News: Major League Soccer introduces elevated security standard across all 20 venues

What teams/venues is this a significant change for?

 

Security theater sucks.

 

Most of the time it's simply a bag check and open up any jackets at RFK. Wands have happened before, but it is very rare. I don't recall the details of the last time it happened. There may have been an elevated terror threat. I do recall additional DHS presence a few times with vehicles that were obviously checking the air.

At the Verizon Center, Nats Park and FedEx Field, everyone is wanded or made to go through metal detectors. I think that became policy either this year or last for MLB and it has been policy for a couple years for the NFL. I'm not sure how long it has been for NBA or NHL.

 

Are you saying it's not supposed to be a quick run up the front and another quick run down the back? This shocks me...

 

The wands used at the Clink are not for security purposes. They are used to satisfy the lawyers who negotiate the insurance policies. That the folks wanding you have no idea what they are doing is of no consequence.

 

I'm personally not attending any more MLS matches. My dignity is more important to me than complying with and subjecting myself to this intrusive security theater just to attend a soccer game.

 

Not only is it faux security, the lines that form outside the gates creates a possible target for any would be terrorist.

 

And you know there is no way many MLS teams will properly staff this, making enduring long waits a typical part of the MLS game experience.

 

For the mid-week games these measures will be troubling for those who go direct from their work. I've seen quite a few computer bags and such during these games in the past. I myself, being inclined to absentmindedness, forgot I had my 9" Linesman pliers and a hooked skinning knife on my belt when I got to the security gate direct from a job downtown. I made it through security with a nod and a smile, but I'm afraid office workers with a labtop will not be so lucky. It'll be interesting to hear how they spin preventing labtops increases security.

 

Cool. TSA now is all up in our lives everywhere.

 

SKC has been doing this since the beginning of the season. No big whoop here.

 

Gillette has had metal detectors since the beginning of the season and the clear bag policy.

The metal detectors were a mess for the home opener as they did not have enough of them and the lines were incredibly long for a small crowd. They fixed this issue by the second home game.

 

Los Angeles has always had walk through metal detectors, and secondary screening by a wand if the detector went off. They always searched your bag. Prohibiting of backpacks is new, I always carry one in filled with stuff for my kids. I have never seen anyone with luggage or briefcases before.

I wonder if this is in response to the intel that the Brussels attacks originally intended to attach the stadiums in France during the Euro's this summer.

 

The terrorists win.

Please fill in the blanks.

"In the land of the <blank>, and the home of the <blank>"

Maybe the lawyers and lobbyists win too.

 

The no backpack policy is new for Avaya Stadium, and it's going to be a challenge for us. Here is the stuff that I typically take to the game with my family:

Blankets (to sit on, or in case it is cold)
Scarves / hats / other cold weather gear
Book / ipad to entertain kid - despite my best efforts, he isn't really into the game
Book to entertain wife - despite my best efforts, she isn't really into the game
Wallet / keys for wife - my own fit in my pocket, but the backpack is her purse

Carrying all that stuff in our hands is not going to work.

This policy may end up with me not renewing my season tickets. It's already a chore to bring my family to games. Putting an additional hurdle doesn't make it easier. Leaving kid and wife behind? Not fair to wife if she has to babysit 20x a year - that's not going to fly in my family.

I don't understand what problem this new policy is supposed to solve. The Quakes already search all incoming bags, and wand us as we go in. This is fast - there are never any lines at the security area - and effective, given that there haven't been any murders or explosions at games yet.

I get why a policy like this exists for the NFL - they have 60000 people at every game, and people go to NFL games and tailgate for hours and show up at the security area drunk, so having a policy like this helps to smooth the entry, and most of the teams have season ticket waiting lists that are years long, so anyone who gets annoyed by this can easily be replaced. Is MLS at the point where they can annoy customers into not showing up?

I let my season ticket rep know that I was not happy about this policy.

 

Last time at Disney, visiting parks on 5 days I get pulled into secondary screening 4 times, to the point where I called it the last two times walking up because the security guards were eyeing the harmless Dad to do whatever check they needed to hit their quota and my kids started cracking up when the last guy approached me.

Pointless, a hassle, and utterly worthless except to give legal cover to themselves and their insurers in case something actually happens at an MLS game.

 

Don't be self-centered and inconsiderate. The important factor is all the people around you will now feel safer and better able to enjoy the game because they'll no longer fear you or your wife using your scarves as a medieval weapon or that your kid won't hurl his ipad at De Jong when he takes out one of your guys.

Of course your keys could be used as a weapon and your kid could just as easily throw a coke at De Jong, but that's not that point.