A recent Gallup poll cites Americans’ personal safety concerns are at a three-decade high, resulting in 66% of adults reporting skipping regular activities and 28% avoiding large-scale events specifically. Regardless of our individual political views about how and why we’ve come to fear crowds, we share a desire to gather safely and feel protected.  

And yet, I find in my work of perimeter security infrastructures that this is still a topic we’d rather not discuss openly. As though we have a covertly held collective belief that speaking about the worst possibilities creates more risk. But it is important to the integrity of all long-standing institutions that we stay ahead of the curve when it comes to maintaining secure events through regularly updated systems.  

Airports are a great example of how adaptable consumers are to new security measures. Since 2006, the additions of body scanners, luggage x-rays, more rigorous identity verification standards and canine units have become expected aspects of travel. Translating that same kind of evolution to the sports arena will come with different risk assessments but similar outcomes: updated expectations of what getting into arenas entails as well as an increased sense of safety once inside.  

Comprehensive security goes beyond perimeter control to include:

• Streamlined communication tools and applications for all teams with  cyber  security controls.
• Controlled plans for entry and exit including efficient emergency exit strategies.
• Permanent or temporary fencing taking into account the broader footprint of the event as well as special entry points for high security guests.
• Surveillance systems and video analytics with real time monitoring in high-risk spaces.
• Advanced crowd management infrastructure.
• Biometric systems and artificial intelligence including drone detection.
• Transparency in security measures. 

The goal of security operations is entirely to create and maintain safety of the event. And U.S. sports arenas are on the world stage in more ways than one. It’s important that we take every precaution available, streamlining our efforts to ensure that the only things playing out on that stage are the sports and the stories meant to accompany them. Transparently increasing security measures is what both creates the feeling of safety for the people and families who attend our events as well as actually ensuring it.

Some find it funny how often I attend events when my job entails thinking of every possible risk to them. But I also love the rush and camaraderie of large-scale sporting events. And we find that people are even more drawn to them at times when the external world feels unpredictable. It is for these reasons it has never been more important to ensure the safety and security of the game.

This is an important time for sports, both in terms of the large-scale events that are slated ahead but in its role in bringing people together. Protecting the fans, the players, the event teams and the sanctity of traditions has never been more important

Now is the time to lead the way in advancing our security so we never have to work to recover what was lost by not addressing it. Secure the perimeter, secure the game.

Anna Reahl is managing director and co-founder of Arcus Group , specializing in temporary security perimeters. She has been managing large-scale events for the past 30 years in various roles, including 14 National Special Security Events (NSSEs), and co-hosts the podcast “Managing Your Perimeter.”