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NCS4 Announces Inaugural Summit Focusing on Safety and Security for Entertainment Events and Venues

Sat, 11/02/2019 - 01:39pm

The National Center for Spectator Sports Safety and Security (NCS4) at The University of Southern Mississippi (USM) is expanding its lineup of summits to include the inaugural National Entertainment Safety and Security Summit on March 24-26 in Biloxi. Miss.

“There is a growing need in our country to provide best practices and key resources to managers and operators of entertainment events and venues,” said Dr. Lou Marciani, NCS4 Director. “This first-of-its-kind Summit will be a pivotal moment in securing entertainment events for years to come.”

Dr. Marciani highlighted major award shows, esports, parades, entertainment centers, festivals, and convention centers as entities that can greatly benefit from using the Summit to enhance and evolve their security and safety protocols.

“Attendees will be tasked with a great responsibility, Dr. Marciani said. “They have to be trailblazers. They have to set the benchmark that the rest of the industry will look to for guidance.”

Summit participants will help create the first-ever compilation of best practices, key resources, and industry-approved guidelines for any unique safety and security challenge in the entertainment sector.

To promote a consistent methodology for risk management and security planning, NCS4 utilizes their Summits and events to bring industry professionals together to discuss current safety and security issues, identify solutions, and propose future best practices through professional collaboration.

The National Entertainment Safety and Security Summit will see thought leaders from around the United States converge to authorize the first edition of the Entertainment Safety and Security Best Practices Guide. This guide, curated by the elite in entertainment security, will act as a blueprint for all future events and venues. Operators and managers can reference the guide to fully understand the best protocol and most up-to-date practices, which they can be confident using knowing these practices were established by their most esteemed peers.

“Having an established Best Practice Guide is invaluable,” said Andrea Cunningham, Vice President of Parks & Resorts International at The Walt Disney Company. “In today’s fast-pace society, events and venues are multi-functional and have to be ready to adapt to a multitude of needs. Having the protocol that industry professionals fine-tuned can make those transitions seamless.”

The Summit places attendees in immersive discussions and collaborations tasked with providing venue and facility managers, and first-responder agencies the solutions for the distinctive threats and vulnerabilities specific to their environment.

“The entertainment industry is incredibly versatile with how events and locales function,” said Joe Lewis, President of the Joe Lewis Company. “The main constant for each and every event is safety and security. Discussions at the Summit and the upcoming publication of the Entertainment Safety and Security Best Practice Guide will become the standard resource to address event safety and security challenges.”

NCS4 offers complimentary Best Practice Guides on their website for multiple disciplines including Marathon and Running Events, Intercollegiate Athletics, Interscholastic Athletics and After-School Activities, and Commercial Sports. 

To maximize each participant’s experience, NCS4 limits Summits to 125 thought leaders. Registration is now open and more information can be found at www.ncs4.usm.edu.