Facilities to receive recognition during National Sports Security Conference

A total of 10 sports facilities will be recognised for their leadership in addressing safety and security issues as part of the sold-out 2017 National Sports Safety and Security Conference and Exhibition taking place July 11-13, in Orlando, Florida.

This year’s theme is ‘Building Resiliency in the Sports Safety and Security Industry’. More than 400 security professionals and 60 vendor exhibits are expected for the national conference.

The presentation of the 2017 Facility of Merit Awards is sponsored by Axis Communications, a market leader in video network. The presentation will take place on the second day of the eighth annual conference, which is hosted by the National Center for Spectator Sports Safety and Security (NCS⁴) at The University of Southern Mississippi.

NCS⁴ Director Dr. Lou Marciani, said:

The Facility of Merit Award is to allow professional leagues, NCAA member institutions and marathon and endurance organizations to honor outstanding facilities that have gone above and beyond for their sports safety and security. These contributions involve enhancing safety and security at their venue beyond what is normally required, and setting an example for other facilities to follow.

Marciani noted that each league or organisation selects the criteria and makes the determination as to which facility will be recognised. Those facilities being recognised include the following:

• Big Sur Marathon (Road Race/Endurance Events)
• Maryville City Schools (High School/After-School Events)
• Saginaw Public School District (High School/After-School Events)
• Richmond Public Schools (High School/After-School Events)
• Vaught Hemingway Stadium, The University of Mississippi (NCAA)
• Ryan Field, Northwestern University (NCAA)
• Brooks Field at Wallace Wade Stadium, Duke University (NCAA)
• Bridgestone Arena, Nashville Predators (NHL)
• Progressive Field, Cleveland Indians (MLB)
• Levi’s Stadium, San Francisco 49ers (NFL)

NB: We will be bringing you an interview with NCS⁴ Director, Dr. Lou Marciani, in the coming weeks.

Russ Simons to receive Distinguished Leadership Award at National Sports Safety and Security Conference

In other NCS⁴  news, Russ Simons, Chief Listening Officer/Managing Partner at Venue Solutions Group (VSG) – a Sports Venue Business (SVB) sponsor – will be presented with the Distinguished Leadership Award during the 2017 National Sports Safety and Security Conference & Exhibition.

The Distinguished Leadership Award recognises a professional in the field whose career includes multiple achievements and contributions with respect to sport safety and security. To warrant this prestigious honour, the recipient’s service, commitment, ingenuity and integrity must have elevated the profession to new levels.

Simons said:

To be included in the same conversation as the past winners of the NCS⁴ Distinguished Leadership Award is very humbling to me. I also feel that I now have additional responsibility to continue my personal and professional commitment to elevating security performance in our industry.

We live in a time where we cannot afford to become complacent in any way. I enthusiastically join the past winners of this award in a combined effort to keep our facility staff, participants, performers and guests safe.

For more than 36 years, Simons has been involved in nearly every facet of the sports and entertainment facility industry including design, construction and management. At Venue Solutions Group (VSG), Simons directs the firm’s safety, security, risk and crowd management operations. He works with operators at every level from colleges and universities to every major professional sports league. Additionally, Simons works on industry safety and security issues, having recently lead webinars on Ebola and protests, civil disobedience and demonstrations.

NCS⁴ Director, Lou Marciani, said:

Russ is a tireless worker who exemplifies professionalism and passion. His commitment to the profession is evident in career accomplishments that we have all benefited from. He has forged a major change in how we manage venue operations, engineering, safety/security, guest services, and administration.

Simons is the current chair of the Department of Homeland Security Public Assembly Facility Sub-Sector Council. He serves on the IAVM Safety and Security Committee, and leads a Cyber Security Working group for the organisation.

Simons is a 2004 recipient of the GIGI Award of Excellence in event marketing and PR and member of the Arena & Event Marketing Hall of Fame. He is an architect of the Walmart “Black Friday” crowd management plan, including the development and training of more than 1.6 million Walmart associates in more than 4,000 Walmart stores in the United States. His plan is now standard operating practice for all Walmart “Retailtainment” events.

Prior to creating Venue Solutions Group (VSG), Simons was a senior principal with the global design firm Populous. There he managed the firms’ facility operations, evaluation and analysis group which assisted public assembly venues in the renovation and development of new facilities. He works closely with a wide variety of facility designers, architects and operators as they create functional and secure sports and entertainment facilities.

Simons is the former SVP and COO of Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, home to the NHL Nashville Predators. He has provided services to more than 86 colleges and universities.

For more information about the awards, visit: https://www.ncs4.com/about/ncs4-recognition-awards.

For further information about Venue Solutions Group (VSG), check out their SVB Directory listing online at: http://sportsvenuebusiness.com/index.php/2017/06/16/venue-solutions-group-vsg/

NB: We will also be bringing you an interview with VSG’s Mike Wooley in the coming weeks.

About the 8th Annual Conference:

The National Sports Safety and Security Conference & Exhibition will be held in Orlando at the JW Marriott Orlando Grande Lakes Resort on July 11-13, 2017. The Conference will attract over 500 attendees and 60 exhibitors representing safety and security professionals in professional sport leagues, intercollegiate athletics, stadium and arena directors/managers, government agencies, private sports security firms, emergency responders, sport facility owners and operation managers.

For more conference and exhibition information, visit: www.ncs4.com/conference.

Sports Venue Business (SVB) is proud to be an Official Media Partner for the NCS4 and the 2017 National Sports Safety and Security Conference & Exhibition.

#SportsVenueBusiness – keeping you in the know!