Annual Sports Safety and Security Conference, Exhibition set for July 31 Aug. 2

Managing issues associated with spectator violence at sports and other entertainment events will be the topic of the national forum at this year's third annual National Sports Safety and Security Conference and Exhibition in New Orleans July 31-Aug. 2. The conference and exhibition, to be held at the historic Roosevelt Hotel, will be hosted by the National Center for Spectator Sports Safety and Security (NCS⁴) at The University of Southern Mississippi.

Among the keynote speakers and expert presenters for the conference are National Football League Arizona Cardinals President Michael Bidwell; William Flynn, deputy assistant secretary for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Office of Infrastructure; Randy Bernard, chief executive officer, IndyCar; Dan Mullin, senior vice president for Major League Baseball's Department of Investigations; and Gordon Graham of Graham Research Consultants.

“We're honored and pleased to have such a distinguished lineup of speakers and panel presenters for this year's conference, as well as vendors for our exhibition touting some of the latest technology and services available in the security industry,” said Dr. Lou Marciani, director of NCS⁴.

A wide variety of other topics will be covered in panel sessions moderated by experts and researchers in the field of spectator sports and security, including:

*Rising rates of spectator injuries and fatalities
*Active shooter scenarios
*Risk management
*Americans with Disabilities Act issues
*Weather issues
*Game day management issues
*Non-attendee event spectators and their impact on security
*Crowd Control
*Emergency Management/Fire/EMS/ First Responder Unified Planning

Also on the conference agenda are presentation of the National Sports Security Distinguished Leadership Award, sponsored by eVerifile, to an individual making outstanding contributions to the field of sports security. Other awards being presented include the Professionals of the Year, nominated through the professional sports leagues and sponsored by IBM; and the NCS⁴ National Facility of Merit Awards, with nominations also coming through the professional sports leagues.

“We're deeply grateful to eVerifile and IBM for their sponsorships of these awards, which validate the hard work of those advancing the safety and security of everyone associated with sports and entertainment venues,” Marciani said. 

For more information on this year's National Sports Safety and Security Conference and Exhibition, call 601.266.6183 or visit www.ncs4.com.