NCS⁴ NEWS eNewsletter | March 2, 2023

NCS⁴ Announces 2023 Sports and Entertainment Technology Alliance

The NCS⁴ announces the 2023 Sports and Entertainment Technology Alliance, which includes safety and security practitioners and solution providers: Axis Communications, Esri, Microsoft, Nvidia, S2 Global, and Xtract One. The Technology Alliance is a consortium of individuals and organizations committed to spectator safety and security excellence through innovation. Members work alongside practitioners and the NCS⁴ to explore how people, processes, and technologies can best contribute to safety and security challenges in a meaningful way. Through membership, the alliance contributes to training and education initiatives, provides research input, and participates in industry engagement and outreach opportunities.

Register Now and Join NCS⁴ for the National Conference in June

Early-bird rate available through April 14

Make plans to join us for the 14th Annual National Sports Safety and Security Conference & Exhibition on 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.

Early-bird registration is available through April 14. Register now and save $$$.

Registering a Group?

Save $75 off each attendee registration when registering three or more people from the same organization. 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 Member discount

NCS⁴ Connect Members receive a discount on conference attendee registration fees. If you are a current member, contact Sara Priebe for the conference discount code at sara.priebe@usm.edu. To become a member of NCS⁴ Connect, click here.

Solution Partners – Apply for the Golden Eagle Award

The deadline to apply is March 17.

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.

Only registered NCS⁴ Conference exhibitors and sponsors may apply.

The NCS⁴ and SDM and Security magazines have once again partnered to sponsor the 2023 Golden Eagle Award, which 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.

Solution Partners – Attend, Exhibit, or Sponsor the National Conference

Registration for exhibitors and sponsors is 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. To attend, register as a Private Sector Attendee using the link below.

Thank you to our Exhibitors and Sponsors!

Considering CSSP Certification?

NCS⁴ offers applicants the opportunity to sit for the CSSP exam at the conference with no testing fee!

The CSSP examination will be offered to eligible candidates on Tuesday, June 27, during the 14th Annual National Sports Safety and Security Conference & Exhibition. To be considered eligible to take the exam, individuals must complete and submit their CSSP Application, including the application fee, by April 28, 2023, to allow enough time for the NCS⁴ Certification Department to collect and process all supporting documentation. Approved candidates will receive a notification of test eligibility before arriving at the conference. Find out more about CSSP and how to register for the exam now.

The NCS⁴ and USM’s College of Business and Economic Development Partner for Career Expo

Jonathan Ruffin, NCS⁴ Training Manager, and Dr. Brandon Allen, Associate Teaching Professor at the USM College of Business and Economic Development, teamed up at the Area Development Partnership’s “Jump Start to Success“ career expo to provide information to students about career paths in sport management. More than 1,500 area middle school and high school students attended the expo.

NCS⁴ Graduate Assistant Presents Poster at the Applied Sport Management Association Conference

NCS⁴ Graduate Assistant Enzo Fedato Ferreira, co-authors poster presentation with Dr. Stacey Hall, Dr. Brandon Allen, and Dr. Sabrina Reed. Enzo presented the poster at the recent Applied Sport Management Association Conference in Birmingham, AL.

Dr. Stacey Hall Presents at the Sport & Recreation Law Association Conference in Las Vegas

Dr. Stacey Hall, NCS⁴ Executive Director and Professor of Sport Management, and Dr. Jim Evans, Assistant Professor of Sport Management, recently presented on safety and security’s impact on spectators’ intent to attend sporting events at the Sport and Recreation Law Association Conference in Las Vegas.

NCS⁴ is Hiring - Curriculum Manager

The NCS⁴ is now hiring for the position of Curriculum Manager, which provides leadership and oversight for the development, maintenance, and implementation of sport safety and security curricula offered by the NCS⁴ and through a cooperative agreement with Texas Engineering Extension Service’s National Emergency Response and Recovery Training Center (TEEX/NERRTC). The Curriculum Manager is responsible for managing the design and development of training programs, curricula, instructional methods, and materials for various audiences. For more information about the position or to apply, click the button below.

ICYMI: Severe Weather Webinar

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

ICYMI: Dr. Stacey Hall Co-Authors 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!

ICYMI: Research Seminar Series

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.

NCS⁴ eLearning Options

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

• 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.

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.

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.