Wed,
09/27/2023 – 09:07am | By: NCS4 Staff
The National Center for Spectator Sports Safety and Security (NCS4) at The University of Southern Mississippi (USM) has published results from its Spectator Sports Safety and Security Survey in an
Industry Research Report.
The study aimed to gauge sport spectators’ perceptions of safety and security at live
events, awareness and support of policies and procedures, and willingness to embrace
new measures and technological solutions to enhance their safety and game-day experience.
Understanding spectators’ perceptions of safety and security practices and concerns
while attending events can help venue and event directors plan accordingly to ensure
the optimal spectator experience.
The project was approved by USM’s Institutional Review Board (IRB), which reviews
academic research involving human subjects to ensure it follows federal and university
requirements. A total of 400 participants across the continental U.S. completed the
online survey.
The report outlines the results of the study in the following sections: Participant
Demographics and Attendance Habits; Perceptions of Safety and Security Practices,
Technologies, and Industry Threats; and Perceptions of Fan Behavior and the Spectator
Experience. Industry recommendations are also provided.
“We are pleased with the research output and hope sport venue and event security professionals
and technology solution providers find value in the results,” said Dr. Stacey A. Hall,
NCS4 Executive Director and Professor of Sport Management.
The NCS4 administers the spectator survey every two years to investigate the general perceptions
of industry safety and security practices and the potential impact of related current
events among sports spectators.
View the report.
About NCS4:
Established in 2006, the National Center for Spectator Sports Safety and Security
(NCS⁴) is the nation’s only academic center devoted to the study and practice of sports
safety and security. The NCS4 is partially underwritten by grants from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS)
and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). The NCS4 mission focuses on three key pillars – Training and Education, Research, and Outreach. For more information about NCS4, call 601.266.6183.
