Even the use of facial recognition, which has come under intense scrutiny by lawmakers and privacy advocates alike in recent years, was supported by more than 52% of those surveyed.
The only two measures not to receive majority support among survey respondents were social media monitoring (43.2%) and no-bag policies (48.8%).
The study also gauged the perceptions of sports fans with regards to Covid-19 safety and security practices and found that a majority support the use of both digital health passes (61.5%) and temperature checks (74%) as continued mitigation measures against the spread of the virus. A majority also still support mask requirements (54.7%) and social distancing (60.4%).
“This publication provides insights on sport security operational and management trends as well as emerging threats and technology utilization,” Dr. Stacey A. Hall, NCS4 Executive Director and Professor of Sport Management, said in a statement. “We are pleased with the research output and hope practitioners, academics, and technology solution providers find value in the results.”
For more information or to download a copy of the full report, click here.
