NCS4 Publishes COVID-19 Considerations Guide for the Sport and Entertainment Industry
The University of Southern Mississippi’s (USM) National Center for Spectator Sports Safety and Security (NCS4) has worked with a select task force of industry professionals to create the first version of the COVID-19 Considerations for Sport and Entertainment Venues and Events. In the infancy stage of understanding COVID-19 implications and the lack of a traditional set of best practices, the COVID-19 Considerations guide is designed to aid professionals in their decision-making regarding event planning, event operations, and other business operations based on federal, state, and local municipal requirements.
The COVID-19 Considerations for Sport and Entertainment Venues and Events guide was curated from NCS4’s COVID-19 Task Force that was created with the intent of representing a cross-section of industry practitioners and partners to gather considerations to aid senior executives, management and operational planners as they continue on a path to returning to in-person events. The COVID-19 Task Force is comprised of professionals with experience from every realm of the safety and security industry to provide a well-balanced foundation.
“The COVID-19 Taskforce should be commended for their tireless work on this guide,” said Dr. Stacey Hall, NCS4 Interim Director. “This guide will serve as a tremendous resource for the industry and aid venue and event managers in their planning and preparations for resuming operations.”
NCS4 set out to make the COVID-19 Considerations for Sport and Entertainment Venues and Events both versatile and scalable for use from any industry and any sized event. With a situation as fluid and as unpredictable as COVID-19 has proven to be, it is important to remember these considerations do not supersede any local, state, or federal guidelines. These considerations seek to highlight areas of concern that may need further study or demand alterations to chart a path forward for returning to events.
“NCS4 has always been a leader in helping educational institutions, sports teams and event organizers by providing valuable tools and resources dedicated to ensuring the safety and security of their events,” said Steve Georgas, former Chicago Police Deputy Chief. “The COVID-19 Considerations is just another valuable tool that is out there to assist during these uncertain times.”
The COVID-19 Considerations for Sport and Entertainment Venues and Events will be a value-added resource to the NCS4’s suite of Best Practice Guides that have been used as the safety and security standard in intercollegiate athletics, interscholastic athletics, professional sports and entertainment facilities, and marathon and endurance events. Each year, NCS4 updates their guides after collecting information gathered at their annual forums. The newly updated 2020 editions of the guides are to be released July 13, 2020 and can be accessed for free at ncs4.usm.edu.
The COVID-19 Considerations for Sport and Entertainment Venues and Events guide is not a one-time document and will be updated and amended as the global crisis of COVID-19 continues to evolve at a rapid rate. The members of the COVID-19 Task Force are working diligently on their considerations feedback while also confronting concerns from the virus in real time at their different professional commitments.
“The industry needs a common set of considerations that is broad and encompasses all of the different industry segments,” said Drew Pittman, Baylor University, Associate Athletic Director – Event Management and Facilities. “The Task Force is comprised of an outstanding group of individuals that have wide ranging experiences. This group was able to cover the wide range of events and venues that will face challenges because of the COVID-19 pandemic.”