Mattox adds that it is more likely for fans to rush the court during basketball games, as the playing area is easier to access than in a football stadium. For this reason, extra precautions should be taken.
“If [a riot] does happen to you, act immediately to control it,” Marciani says. “That way, you can mitigate the risk of injuries and deaths.”
Review Successes, Failures
In addition to regular and NCS4 training, Craig Mattox and other Southeastern Conference personnel, as well as sports management directors from participating universities and campus security officials, hold an annual summer meeting.
The meeting, Mattox explains, is intended to address what worked and what didn’t work during the previous year’s sporting events.
“It’s a great meeting just for everybody to get together and exchange ideas and common practices on their campuses that everyone can benefit from,” he says. Mattox keeps records of incidents to discuss at the meeting.
During the meeting, he adds, attendees discuss the “parameters we have in place for fan seating and student seating” as well as other measures meant to prevent possible incidents.
Training, Drills Are Key for Sporting Event Security
The University of Southern Mississippi holds a minimum of two table top exercises a year to prepare for athletic events. The exercises involve campus police, emergency management, fire/hazmat, event managers and the supervisors of the security.
“We train them, and we work with them constantly to give them an updated skill set,” NCS4 Director Lou Marciani says.
The university also regularly performs evacuation exercises.
Additionally, through NCS4, Marciani and his staff provide event management training to other universities and venue employees, security administrators and other relevant personnel. NCS4’s third annual Conference and Exhibition will be held in New Orleans July 31 – Aug. 2. (For more information, visit www.ncs4.com.)
NCS4 training covers risk management, addressing the media and FEMA training courses, in addition to other topics.
The Southeastern Conference participates in this training, says Craig Mattox, the conference’s assistant commissioner. Mattox and his team also brought Marciani in to speak to the entire conference staff.
“It was really hands on,” Mattox says of the training. “They got the staff involved, and we broke out into little groups and they would give us different situations to address.”
Southeastern Conference Fines
The Southeastern Conference deters fans from accessing the competition area during games by implementing a fine structure.
- First Offense: $1,000
- Second Offense: Up to $25,000. “Now, the commissioner, depending on the severity of [the violation], can say ‘okay, just fine him $15,000,’” says Craig Mattox, assistant commissioner for the conference.
- Third Offense: $50,000. “We actually just recently had to fine an institution $50,000 for the second time within a year,” Mattox says.
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