Tue,
03/17/2026 – 01:57pm | By: NCS4 workers
The National Center for Spectator Sports Safety and Security (NCS⁴) at The University of Southern Mississippi (USM) just lately hosted the National Professional
Sports and Entertainment Safety and Security Forum at UNC Charlotte. More than 150
security and safety professionals from throughout the nation, representing all areas
{of professional} sports activities and leisure, attended the sold-out discussion board.
The extremely anticipated occasion introduced collectively skilled sports activities and leisure
security and safety practitioners to deal with urgent challenges and share revolutionary
options to make sure protected environments for sports activities, venues and occasions.
“The Professional Sports and Entertainment Safety and Security Forum stays an vital
platform for collaboration throughout the trade,” stated Lauren Cranford, NCS4 director of operations. “By bringing collectively safety leaders and subject-matter
consultants, we’re capable of share significant insights, talk about rising dangers, and collect
essential enter that helps us regularly replace and strengthen finest practices for
venues and occasions to assist safer environments.”
The discussion board featured keynote audio system, knowledgeable panel discussions and moderated periods
to assessment the NCS4 Best Practices for skilled sports activities and leisure security and safety. Topics included:
- Staff Training and Development
- Fan Behavior
- Communications
- Perimeter Security
- Severe Weather Planning
- Command Center Operations
General periods lined the evolving risk panorama, safety challenges associated
to athlete harassment and stalking, competition security, public-private sector partnerships
and info sharing.
“The discussion board was a unbelievable alternative for trade professionals to assemble and share
classes realized from their respective venues,” stated Paul Grohowski, MPA, safety
supervisor, Orlando Venues. “The depth of expertise among the many attendees, audio system and
instructors at NCS4 occasions is second to none. I might encourage anybody within the sports activities and leisure
trade to hunt out and attend any NCS4 coaching workshops, conferences or boards sooner or later. The NCS4 group’s dedication to continuous enchancment and its fixed work to determine
trade finest practices are true sport changers for safety professionals.”
Jason Caceres, PSGE safety occasion supervisor at Amazon stated, “The discussion board was a terrific
alternative to share information throughout the sports activities and leisure trade and to
collaborate with friends on the challenges and finest practices we’re all navigating.
Events like this present priceless perception into the place we stand collectively and give
us the prospect to judge whether or not our present requirements and approaches must be
adjusted to raised serve our organizations, venues and communities.”
The discussion board wouldn’t be doable with out the NCS4’s Forum Solution Partners. Special due to Title Partner – SkySafe; Reception Partners – 24/7 Software and
ClearForce Inc.; and Signature Partners – Accredit Solutions, Alcatraz, Ameristar
Perimeter Security, ASSA ABLOY, BEST Crowd Management, Bluescape, Eyelock, Genetec,
Hanwha Vision, Hill & Smith Infrastructure Ltd., Hyperion Technology Group Inc., InControl
– The Simulation Company, Meridian, Motorola Solutions, NEWCOM, Perry Weather, Raven
Controls and Salient Operations Group.
Those excited about future NCS⁴ occasions and initiatives are inspired to go to the
NCS4 website for updates and engagement alternatives.
About the seventeenth Annual Conference
The National Sports Safety and Security Conference & Exhibition can be held June
23-June 25, 2026, at the JW Marriott Desert Springs Resort and Spa in Palm Desert,
Calif. The convention will entice over 500 attendees and 70 exhibitors representing
skilled sports activities, intercollegiate athletics, interscholastic athletics, marathon
and endurance occasions, sports activities and leisure services, and those that present security
and safety merchandise and companies to the trade. Visit the conference website for extra