“The Super Bowl is now magnitude large enough to almost deny the imagination,” said former NFL commissioner Paul Taliabue.
Every year, on the first Sunday of February, America pretends to be the Super Bowl, the biggest and most important, most expensive sporting event of the year. This huge event rivals several other large-scale events, such as the World Cup, the Olympics, and the Tour de France.
It’s a big challenge for security. Can we properly consider all attendees, quell the threats when they pop up and keep the flow of the event and the talk of the story alive?
If there’s one guy who can answer that question, it’s Richmond. Ty, CEO of Allied Universal, America’s largest security contractor, is responsible for thousands of security officers at the Super Bowl. We interviewed Ty to figure out what exactly goes into the security of events on this scale.
He said it is actually more important than managing intelligence advance events in real time. Ty also ran through his recruitment process – how bestiality to trustworthy personnel in the digital age, and whether terrorism and drunken disorder were a greater threat to the event.
Here’s the complete interview:
How to manage a large crowd
CMW: In other interviews, he says crowd management is the number one concern for security contractors. Can you break down what’s in managing these large crowds?
Ty Richmond: Certainly. Let me give you two examples.
The venue is challenging fan-throughput. Enter people quickly into the venue, ensuring appropriate screening protocols. There’s a balance between maximizing throughput and maintaining security. If this is not properly managed, there is a risk of impairing the screening process.
Another aspect of crowd management is handling the case within a large crowd. In an emotionally recharged environment, the entire crowd can be put at risk if they don’t deal swiftly and professionally with obstruction such as unruly fans, fights, and ongoing crime. Training personnel to identify and mitigate these situations is key to preventing escalation.
The importance of intelligence gathering
Theo Reilly: How much does pre-event intelligence affect security operations compared to real-time management during an event?
Ty Richmond: Intelligence is the foundation of everything. Determine resource deployment, focus area, and adjustments before the event begins. However, real-time intelligence is equally important as conditions inevitably change during events.
For example, an incident could occur in one quadrant of the venue. If the vendor is not properly reviewed, or disputes between fans may escalate. The ability to respond to these events and make prompt, informed decisions is essential.
Recruiting security personnel
CMW: How about recruiting security personnel to host events like the Super Bowl?
Ty Richmond: First of all, there is a universal alliance of the alliance because there is a very thorough background screening process for our size, size, global reputation and positioning. Industry standards may vary, but as a company, there is a very detailed pre-employment screening process.
Skill set and experience are very important in a particular role and position. For example, if someone is involved in enforcement protection and the logistics movement of a well-known individual, their background and experience are very different from those who work at events in a more administrative role.
However, due to the technology and the amount of people participating in the event, it is important to have personnel who understand the screening protocols and processes. It’s useful if they already have a background in security while training people in it. These roles require familiarity with gate screening techniques and magnetometers, which use artificial intelligence to detect weapons and prohibited items.
They also provide unique training to personnel in these critical front screening areas. Some clients have their own training that they employ based on the venue and environment. Additionally, security technology manufacturers provide training materials and work with us to ensure proper implementation.
Theo Reilly: Do you hire professional personnel for each role or are you a general security expert?
Ty Richmond: The range from the venue to the venue. What I can say to you is that in large venues, which are complex events like the Super Bowl, there is an integrated approach to solutions. You have a unified law enforcement agency, right? You have a unified law enforcement agency. You have a normal law enforcement agency that observes for intellectual and anti-intellectual purposes. Venue Security is a private security company that manages the venue and does some of the above mentioned things. There are guest services and other services that are part of the environment, and the guest experience.
There are other areas of expertise. You can have a dog. Allied Universal combines all of these services and features, but you can use Canines as part of the process that is being applied. It can also have other special features as part of the entire operation. Mix with that and there is intelligence that comes out of the global Security Operations Center or Command Center operations. Video surveillance, alarm management activities, on-site command center operations that manage logistic movements and people’s control, and important information that can affect risk mitigation, proactively and reactively of events and occurrences. There is an intelligence piece that is. The functions of the total environment.
Therefore, Intel is selectively distributed and utilized among all parties that have been described as a key conduit between how to move, how to interact, how to prevent, how to respond, and all these different team coordination. .
How security technology changes
Theo Reilly: How has technology impacted event security over the past few years?
Ty Richmond: There is no doubt that every year, there are emerging technologies that have a major impact on the security industry.
In the event industry, specifically, we have seen many advances in technology. I think September 11th was probably very focused on screening techniques in general. The evolution of AI has created all sorts of enhancements, but I think it is generally continuing to evolve and technology continues to increase the efficiency and effectiveness.
Identity Screening Area – In many venues you’re in the database you signed up to allow you to enter the gate very efficiently, right? Therefore, they use all kinds of artificial intelligence to do iris scans, facial recognition, and more. And if you do, it becomes your access identity, entering a specific area of the stadium and actually procure and buy products and products. All of these are integrated from a solution standpoint, making the fan experience extremely efficient and intrusive, but safe and protective.
“You can do more with less.”
Managing Terrorist Threats
Theo Reilly: Do you think that everything that’s happening in the world, from the Middle East to Ukraine, has seen an increase in the threat of terrorism in recent years?
Ty Richmond: Well, I think it’s a few things. I think you can go online and see the FBI and the National Bureau, and if you do, the agency responsible for homeland security. For a variety of reasons.
Why it has become more common is bound by everything we have talked about before. How we addressed our borders, how we addressed the disposal of people coming to our country, what is happening globally from a socioeconomic and political perspective. It evolves, evolves and changes, especially as it relates to terrorist organizations.
And yes, New Orleans, the National Championship, a Sugar Bowl event, had a terrorist attack in New Orleans just days before that event. It is clearly in the media and you can see details around it. It was a confirmed terrorist attack.
Therefore, there is no doubt, and there is a growing awareness and understanding of the threat of terrorism, particularly as it relates to major events. Prominent, impactful types of events are always considered as potential situations in which terrorist events bring visibility and infamy like those institutions of these types are looking for.
Theo Reilly: Is it possible to be fully prepared for a terrorist attack?
Ty Richmond: It’s ready, but absolute prevention is difficult. The key is to mitigate risk through strong intelligence, thorough planning, and coordinated response strategies. Security officers, law enforcement, and intelligence reporting teams all play a role in minimizing the impact in the event of an attack.
Security Planning for Major Events
Theo Reilly: How do you assess the risks of events like the Super Bowl? What does the pre-event intelligence gathering look like?
Ty Richmond: So, all I can say to you is that we are partners in the Super Bowl security equipment. The NFL is the main owner if it is the leading facilitator of all the security programs, processes and systems in the Super Bowl. It’s an NFL event.
The NFL has its own internal security and asset protection business, just like FIFA, and Coachella, right? Key companies such as Boeing, Apple, IBM, and Rolls-Royce all have internal security organizations responsible for protecting the assets of their entities. Then many of these processes and systems own, supervised and applied. We are an extension of our partner and security service provider.
Also, within Allied Universal, we have technical expertise to provide these services and support and enhance them as needed. Many companies come to us as the world’s largest security service provider and ask us to help us assess risk, manage threats, sources and design our security systems. The risk assessment process is a defined methodology and approach, first considering the assets that require protection, then the threats to those assets, then identify vulnerabilities and designing security solutions that mitigate those risks. I will.
Final thoughts
Theo Reilly: Is there anything else you would like to emphasize about event security?
Ty Richmond: The scale, magnitude and media exposure of events like the Super Bowl make it one of the world’s most complex security tactics. Like events like the World Cup and Coachella, collaboration between multiple institutions and businesses is required. The risk profile for each event is unique and your security strategy should be adjusted accordingly.
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