Sports venue security: public policy options for SEAR 4–5 events

Abstract

Although the United States made considerable advances in improving sport venue security following 9/11, many sporting events remain vulnerable to attack. The perceived lack of threat to smaller venues, budget limitations and technical constraints are restricting the level of patron and vehicle screening at Special Event Assessment Rating (SEAR) 4–5 events. This thesis assesses the risk of attack by analyzing 21st century developments in explosive trace detection and closed-circuit television technologies, as well as trends surrounding the terrorist target value of SEAR 4–5 events. The research shows that these events have become viable, valuable terrorist targets because of increasing attendance and rapidly expanding exposure via cable television, satellite broadcasts, and the Internet. It identifies shortcomings of national protection doctrine and outlines potential cost-effective policy options to better support SEAR 4–5 sporting event venue security. Establishing a national doctrine, organizational support and training standards, along with deploying select surveillance and detection technologies, will bring untold benefits to the national protection mission.