How can we improve security at event venues?

Improving Security at Event Venues

So What?

Crowded places are more vulnerable to acts of terrorism and targeted violence because they are accessible and offer the potential to harm large numbers of people. These spaces include event venues like sports stadiums, arenas, and concert halls. But these venues also typically have detailed security plans for specific events. Still, improving security at event venues is often hampered by a disconnect between event organizers and security practitioners.

Project Summary 

This project aims to equip event security practitioners with knowledge about threats to event venues and strategies for communicating risk to stakeholders involved in planning and hosting events.

Purpose/Objectives 

The project's current phase aims to equip event security personnel with a broad knowledge of successful and thwarted attacks at organized events. It also aims to understand how event security managers can best acquire resources to mitigate venue and event risks.

Method 

The project method includes:

1. A review of existing literature
2. Collection of open-source information about acts of targeted violence and terrorism at or around event venues and audiences
3. Observation of event security and emergency planning meetings

Outputs and Impact 

• Scholarly articles
• Technical reports
• Brief white papers
• Oral presentations

	Tin Nguyen, Ph.D. University of Nebraska at Omaha Research Associate and Technology Transition Lead at NCITE College of Business Administration Expertise: Technology transition, industrial-organizational psychology
	Erin Kearns, Ph.D. University of Nebraska at Omaha Associate Professor, Head of Prevention Research Initiatives at NCITE School of Criminology and Criminal Justice Expertise: Relationship between public perceptions of terrorism and counterterrorism practices, relationship between communities and law enforcement