Make Plans 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, 2023, at the JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort & Spa. 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.
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 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.
- 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
Returning exhibitors and sponsors are now being accepted. Returning 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.
*Registration for new exhibitors and sponsors will open on Dec. 1.
We look forward to seeing you in San Antonio!
The Fall 2022 issue of Gameday Security Magazine Is Now Available!
We are excited to present our Fall edition of the Gameday Security magazine. The articles in this issue address severe weather preparedness, drone detection and mitigation, and building a security infrastructure for a new sports league. We also highlight the tremendous impact the NCS⁴ continues to have on the industry and our upcoming events.
Last Chance to Register for the Marathon and Endurance Events Forum
AN EVENT FOCUSED ON ADDRESSING CRITICAL SAFETY AND SECURITY CHALLENGES FACING MARATHONS AND ENDURANCE EVENTS
The Marathon and Endurance Events Safety and Security Forum is fast approaching! The full agenda is available online. Visit the event website to view the agenda, register now, and book your hotel.
THANKS TO OUR SOLUTION PARTNERS!
Register Now to Join Us for the 2023 Intercollegiate Athletics Forum
AN EVENT FOCUSED ON ADDRESSING CRITICAL SAFETY AND SECURITY CHALLENGES FACING INTERCOLLEGIATE ATHLETIC PROGRAMS
The NCS⁴ will host the 2023 National Intercollegiate Athletics Safety and Security Forum on January 17-18, 2023, in College Station, TX. The objective of the Forum is to address key safety and security challenges facing intercollegiate athletic programs and to share best practices for continuous improvement.
Collegiate athletic programs and venues attract a large number of athletes and spectators, making safety and security a top priority for venue operators, public safety officials, and local communities. Discussing current issues and exploring solutions in a forum environment will help colleges and universities, athletic conferences, and associations enhance safety and security plans and operations.
WHO WILL BE THERE: Athletic administrators and staff from NCAA Division I, II, and III institutions, athletic conference administrators, football bowl administrators, NCAA representatives, campus law enforcement, local and state law enforcement, facility managers, government officials, emergency managers, fire/HAZMAT, emergency medical services, city planners, governing bodies, sports commissions, and invited Solution Partners.
We have very limited space for this event, and registration is based on a first-come, first-serve basis. Visit the event website to view the agenda, register now, and book your hotel. The hotel room block ends Saturday, December 17.
THANKS TO OUR SOLUTION PARTNERS!
Companies that provide products or services to the sports safety and security industry may only attend the Forum as Solution Partners. For information about becoming a Solution Partner for this event, please contact Sara Priebe, NCS⁴ Event and Membership Manager, at sara.priebe@usm.edu or 601-266-6858. The deadline to be included in print materials is November 30.
ICYMI – The NCS⁴ Best Practices Are Available Online!
You asked for it, and we answered…The NCS⁴ industry safety and security best practices are now available in an online format. Search for and find best practices at your fingertips – on gameday, in a meeting, 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.
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.
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.
Welcome New Graduate Assistant, Natalie Williams
Natalie Williams is a Graduate Assistant for the National Center for Spectator Sports Safety and Security, where she assists with event planning and marketing. Before joining NCS⁴, Natalie received her Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the University of South Alabama. Natalie is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Business Administration at The University of Southern Mississippi. Welcome to the team, Natalie!
NCS⁴ Staff Present on Crisis Communications at ISC East
Two NCS⁴ staff presented a session titled Crisis Communication for Public Assembly at ISC East earlier this week. Daniel Ward, Director of Training and Exercise, and Brooke Graves, Senior Training Manager, led the session which addressed the effective and efficient use of communication methodologies and technologies to improve safety, security, and resilience with communities and organizations. Participants were introduced to crisis communication best practices and participated in activities designed to prepare organizations for flexible and scalable crisis communications in complex, dynamic environments.
NCS⁴ in the News
Education Week article on School Safety
Brooke Graves, Senior Training Manager, was recently interviewed for an article on school safety that was published in Education Week. Click the button below to read the article.
Athletic Business Article with the Executive Director
Athletic Business interviewed Dr. Stacey A. Hall, NCS⁴ Executive Director, about the Venue Security Director Industry Report and her thoughts on the survey results as well as current challenges facing venue operators. Click the button below to read the article.
Additionally, a webinar about the report was recently created by Dr. Hall and Dr. Joslyn Zale, co-authors of the report, and can be viewed on our website.
ICYMI: The NCS⁴ Publishes Industry Report on Professional Sports Venue Security Issues, Emerging Threats, and Technology Solutions
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.
Parent Faces Assault Charge in Alleged Coach-Punching Incident
A Connecticut man is facing charges after authorities say he punched a coach during a youth football game Sunday. Michael Curry, 42, of Bridgeport, has been charged with third-degree assault and second-degree breach of peace, according to a Connecticut Post report. Read more
ICYMI: Protestor gets brutally tackled by the security as she tries to force her way on the court during Memphis Grizzlies vs Minnesota Timberwolves
Protestors and 'fans' running on to the courts and pitches have been a recurring theme in all facets of the sport throughout history. This intermittent fashion has rather become a trend in modern day sports for fans to appear in the limelight and gain some exposure to their antics. Read more
Japan festival featuring superstar Kimura draws huge crowd, security tight
Local authorities in the central Japanese city of Gifu were on maximum alert Sunday as 460,000 people, more than the city's population, flocked to a festival to catch a glimpse of a superstar dressed as a warlord astride a horse. Read more
NFL Urges Lawmakers to Address Drone Threats and Nefarious Actors
Cathy Lanier, the Chief Security Officer for the National Football League (NFL), is concerned about unauthorized drones flying above stadiums during games and the potential for accidents or even a mass attack on the crowd below. Last season, the NFL encountered some 1,400 drones over stadiums, even though there were no-fly-zone orders in place. Read more
Man Dies Parachuting Into HS Football Pregame Ceremony
A man reportedly died after attempting to parachute into a Tennessee high school football pregame event Friday night. The man crash-landed during a pregame ceremony involving three parachutists before the 7 p.m. kickoff of football game between David Crockett High School and Jonesborough High School. Read more
Why Are Marines Working Unpaid Shifts as Security Guards at California Concerts?
Thanks to their depiction in Hollywood movies and military recruitment ads, members of the United States Marine Corps have a reputation for being highly trained soldiers, ready to ship off to the front lines at a moment’s notice. But at San Francisco’s inaugural Portola Festival this past September, PJ Lusk, a Marine stationed at Camp Pendleton, found himself corralling concertgoers as a volunteer security guard. Read more
Commission: Tear Gas Was Main Cause of Indonesian Crowd Crush That Left 135 Dead
The indiscriminate use of tear gas by police has been identified as the main cause of a crowd crush at an October Indonesian soccer match that left 135 dead. A commission released the finding of their investigation of what led to tragedy at Kanjuruhan stadium in East Java's Malang city after the defeat of the home side Arema FC to Persebaya Surabaya. Read more
SEC Reviewing Event Security After Tennessee, LSU Field-Storming Incidents
The Southeastern Conference announced Friday that it has created a working group on event security designed to review and improve strategies to prevent crowd incursions on playing fields and courts. Read more
Nebraska Cracking Down on Alcohol in Student Section at Football Games
The University of Nebraska athletic department has warned students that increased security in the student section at Memorial Stadium will be targeting alcohol possession and consumption, as well as other misconduct, for the remainder of the season. Read more
Minneapolis Man Charged With Postgame Attack on Soccer Coach
A Minneapolis man has been charged with attacking a soccer coach after a game last month at Armatage Park. Read more