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NCS⁴ NEWS eNewsletter | January 12, 2023

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Intercollegiate Athletics Safety and Security Forum to be Held Next Week

The event is sold out.

The NCS⁴ team is looking forward to seeing our friends and colleagues next week at the 2023 National Intercollegiate Athletics Safety and Security Forum in College Station, TX, along with Title Partner, Landmark Event Staffing Services, Inc. Thank you to our Solution Partners for helping make this event possible.

THANKS TO OUR SOLUTION PARTNERS!

Free Webinar on Severe Weather Now Available

Weather is one of the most-likely disruptors to all planned events and operations. Each year severe and other inclement weather cause delays, postponements, cancellations, and in some cases serious injuries and even fatalities to athletes, event staff, and fans. Organizations managing events must have weather identified as a risk and adjust their planning based on the realistic assessment of historical and potential weather events and impacts. In this webinar, representatives from the Disaster Science Operations Center (DSOC), located at Western Kentucky University, discuss how we can plan for and monitor the weather to improve the level of safety and fan experience if severe weather does strike.

PANELISTS:

Josh Durkee, Ph.D., Professor, University Meteorologist, Western Kentucky University

Dr. David E. Oliver, Ed.D., CSP, CEM, Director, Environmental Health and Safety and Emergency Manager, Western Kentucky University

Dr. Stacey Hall Co-Authors New Textbook

Dr. Stacey A. Hall, NCS⁴ Executive Director, recently announced the release of a new textbook in collaboration with longtime colleagues Dr. Walter Cooper and Dr. Jim McGee, Ph.D. “Security and Risk Assessment for Facility and Event Managers” is a new resource for practitioners in facility and event security, as well as for students taking courses in sport management, risk management, and security management. Dr. Hall thanks the Human Kinetics team for all their support and guidance (and patience).

Congratulations to Dr. Hall and her colleagues on publishing this valuable resource!

New Advisory Committee Chairs Announced

The NCS⁴ announces new committee chairs for our five Advisory Committees. Thank you to incoming chairs for your willingness to serve, as well as outgoing chairs and all of those who serve on the committees. We appreciate your guidance and support.

Professional Sports Co-Chairs: J.P. Hayslip, Philadelphia Eagles, and Melanie Lee, Major League Baseball (MLB)
Intercollegiate Athletics Co-Chairs: Matt Davidson, University of Nebraska, and Scott Dickson, The Ohio State University
Interscholastic Co-Chairs: Jim Inskeep, Carmel High School, and André Walker, Houston Independent School District
Marathon and Endurance Events Co-Chairs: Greg Haapala, Grandma’s Marathon, and Michelle Juehring, Quad-City Times Bix 7
Entertainment Co-Chairs: John Junell, Live Nation Entertainment, and John Pepper, Metropolitan Nashville Police Department

Welcome New Training Manager: Jonathan Stanford

Jonathan Stanford, MBA

Jonathan Stanford, a past Graduate Assistant for the NCS⁴, returned as a full-time employee this week. In his new role as a Training Manager, he provides oversight for the training courses offered through NCS⁴. These duties include course and instructor scheduling, ensuring all targets are met, and maintaining the quality of each delivery.

Before joining NCS⁴ as a Graduate Assistant in 2021, Stanford received his Bachelor’s Degree in Business Management from the University of Colorado Colorado Springs. During his time in Colorado, he served as Philanthropy Director, Greek Life Programming Director, and was a delegate on the Interfraternity Council for his fraternity of Alpha Sigma Phi. With raising thousands of dollars and performing hours of community service, his fraternity went on to win two Grand Senior President’s Cups, which is the highest award a fraternity can achieve. Stanford received an MBA with an emphasis in Sport Event Security Management from The University of Southern Mississippi in December 2022.

Congratulations on the MBA, Jonathan, and welcome to the team!

ICYMI: New Research Seminar Series Available

A new Research Seminar Series webinar is now available on demand. The seminar “Understanding the Interface Between Security and Customer Service at NCAA Division I FCS Institutions” is presented by Dr. Kiernan Gordon, Assistant Professor of Sport & Recreation Management at the University of New England. As sport venues become increasingly hardened, security personnel take on an increasingly important role in customer service. This presentation explores what effective customer service ought to look like for security personnel, as well as how we should view the customer journey at sport venues. Click the link below to watch the webinar.

Register Now and Join NCS⁴ for the National Conference in June

The 14th Annual National Sports Safety and Security Conference & Exhibition will take place June 27-29 at the JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort & Spa. The 2023 conference theme is Level-Up, challenging our industry friends and partners to strive for continuous improvement. The conference will offer dynamic programming, solution provider engagement, and opportunities to network with fellow professionals. This highly regarded gathering of sports safety and security professionals is an opportune time to share ideas, tools, and proven strategies to help advance the industry.

Register now and make plans to join us!

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: professional sports leagues, intercollegiate athletics, interscholastic athletics, marathon and endurance events, and sport and entertainment facilities (concerts, festivals, e-sports, convention centers, etc.).

Attendee Fees

Early-Bird Registration Through April 14:

(Member and Non-Member Attendee prices go up $50 after April 14.)

  • Member Rate - $575 per person
  • Non-Member Rate - $625 per person
  • Private Sector Attendee - $850 per person (This category is for individuals representing companies that provide products or services to the industry and are not sponsoring or exhibiting.)

Registering a Group? If you are registering three or more people from the same organization, save $75 off each attendee registration. Discount will be automatically applied when applicable. *Cannot be combined with the member discount. *Does not apply to Private Sector Attendee registration or Exhibitors/Sponsors.

NCS⁴ Connect Members receive a discounted rate. If you are already a member and would like to request the discount code, please contact Sara Priebe at sara.priebe@usm.edu. To become a member of NCS⁴ Connect, click here.

Announcing a New Scholarship Program for Young Professionals!

Young Professional Scholarship Program

The NCS⁴ is committed to educating the next generation of sport security professionals. The Young Professional Scholarship Program is designed for professionals 40 years of age or younger working in the sports and entertainment security industry. The scholarship program is sponsored by Axis Communications and supports young professionals’ educational goals by covering the NCS⁴ Annual Conference and Exhibition registration fee. Recipients are exposed to general educational programming, innovative technology solutions, security expert insights, and networking opportunities.

The NCS⁴ will award five scholarships covering the cost of registration to the National Sports Safety and Security Conference & Exhibition, June 27-29, 2023, in San Antonio, TX.

Application Deadline: March 1, 2023, @ 11:59 pm CDT

Recipients Notified: March 15, 2023

Application Criteria

  • Applicants must be 40 years of age or younger.
  • Applicants must be current practitioners in the sports and entertainment industry.
  • Applications must be completed online and submitted before the deadline.
  • Recipients must be able to attend the National Sports Safety and Security Conference & Exhibition, June 27-29, 2023, in San Antonio, TX.

Exhibitors and Sponsors

Registration for exhibitors and sponsors are being accepted. Exhibitors may register online using the link below. For those interested in sponsoring, please contact Sara Priebe at sara.priebe@usm.edu to request a sponsorship packet or for additional information.

We look forward to seeing you in San Antonio!

Golden Eagle Award

Excellence in Design and Innovation in Sport Venue Security Integration

Only registered NCS⁴ Conference exhibitors and sponsors may apply

Applicants from leading systems integration, architecture, design, engineering and consulting firms are invited to submit case studies from successful projects, which had safety and security at the forefront of planning and execution.

The 2023 Golden Eagle Award recognizes excellence in system integration, architecture, engineering and/or construction (A/E/C) specifically related to the safety and security of spectators, property, and infrastructure of spectator event facilities. The Golden Eagle Award considers critical design and functionality elements that enable and promote the safety and security of all stakeholders in an efficient and effective manner.

A panel of judges reviews all applications to determine the most compelling projects. The winning submission will be selected as the 2023 Golden Eagle Award recipient, with the opportunity to present their case study to attendees at the National Conference. The winner will be recognized at the Awards Luncheon during the National Conference.

Applicants are asked to provide the following project information for judges’ consideration:

  • Describe what risk or security issue your company was hired to address
  • Provide an overview of how your team strategically approached the project/security issue
  • Share details on the solution you provided, including technologies used to mitigate the security issue
  • Explain how the solution balanced safety/security with the fan experience
  • Submit a 600-word case study about the project

Judges will also consider:

  • Relevance to the sports industry
  • Effectiveness and efficiency of the solution in solving the identified problems/issues
  • The use of creativity, innovation, and technology in a way that leads the industry forward

To participate, interested applicants should complete an online application and submit it by March 14, 2023.

IAVM’s GuestX Conference and Academy for Venue Safety and Security (AVSS)

The International Association of Venue Managers invites you to their GuestX Conference and the Academy for Venue Safety and Security (AVSS). Please see details below and click the links for more information.

Interactive and intimate, this one-of-a-kind conference offers attendees insider perspectives on how all facets of a venue impact the overall guest experience. With educational content shaped and developed by today’s industry experts, GuestX teaches best practices and how to address the ever-evolving challenges of the guest experience and crowd management.

From frontline staff and guest services teams to venue executives, athletic directors, and security professionals, GuestX 2023 offers amazing education for anyone in the venue management industry!

There has never been a more compelling need to raise the bar and establish industry training for safety and security than now. IAVM advocates a proactive approach to preparing the professionals who manage and staff our venues, and the Academy for Venue Safety and Security (AVSS) is the perfect way to learn from the experts in our field and gain access to a tremendous network.

AVSS, a dynamic, two-year school, is built to train venue and event managers, security professionals, and other key personnel involved in every aspect of venue safety and security. The curriculum, developed and taught by a diverse team of experts, equips every attendee with the best practices, resources, and tools needed to face the evolving challenge of providing a safe venue for everyone.

NCS⁴ eLearning Options

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

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

Click one of the links above or the button below for details or to register.

Check Out the NCS⁴ Best Practices Online

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

ICYMI: Venue Security Director Industry Report Published

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. Click the link below to view the report.

Fundamentals of Crowd Safety Course Offered Online

NCS⁴ and GKStill International have partnered to jointly offer the Fundamentals of Crowd Safety online E-Learning course to address capability gaps in crowd behavior and sciences. Professor Dr. G. Keith Still, Visiting Professor of Crowd Science at the University of Suffolk, developed this certified, accredited course. The course offers an 8-hour online interactive experience designed to teach the essential elements of crowd safety and crowd risk analysis. The course is especially valuable to event organizers, as it ensures that those who complete it are compliant with the NFPA 101 - Life Safety Code — specifically, the areas of section 12 of the code that require a venue to provide a crowd manager trained in crowd management techniques for occupancies exceeding 1000.

Report: Nine people shot, one fatality near 'MoonPie Over Mobile' NYE event

Early Sunday, multiple reports surfaced that Mobile Police have confirmed nine people were shot near the annual “Moon Pie over Mobile” event in downtown Mobile shortly before midnight. Revelers were gathered in Mobile's downtown to usher in the 2023 new year. According to Darwin Singleton of Mobile’s NBC 15, there was at least one fatality. Read more

Orange County schools add police presence after shooting outside high school basketball game

Orange County Public Schools say they are adding a police presence both during school and at athletic events following a shooting in the parking lot after a Wekiva versus Edgewater basketball game. One teenager was hurt in the shooting outside Wekiva High School. Read more

Machete-wielding man attacks New York City police at New Year’s Eve event

A man wielding a machete attacked three police officers at the New Year’s Eve celebration in New York City, authorities said, striking two of them in the head before an officer shot the man in the shoulder. Read more

Tailgating Banned at SoFi Stadium for College Football National Championship

College football fans headed to Los Angeles’ SoFi Stadium for the College Football Playoff National Championship between TCU and Georgia will have to leave their charcoal grills and coolers at home. According to the parking section of SoFI’s website, “tailgating will not be allowed in any SoFi parking lot.” Read more

A Proactive Approach to Cyber and Physical Security

Protecting physical security technology against cyber vulnerabilities requires a top-down approach. In a recent survey conducted by Genetec, 36% of respondents globally said they were looking to invest in cybersecurity-related tools to improve their physical security environment in the next 12 months. In the physical security industry, where cybersecurity has not always been top of mind, the survey results demonstrate that respondents are starting to recognize the reality of cyber threats to physical security systems. Read more

Ransomware Attack Shuts Down Massachusetts School District

Wednesday’s classes at one district were cancelled, and a community college’s online services have been affected for more than a week. It’s a new year and a new round of ransomware attacks on education have been discovered… this time in Massachusetts. The Swansea Public Schools district announced on Tuesday it has cancelled Wednesday’s classes because the district’s network was being held hostage. Read more

89 Colleges and School Districts, 25 Healthcare Organizations Impacted by Ransomware in 2022

A new report found almost twice the number of K-12 schools were impacted by ransomware in 2022 compared to 2021. Ransomware continues to be a significant challenge for colleges and universities, school districts, and hospitals across the country, according to a new report. Read more

49ers Fan Falls From Stands Trying to Catch Towel Thrown by Quarterback Brock Purdy

A San Francisco 49ers fan fell Sunday from stands near the tunnel at Levi's Stadium as he tried to catch a towel thrown by San Francisco quarterback Brock Purdy. Read more