Social Distancing will be Prominent When Sporting Complexes Reopen

  • By Peter Ford
  • Aug 07, 2020

Aficionados across the United States await the return of professional sports and the reopening of stadiums and sports complexes. The bad news at this point is that we simply do not know exactly when fans can return in mass-scale to watch live sporting events. The good news is that they will eventually return — although likely with some pandemic-induced protocols.

While hard timelines remain estimations and could change with a new spike in COVID cases, organizations are planning for the time when they can reopen their gates. As they plan, they will seek guidance from health officials to establish screening protocols for workers and guests to minimize sick individuals from entering. They will also seek guidance on face coverings, temperature checks and social distancing to mitigate the risk of exposure in case potentially contagious individuals attend events.

One of the most prominent changes fans will assuredly see when sporting facilities reopen is the practice of social distancing. Pre-game festivities that typically draw large crowds are likely to be cancelled, with tailgaters closely watched to ensure they maintain appropriate distance. Lines to enter facilities, at concession stands and restrooms will probably be much longer as individuals are kept at safe distances. Seating capacity will also be reduced, with seats left empty for space to separate fans.

Temperature screening stations near gate entrances will also be a probable addition to the stadium experience, with those displaying a high temperature being directed to additional screening by on-hand medical personnel who will determine if they can enter the facility. Then of course, there will be protocols for the wearing of face coverings by spectators, staff and first responders.

As the world continues to grapple with the coronavirus, we might not know exactly when sports will return in its past form. But they will, and we will have to adapt to the changes required to keep the pandemic under control.

This article originally appeared in the July / August 2020 issue of Security Today.

About the Author

Peter Ford is the director of G4S Corporate Risk Services.

Featured

  • Cost: Reactive vs. Proactive Security

    Security breaches often happen despite the availability of tools to prevent them. To combat this problem, the industry is shifting from reactive correction to proactive protection. This article will examine why so many security leaders have realized they must “lead before the breach” – not after. Read Now

  • Achieving Clear Audio

    In today’s ever-changing world of security and risk management, effective communication via an intercom and door entry communication system is a critical communication tool to keep a facility’s staff, visitors and vendors safe. Read Now

  • Beyond Apps: Access Control for Today’s Residents

    The modern resident lives in an app-saturated world. From banking to grocery delivery, fitness tracking to ridesharing, nearly every service demands another download. But when it comes to accessing the place you live, most people do not want to clutter their phone with yet another app, especially if its only purpose is to open a door. Read Now

  • Survey: 48 Percent of Worshippers Feel Less Safe Attending In-Person Services

    Almost half (48%) of those who attend religious services say they feel less safe attending in-person due to rising acts of violence at places of worship. In fact, 39% report these safety concerns have led them to change how often they attend in-person services, according to new research from Verkada conducted online by The Harris Poll among 1,123 U.S. adults who attend a religious service or event at least once a month. Read Now

  • AI Used as Part of Sophisticated Espionage Campaign

    A cybersecurity inflection point has been reached in which AI models has become genuinely useful in cybersecurity operation. But to no surprise, they can used for both good works and ill will. Systemic evaluations show cyber capabilities double in six months, and they have been tracking real-world cyberattacks showing how malicious actors were using AI capabilities. These capabilities were predicted and are expected to evolve, but what stood out for researchers was how quickly they have done so, at scale. Read Now

Most   Popular

New Products

  • A8V MIND

    A8V MIND

    Hexagon’s Geosystems presents a portable version of its Accur8vision detection system. A rugged all-in-one solution, the A8V MIND (Mobile Intrusion Detection) is designed to provide flexible protection of critical outdoor infrastructure and objects. Hexagon’s Accur8vision is a volumetric detection system that employs LiDAR technology to safeguard entire areas. Whenever it detects movement in a specified zone, it automatically differentiates a threat from a nonthreat, and immediately notifies security staff if necessary. Person detection is carried out within a radius of 80 meters from this device. Connected remotely via a portable computer device, it enables remote surveillance and does not depend on security staff patrolling the area.

  • Connect ONE’s powerful cloud-hosted management platform provides the means to tailor lockdowns and emergency mass notifications throughout a facility – while simultaneously alerting occupants to hazards or next steps, like evacuation.

    Connect ONE®

    Connect ONE’s powerful cloud-hosted management platform provides the means to tailor lockdowns and emergency mass notifications throughout a facility – while simultaneously alerting occupants to hazards or next steps, like evacuation.

  • Camden CV-7600 High Security Card Readers

    Camden CV-7600 High Security Card Readers

    Camden Door Controls has relaunched its CV-7600 card readers in response to growing market demand for a more secure alternative to standard proximity credentials that can be easily cloned. CV-7600 readers support MIFARE DESFire EV1 & EV2 encryption technology credentials, making them virtually clone-proof and highly secure.