As security threats become more prevalent at venues across the globe, venue operators are turning to magnetometers for screening and protecting guests prior to entering events.
“In today’s age, it’s something you have to get used to,” said Rich Carollo, director of sales and marketing at the Colorado Convention Center, Denver. “Every time there’s one of those horrible events, things get tighter.”
Carollo pointed to the terrorist bombing at Manchester Arena in the United Kingdom and the 2016 Orlando nightclub shooting that killed 49 people as wakeup calls for convention center operators.
In the first quarter of this year, the Colorado Convention Center and Bellco Theater spent $15,000 on 10 magnetometers, Carollo said. They’ve had some interesting items taken from guests entering the venues, including bullets. “It’s surprising what you find. Open ammunition — bullets. Someone carrying loose ammunition is kinda strange,” he said.
Employing magnetometers (mags) is decided on a case-by-case basis at the SMG-managed convention center and at other venues. However, the Bellco Theater, Denver, on the same property — also managed by SMG — has magnetometers up and running at all times, Carollo said.
The convention center opted to use mags more selectively for when politicians come to town or for events that warrant more security. For example, in July the center used them at the Western Conservative Summit, he said.
“When you have politicians and large targets, safety is a concern,” Carollo said, highlighting that the convention center is not so concerned with security for events featuring Elmo as they are if Flo Rida is playing.
Communicating with guests is of huge importance to make sure the ingress of crowds goes smoothly. Usually, they’ll send an email blast to ticket holders, alerting them to arrive early.
“It does take longer to get people into a venue. If a show starts at 8 p.m., people often show up at 7:50 or 7:55,” Carollo said, noting how that puts the venue and the performers in a bind to start on time. With communication via social media, email and ticket notices, people generally will show up earlier.
“They show up and it’s like an airport security line,” he said. “We’ve gotten it down to where no one is waiting more than five to 10 minutes. Attendees don’t complain that much, as they know it’s for their own safety.”
A lot of the time, the use of magnetometers is client driven, meaning those who book events or shows at convention centers will request and/or require the extra security.
Events DC, which operates the Walter E. Washington Convention Center, also uses magnetometers on a case-by-case basis, said Samuel Thomas, GM and SVP.
Unlike the Colorado Convention Center, Walter E. Washington Convention Center does not own its own magnetometers. Instead, clients that want them at various events will rent them or hire an outside company to run them.
As you can imagine, high-security events — such as the Christians Unite For Israel Conference — happen often in Washington, D.C., Thomas said. “Heads of state definitely use magnetometers,” he said. “It really is events that are organized and have jurisdiction under the Department of Homeland Security and the Secret Service. Inaugural balls, or the Nuclear Security Summit that we’ve hosted twice now, all use magnetometers.”
The convention center had discussions about having magnetometers full-time at the venue, but it’s not in the cards yet, Thomas said.
“What we’re finding more often as a level below magnetometers are bag checks at gate shows, or shows where the attendees pay upon arrival,” he said.
Most politicians and high-profile conferences now place security above all else when pricing where they want to book their event, Thomas highlighted, saying that in the past, it wasn’t so important.
“Over the last 10 years, based on a number of incidents that have taken place, they rank that at the top,” he said.
They also now have K9 units coming in and walking through the building for security.
Michael Marion, general manager of Verizon Arena, North Little Rock, Ark., said his venue has considered having K9 bomb-sniffing dogs outside the arena after shows.
The 18,000-seat arena bought 27 magnetometers a year and a half ago and uses them at almost every event. The only time they’re not used is if everyone at a banquet — say 40 people — can be identified. But when the venue hosts larger events, concerts aside, that have 800 people, the magnetometers certainly are used, Marion said.
“They’re the hot new topic,” he said, noting that his venue is mainly a concert arena and they don’t have a sports tenant. “A year ago, the National Basketball Association and the National Hockey League required all the buildings that they play in to use mags. A lot of us at the International Association of Venue Managers meeting of the second league markets wondered if this is was something we need to move to. When San Bernardino happened, and the club in Orlando, I thought we need to do this.”
Marion put out a bid for the magnetometers, but before they purchased them, they rented the mags, he said.
He had to train his staff and attendees, but overall it’s been a great addition to security, he said.
“Nobody is whining about the mags. Most of the patrons are happy that you’re doing this. It’s a very visible way of saying we want to keep you safe. There’s a lot of positive PR in it,” he said.
The venue has 1,000 baskets they hand out to guests, and at the bottom of the basket is a graphic, telling them what they should and shouldn’t put in them prior to going through the magnetometers, which helps speed up the lines.
Rebecca Bonnevier, Century Link Center, Bossier City, La., gave Marion the idea to put the pictures in the basket to make the process smoother.
Next up for venues is worrying about what happens outside, after the shows, Marion said, noting that the bombing in Manchester happened outside the venue.
“The next challenge is thinking about what happens outside the building,” he said. “We’re looking at having a bomb dog after the show and more security outside after the shows.”
Venues and convention centers often waiver on whether or not they should buy magnetometers. The Los Angeles Convention Center (LACC) decided to make the purchase, while the San Diego Convention Center has their clients set up magnetometers rentals for events.
“LACC takes safety and security very seriously,” said Brad Gessner, GM, LACC and SVP, AEG Facilities. “Two years ago we purchased 20 magnetometers as well as 20 metal detector wands that we make available to events that have the need to provide this level of security screening.”
Events like Naturalization Ceremonies, EDM Concerts, the LA Auto Show and the BET Experience are just a few of the events that have chosen to utilize the magnetometers to screen attendees to their events, he said.
“We also have implemented a new requirement that any event drawing 5,000 attendees or more employ Los Angeles police officers to monitor activity and provide an elevated level of security,” stressed Gessner. “We anticipate the need for this level of security screening will continue to grow given the safety and security issues our world faces today, and have just placed an additional order for five more magnetometers given the demand for their use.”
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CONVENTION CENTERS HARDEN THE TARGET
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