NCS⁴ NEWS e-newsletter | June 16, 2022

The Summer 2022 issue of GAMEDAY SECURITY magazine is now available!

We are excited to present our Summer edition of the Gameday Security magazine. This issue covers topics at the forefront of our industry, including crowd management challenges and planning strategies, staff recruitment, training and retention, and the impact of legalized sports gambling on safety and security.

At this time, we are preparing for our 13th Annual Conference at the Omni Orlando Resort at ChampionsGate in conjunction with title sponsor, inOrbit, and I hope to see you there. With an excellent lineup of speakers, exhibitors and sponsors, it is sure to be a rewarding experience and opportunity to enjoy time with fellow game-changers.

Thanks to our readers for your continued support of the NCS⁴. If there is anything we can do for you or your organization, please let us know. You can review our training opportunities and resources at ncs4.usm.edu.

Best Wishes,

Stacey A. Hall, Ph.D.

NCS⁴ Executive Director and Professor of Sport Management

It’s Almost Time!

Pack Your Bags – Let’s Go

The NCS⁴ team is making final preparations and counting down to conference kick-off which is less than two weeks away. The conference will offer dynamic programming, solution provider engagement, and opportunities to network with fellow game-changers in our industry. Experienced professionals will share ideas, tools, and proven strategies to help you stay informed of industry advancements. We are looking forward to seeing everyone soon!

Congratulations Award Winners

Congratulations to Peter Kranske, CSSP, Landmark Event Staffing Services Inc.’s President and Chief Operating Officer, for being recognized with the Lifetime Achievement Award. The Lifetime Achievement Award recognizes the long-term accomplishments and contributions of an individual who has earned the respect and admiration of professional colleagues in the sports safety and security community. The award was developed to commemorate exemplary talents and contributions demonstrated by an individual’s dedication, loyalty, ability, and integrity. The award is sponsored by Meridian Rapid Defense Group, which provides SAFETY Act Certified barriers for major sporting events across the U.S.

Congratulations to Richard Fenton, CSSP, Ilitch Holdings, Inc.’s Vice President and Chief Security Officer, for being recognized with the Champion of Change Award. The award recognizes an individual who has demonstrated their ability and commitment to bring about positive change in the sports safety and security industry. Through progressive leadership, this individual’s achievements have made a difference in organizational effectiveness and led the organization forward into the future.

Eight individuals will receive the Professional of the Year Award at NCS4’s National Conference in June. The award recognizes a person in the field that has, over the past year, demonstrated outstanding leadership in addressing safety/security issues. In addition to the enhanced safety and security of their venue, the recipient's contributions have set an example for others to follow.

A total of six sports facilities will be recognized for their leadership in addressing safety and security issues. The Facility of Merit Award recognizes a facility that has performed above and beyond normal operations to demonstrate an innovative approach to enhancing safety and security. The chosen facility may also have resolved a significant safety/security issue or incident.

Eight professionals will be recognized as Emerging Industry Leaders. The award recognizes up and coming industry professionals that have, over the past year, demonstrated outstanding leadership in addressing safety/security issues.

Six professionals will be recognized for their contributions to NCS⁴. The Friends of NCS⁴ Award recognizes professionals whose contributions have been invaluable to the advancement of the Center.

THANK YOU TO OUR EXHIBITORS AND SPONSORS

NCS⁴ is sold out of booth spaces and sponsorships for this event. Contact Sara Priebe, at 601-266-6858 or sara.priebe@usm.edu to be contacted about the 2023 Conference scheduled for June 27-29 in San Antonio.

NCS⁴ Staff Appreciation Spotlight – June: Andrew Hood, Grace Gremillion, and Jonathan Stanford

Each month, the NCS⁴ recognizes staff members for their contributions to the NCS⁴ mission. Center accomplishments require exploration, initiative, teamwork, and versatility — we celebrate their hard work and tireless efforts.

This month’s staff spotlight is Andrew Hood, Web Developer; Grace Gremillion, Graduate Assistant; and Jonathan Stanford, Graduate Assistant.

In his role at the Center, Andrew Hood maintains legacy and conference/event websites in combination with other staff and the creation of the new ncs4.usm.edu website using a custom-built WordPress environment. Much of his work revolves around using React to create custom WordPress plugins and creating the NCS⁴ custom theme to display the site. Andrew is currently completing Bachelor of Science degrees in Computer Science and Mathematics at The University of Southern Mississippi.

In her role at the Center, Grace Gremillion assists in marketing and registration for the many special events hosted by NCS⁴. Gremillion is currently pursuing a master’s degree in Business Administration (MBA) at The University of Southern Mississippi.

In his role at the Center, Jonathan Stanford assists in operations and logistics as it relates to sports and special events. Stanford is currently pursuing a master’s degree in Business Administration with an emphasis in Sport Event Security Management (MBA) at The University of Southern Mississippi.

We appreciate our student support as the academic year ends and thank them for their efforts in preparing for our conference!

INTERPOL - Project STADIA Training for FIFA World Cup Held in Qatar

During the week of June 5-9, NCS⁴, along with INTERPOL – Project STADIA, returned to Qatar to continue training for the FIFA World Cup, to be held in November in Qatar. The featured training course was Evacuation Management for Major International Sporting Events, taught by NCS⁴ instructors Paul Denton and Michael Mello. Course participants were Qatari Police executives responsible for the event's safety and security.

Share Your Thoughts on Training Topics

The NCS⁴ is assessing the current need for training in crisis communications, public information, and emergency notification. To assist our team in evaluating and prioritizing topics for future curricula, please take the time to complete a short survey by clicking the link below.

As a thank you for completing the survey, you will be entered into a drawing for complimentary access to an NCS⁴ eLearning course of your choice. Your feedback will help prioritize training initiatives and assist the NCS⁴ in providing learning experiences that enhance the safety and security of sports, special events, and mass gatherings. If you have any questions, concerns, or require technical support, please reach out to our training team at NCS4Train@usm.edu. Thank you for all you do!

NCS⁴ LEARN – New e-Learning Platform Launches

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

• Certified Sports Venue Staff (CSVS) Training
• Crowd Manager Fundamentals
• Senior Leader Course: Sports and Entertainment Security

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

NCS⁴ Publishes Patron Screening Guide

The NCS⁴ is proud to release the Venue Managers Guide for Evaluating Patron Screening Solutions. The guide aims to assist venue managers and operators in better understanding patron screening solutions and the operational considerations for deploying patron-screening technology. Incorporated checklists provide a roadmap for reviewing solution documentation, technical specifications, operator needs, capabilities, and detection and operational considerations.

Research Webinar Available

A Research Seminar Series webinar is now available on demand. The seminar “Off the Rails” is led by researchers at the University of West Florida Administration and Law Department, which encompasses legal studies, construction management, sport management, and public administration. In the webinar, presenters address issues related to fan injuries and deaths associated with falling over a railing or falling as a result of a malfunctioning railing. The discussion examines whether the line of site exception of 26 inches is safe, analyzes load force concerns associated with fans leaning against the railing, and offers solutions to concerns regarding railing. Click the link below to watch the webinar.

Now Scheduling Select DHS/FEMA-Funded Training Courses

The NCS⁴ is currently offering four safety and security courses in face-to-face format. Each course is designed to be interactive and allow individuals to become more confident in their ability to identify, prevent, and manage incidents. The key principles that individuals will learn range from risk management, evacuation messaging, threat prioritization, and communication. Each class is being presented in a face-to-face format that requires 8 hours each day for two consecutive days.

You can learn more about each of these courses by visiting the NCS⁴ website or by clicking on one of the following courses below:

• AWR-167: Sport Event Risk Management
• MGT-412: Sport Venue Evacuation and Protective Actions
• MGT-466: Sport and Special Event Enhanced Risk Management and Assessment
• MGT-467: Sport and Special Event Public Information and Emergency Notification
• MGT-475: Crowd Management for Sport and Special Events – COMING SOON

These courses represent a cooperative effort between The University of Southern Mississippi’s National Center for Spectator Sports Security and Safety (USM/NCS⁴) and the Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service’s National Emergency Response and Recovery Training Center (TEEX/NERRTC), a member of The Texas A&M University System.

If you are interested in attending or hosting a training course, please email us at NCS4train@usm.edu.

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 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.

Upcoming Events Scheduled

Please mark your calendar and make plans to join us! Details coming this fall.

2023 Annual Conference Dates Announced

The 14th annual National Sports Safety and Security Conference & Exhibition will take place June 27-29, 2023, at the JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort & Spa in San Antonio, Texas. The gathering of top safety and security professionals across multiple disciplines provides a versatile and intimate environment dedicated to innovative technologies, products, services and educational programming. Please mark your calendar and make plans to join us! Full conference details will be released later this year.