Security crackdown

[Red4ever]

http://www.fcdallas.com/post/2016/04...-all-20-venues

Well then...

NEW YORK, NY (April 19, 2016) – Major League Soccer today announced elevated security standards that will be applied across all MLS stadiums to ensure a safe environment for soccer fans. Beginning this Saturday, April 24, a new minimum standard Bag Policy and guest screening measures will be instituted in all 20 MLS venues bringing MLS events in line with security measures taken by the other professional sports leagues in North America.

These security standards will apply to all MLS, SUM, and USL games played at MLS venues, including but not limited to MLS League and Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup games, friendly matches, and fan events.

Fans are encouraged to check venue-specific policies as the below are baseline security standards for MLS events. Individual venues may have additional restrictions on bags and other items entering the stadium.

“Public safety is a top priority and the enhanced security measures will ensure that fans are able to continue to enjoy MLS and SUM events in a safe environment,” said MLS president and Deputy Commissioner Mark Abbott.

“The safety of our fans, players and staff is paramount,” said Ray Whitworth, Senior VP of Security and Operations. “The updated security measures bring us in line with professional sports leagues around the United States and Canada while maintaining the unique sports experience that is MLS.”

Under the new security policy, all guests will be fully screened upon entry into MLS venues. The screenings will be conducted via a full pat down or with the use of a search wand of magnetometers. Each venue will decide which procedures and protocols will be used to provide this acceptable level of security while ensuring a quality experience for all guests.

Under the new league-wide Bag Policy, fans are prohibited from bring the following into a stadium**:

Large purses
Coolers
Briefcases
Backpacks
Luggage of any kind
Computer bags
Camera bags
Any bag larger than 14’’x14’’x6’’
In addition, all bags will be subject to search upon entry. The bag restriction will not apply to credentialed media, who will continue to enter MLS stadiums through designated entrances and adhere to all posted media bag policies and screenings.

**Special considerations will be made for guests with special medical needs and parents caring for infants.

The increased security policy was unanimously supported by the MLS Board of Governors and involved input from all 20 MLS clubs.

[molenshtain]

A full pat down? Yeah, no. They can go fuck themselves. If there were repeated incidents of people stabbing each other inside MLS stadiums with knives they concealed upon entry, then sure whatever, I'd understand. But nothing precipitated this action.

why the hell are they doing this?

[ensco]

It's not an MLS story. There was a major terrorist attack at a soccer game in Paris, and the Boston Marathon ... It's not business as usual anymore, for anyone, sadly.

[ManUtd4ever]

It's not an MLS story. There was a major terrorist attack at a soccer game in Paris, and the Boston Marathon ... It's not business as usual anymore, for anyone, sadly.

This.

I take my kids to games as do many of you, so I am more than happy to put up with this inconvenience to ensure that the premises are safe.

[nfitz]

I take my kids to games as do many of you, so I am more than happy to put up with this inconvenience to ensure that the premises are safe.

I too bring kids to games.

But this isn't going to make it any safer.

Don't perpetuate terrorism by surrendering to it.

[MightyDM]

This.

I take my kids to games as do many of you, so I am more than happy to put up with this inconvenience to ensure that the premises are safe.

I bring mine too. This does nothing to make us safe. Nothing whatsoever.

[C.Ronaldo]

I bring mine too. This does nothing to make us safe. Nothing whatsoever.

Ditto, its not about the children

[flamehawk]

.... and if someone was to bring a backpack, would they be asked to leave? Would we be allowed to check them in?

And full pat downs??? These are the reasons I hate going through borders .. and now we're seeing it at soccer games.. ridiculous.

[james]

.... and if someone was to bring a backpack, would they be asked to leave? Would we be allowed to check them in?

And full pat downs??? These are the reasons I hate going through borders .. and now we're seeing it at soccer games.. ridiculous.

I have been full patted down many games at TFC, more so between 2007-2009 then anything, (they were patting loads of people down from what I remember back then) but it is nothing new. Montreal away game last year we were patted down. I remember in 2006 Celtic vs AS Roma at Sky Dome...they were patting thousands of people down. Blue Jays game I went to 2 years ago they patted everybody!! Go to concerts and sometime night clubs or even just a busy bar on friday night, nothing new really. Suprised you haven't been patted down at BMO field yet. Most likely tho they will do very little patting down, if they do it will mostly just be in the South End entrances and most likely be the odd person or on a random blitz game where they pat everybody down at Gate 3 but not even bother patting down else where. It won't be a big issue is my guess.

[eustacchio]

You know, I've always been surprised that there was no pat down - not that I want one.

[Oldtimer]

Consider that in some states it's legal to carry concealed weapons. That could be one of the reasons.

[flatpicker]

What about my murse????!!!!

[Pint]

Tuesday 5pm 7+ weeks into the season seams like a perfectly reasonable time to introduce a new policy.

Let's taking something that has been of 0 concern and change it to make it harder for people to bring what they need to our events. MLS logic

[Fort York Redcoat]

Tuesday 5pm 7+ weeks into the season seams like a perfectly reasonable time to introduce a new policy.

Let's taking something that has been of 0 concern and change it to make it harder for people to bring what they need to our events. MLS logic

I now point to this as proof that the incident in DC could've been avoided with an action exactly like this notice. MLS has the tools.

As to this new policy they need to find a solution for those bringing some of these necessary items to some people. I assume the checked items girls and boys are going to have a hell of a turnaround with the amount of complaints coming their way.

[Pint]

I now point to this as proof that the incident in DC could've been avoided with an action exactly like this notice. MLS has the tools.

As to this new policy they need to find a solution for those bringing some of these necessary items to some people. I assume the checked items girls and boys are going to have a hell of a turnaround with the amount of complaints coming their way.

Has the tools for what? to arbitrarily institute policies mid season without asking for input from anyone? I known that can't be what you're advocating for

[Fort York Redcoat]

Has the tools for what? to arbitrarily institute policies mid season without asking for input from anyone? I known that can't be what you're advocating for

I mentioned it to damn them. They just proved that they could institute policy change and spread the word immediately.

If anything I'm stating that this and any rules they were unsure supporters would be aware of could've been communicated with a great reach PRE-SEASON and Pre-incident.

I realize we all suspected as much but this makes it obvious to all.

I am not advocating for this rule change.

[Carter]

I mentioned it to damn them. They just proved that they could institute policy change and spread the word immediately.

If anything I'm stating that this and any rules they were unsure supporters would be aware of could've been communicated with a great reach PRE-SEASON and Pre-incident.

I realize we all suspected as much but this makes it obvious to all.

I am not advocating for this rule change.

As I agree with you Pete, what you are looking at currently, is a series of incidents which have accumulated to a breaking point, in which they have made a decision...

It's probably a safe assumption, that all teams were part of the greater discussion in which lead to this announcement. Yes its dumb that it comes 7 weeks into the season, but sometimes the wheels of business churn slowly.

I am sure this decision wasn't discussed at a Tuesday morning board meeting and released that afternoon....

[Red4ever]

Shitty, but I saw this coming.

A few bad apples.

[Detroit_TFC]

I figured MLS would adopt higher security eventually. NFL security rules are even tighter than these. No bags except for a dinky clear bag. Security turnaways got to be such a hassle at Ford Field, the Lions eventually brought in a trailer for people to drop off bags outside the stadium.

[eustacchio]

You have to go through a full metal detector at MLB games.

[Bluenose13]

It's the same procedure as going to NHL, NBA, NFL and MLB games. This was inevitable and a good call by MLS...dangerous times we now live in.

[ryan]

Concessions grab under the guise of security. Ho hum.

[Auzzy]

Raging pile of bullshit.

[Auzzy]

Here's the league-wide post with the same content (rather than the FC Dallas post):

http://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2016/0...ll-20-stadiums

[Auzzy]

The MLS policy is tighter than MLB for example, even though MLB stadiums are much larger & have a much higher profile (i.e., more likely target). Here are the rules for MLB & Rogers Centre:

http://toronto.bluejays.mlb.com/tor/...ound_rules.jsp

They allow small soft-sided backpacks for example, whereas MLS completely banned backpacks. Bullshit.

And the size restriction is less strict for MLB. 16x16x8" is a more realistic size for a small bag or small backpack. Think about going to games in cold or bad weather, very common at BMO Field, especially with kids (older than infants). Or coming via bike. Maybe this works better at US stadiums in the boonies where everybody drives & can leave their bags in the trunk.

MLB also doesn't seem to have any general restriction against small soft-sided computer bags, at least there's nothing mentioned on that web page. Crucial for people going to weeknight games after work.

As I said, bullshit & overreaction.


PS I guess I'll strap a plastic bag to my bike with bungie cords, and then walk into the stadium wearing 5 layers and a TFC blanket draped over my shoulders when it's cold. Which is much harder for security screening than having some things in a backpack.

[Miko]

Still not as stringent as some stadiums in the US. Most NFL stadiums now have a clear bag only policy no bigger than 12x12. Michigan Stadium is no bags at all and any women's purses have to fit through a piece of plastic so small it's barely bigger than a wallet.

As as for pat downs or wanting - the Bell Centre and Rogers both have airport style metal detectors.

[Auzzy]

Still not as stringent as some stadiums in the US. Most NFL stadiums now have a clear bag only policy no bigger than 12x12. Michigan Stadium is no bags at all and any women's purses have to fit through a piece of plastic so small it's barely bigger than a wallet.

As as for pat downs or wanting - the Bell Centre and Rogers both have airport style metal detectors.

So what, much bigger NFL stadiums & Michigan have tighter policies, why do we need to model much smaller & lower-profile MLS stadiums after those? The US is generally over-paranoid anyway, yet fails to mitigate the biggest risks that its citizens face. (I'm American BTW.) I'm fine with metal detectors, and/or special slower lines for screening bags, like at Rogers Centre. No backpack & no laptop bag policy for MLS is bullshit.

[james]

to be honest I didn't know we were aloud any of these objects in the first place:
Coolers
Briefcases
Luggage of any kind
Computer bags
Camera bags
Any bag larger than 14’’x14’’x6’’

the only one I thought we were aloud was purses and ,maybe backpacks, I really didn't see people bringing the other objects into the stadium anyways.

Also they use to do a lot of patting down in the early days of TFC in the supporter section entrance gates including checking flags (still checked my flag last year every game) for any hidden objects in them. Also has anyone been to the Sky Dome in the last few years? Last game I went (Maybe 2 years ago) they were checking and patting down everyone!!!

Is this really much of a change for majority of people? To me this doesn't sound like new news.

[Ossington Mental Youth]

to be honest I didn't know we were aloud any of these objects in the first place:
Coolers
Briefcases
Luggage of any kind
Computer bags
Camera bags
Any bag larger than 14’’x14’’x6’’

the only one I thought we were aloud was purses and ,maybe backpacks, I really didn't see people bringing the other objects into the stadium anyways.

Also they use to do a lot of patting down in the early days of TFC in the supporter section entrance gates including checking flags for any hidden objects in them. Also has anyone been to the Sky Dome in the last few years? Last game I went they were checking and patting down everyone!!!

Is this really much of a change for majority of people? To me this doesn't sound like new news.

sorta where my head is at

[OgtheDim]

Hmm... going to need more pockets.


I brought a man bag with my scarf/phone charger/gear for probable weather changes. Will have to figure out how to take all that on the TTC.

I agree with the sentiment that this is designed around those who take a car to wherever they go.


My one question is why this weekend?