Law enforcement officials investigate a shooting at the GLHF Game Bar at the Jacksonville (Fla.) Landing. The shooting occurred Aug. 27 during a Madden NFL 19 video game tournament. (Getty Images)
Facilities that host esports events told VenuesNow that they are reviewing security protocols in the wake of a shooting at a Jacksonville, Fla., competition Sunday that left three people dead and 12 others injured.
The event, which was taking place at GLHF Game Bar at Jacksonville Landing, a downtown shopping and dining complex, was the first of four scheduled qualifying tournaments leading up to the Madden Classic, a tournament in which gamers were competing in the latest version of the popular football game Madden NFL for a chance to play for a top prize of $25,000 at the finals in Las Vegas in October.
The man named in the shooting, one of the three dead, was a player who had been eliminated from the tournament earlier in the day before he pulled one of two guns from his backpack and began firing, authorities said.
Electronic Arts, publisher of the game and organizer of the tournament, canceled the remaining three qualifying events, which were scheduled for Esports Arena in Santa Ana, Calif.; Dulles Expo Center in Chantilly, Va.; and Java Gaming Café in Carrollton, Texas.
The decision to cancel was made “while we run a comprehensive review of safety protocols for competitors and spectators,” said Electronic Arts CEO Andrew Wilson in a statement. “We will work with our partners and our internal teams to establish a consistent level of security at all of our competitive gaming events.”
Esports, and the number of competitions surrounding it, has grown exponentially in recent years. Events take place everywhere from small bars to large arenas, and the shooting has prompted a re-evaluation of security measures for all of them.
ESL, the world’s largest independent esports organization, typically stages its events at larger venues, including Barclays Center in Brooklyn, N.Y.; Oracle Arena in Oakland, Calif.; and Wintrust Arena in Chicago.
The event brings together top gamers from several games. In a statement provided to VenuesNow, the esports company said: “ESL events are subject to tight security standards. Nevertheless, the team is currently in the process of reviewing security protocols.” The company said it is working with security teams at these large venues on these measures.
Barclays Center will host ESL One, a two-day, $250,000 tournament with eight of the top Counter-Strike: Global Offensive teams battling for prize money, on Sept. 29-30. The Brooklyn arena previously held the ESL event in September 2016 and 2017.
The arena’s vice president of communications, Mandy Gutmann, said, “The safety and security of ESL One guests, employees and athletes at Barclays Center are of the highest importance, and we are working closely with the venue to ensure that every precaution necessary is taken.”
Gutman also stressed that “everyone who enters Barclays Center goes through our security process.”
Wintrust Arena is preparing to host ESL’s Intel Extreme Masters competition on Nov. 10-11. Officials said security measures include screenings for all guests, including passing through a magnetometer and being subject to a strict no bag/clear bag policy that ensures prohibited items cannot be brought into a facility. Chicago police presence on site includes the venue’s chief security officer, a canine detail and members of the city’s bike unit.
Brian Fisher, head of communications for Allied Esports and Esports Arena Las Vegas at the Luxor, an MGM property, said: “Security at Esports Arena Las Vegas will always be our top priority, and we continue to work with Luxor and MGM Resorts to ensure a safe environment.”
Mike Downing is chief security officer for Oak View Group and president of OVG subsidiary Prevent Advisors (OVG also owns VenuesNow), and he said he does not think the demographics of esports events — mostly young males — is an elevated security concern. “The fact that you have a mostly male event, such as a motorcycle event, does not turn the event into an elevated threat,” he said.
Downing said that while he was aware that gaming competitions were being played at small and large venues, it has been the smaller ones without security plans in place that have been a growing concern.
“Restaurants and nightclubs need to recognize they are soft targets and look at lighting, cameras, perimeters and best practices,” he said. “Whenever one of these types of venues is used for a different kind of use than they are normally set up for, they need to create a threat assessment and come up with policies and procedures that will kick in for the new-use event.”
He believes that regardless of the specific event, there should be a screening process in place for every event. “Every event has its own special considerations,” he said. “Whether it’s someone coming from the Middle East to speak or a controversial film premiere or an esports event, there shouldn’t be just one security plan in place. Security should always be evolving.”