Gaming Events Reviewing Security Following Jacksonville Shooting

Gaming Events Reviewing Security Following Jacksonville Shooting

The fall out from the Jacksonville shooting includes lawsuits, event cancellations and increased security for future gaming conventions.

The shooting at The Landing in Jacksonville, Fla. is making waves in the gaming community, including lawsuits, cancelled events and increased security at events.

Just two days after the shooting that killed two people and injured nine more, a Florida firm has announced it plans to file a lawsuit alleging negligent security contributed the mass shooting. Morgan & Morgan attorneys said that Americans have the right to be safe when they attend events in public places and that business and even organizers have a duty under law to provide protection for patrons.

"Businness as usual will no longer be tolerated by Americans," Matt Morgan said. " It's time for business owners and event organizers to step up their game." 

In response to the shooting and its fallout, Electrionic Arts (EA) has cancelled the remaining three qualifying events for its Madden Classic esports tournament.

"We have made the decision to cancel our three remaining Madden Classic qualifier events while we run a comprehensive review of safety protocols for competitors and spectators," EA CEO Andrew Wilson said in a statement released on Monday night. "We will work with our partners and our internal teams to establish a consistent level of security at all of our competitive gaming events."

EA isn't the only company looking to increase security at future events. Twitch, the video service that was streaming the Madden 19 competition during the shooting, is reviewing security plans for its October TwitchCon event.

The broadcast company has already posted security procedures to its TwitchCon website, including the notification that attendees would be scanned upon entry, all bags would be searched and uniformed police and uniformed security guards would be in attendance. After the shooting, however, the company released a statement saying those procedures are being reviewed for potential tightening.

"Security at TwitchCon is our top priority and is something we take very seriously at all our events," the company said in a statement. "We regularly review and iterate on our policies ad approach in order to provide a safe and positive experience for staff, attendees, and exhibitors. In the wake of yesterday's tragedy, we will be re-reviewing our plans and updating them accordingly."

The esports industry has been estimated to be worth nearly $1 billion. With events, competitive tournaments and conventions adding to a large percentage of the industry's revenue. Calls for security have now been heard loud and clear. 

About the Author

Sydny Shepard is the Executive Editor of Campus Security & Life Safety.

Featured

  • Allegion, Comfort Technologies Implement Mobile Credentials at the Artisan Apartment Homes in Florida

    Artisan Apartment Homes, a luxury apartment complex in Dunedin, Florida, recently transitioned from mechanical keys to electronic locks and centralized system software with support from Allegion US, a leading provider of security solutions, technology and services, and Florida-based Comfort Technologies, which specializes in deploying multifamily access control, IoT devices and software management solutions. Read Now

  • Mall of America Deploys AI-Powered Analytics to Enhance Parking Intelligence

    Mall of America®, the largest shopping and entertainment complex in North America, announced an expansion of its ongoing partnership with Axis Communications to deploy cutting-edge car-counting video analytics across more than a dozen locations. With this expansion, Mall of America (MOA) has boosted operational efficiency, improved safety and security, and enabled more informed decision-making around employee scheduling and streamlining transportation for large events. Read Now

  • Security Industry Association Launches New “askSIA” AI Tool

    The Security Industry Association (SIA) has unveiled a brand-new SIA member benefit – askSIA, a conversational AI agent designed to help users get the most out of their SIA membership, easily access SIA resources and find the latest information on SIA’s training and courses, reports and publications, events, certification offerings and more. SIA members can easily find askSIA by visiting the SIA homepage or looking for the askSIA icon in the top left of webpages. Read Now

    • Industry Events
  • Industry Embraces Mobile Access, Biometrics and AI

    A combination of evolving workplace dynamics, technology innovation and new user expectations is changing how people enter and interact with physical spaces. Access control is at the heart of these changes. Combined with biometrics and AI, mobile access control has become increasingly crucial for deploying entry solutions that are seamless, secure and adaptive to user needs. Read Now

  • Sustainable Video Solution Delivered for Landmark City of London Office Development

    An advanced, end-to-end video solution from IDIS, with a focus on reducing waste and costs, has helped a major office development in the City of London align its security with sustainability objectives. Read Now

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.

  • Automatic Systems V07

    Automatic Systems V07

    Automatic Systems, an industry-leading manufacturer of pedestrian and vehicle secure entrance control access systems, is pleased to announce the release of its groundbreaking V07 software. The V07 software update is designed specifically to address cybersecurity concerns and will ensure the integrity and confidentiality of Automatic Systems applications. With the new V07 software, updates will be delivered by means of an encrypted file.