NCS⁴ NEWS May 1, 2025

Register Now for the 16th National Sports Safety and Security Conference & Exhibition

Please make plans and join the NCS⁴ for the 16th Annual National Sports Safety and Security Conference & Exhibition at the JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort & Spa in San Antonio, in conjunction with Title Sponsor, CSA360 Software. We hope you will join us.

The 2025 conference theme, Setting the Standard, focuses on defining and implementing the highest levels of safety and security practices for sports and special events. This year's conference seeks to inspire a proactive approach to advancing safety and security programs through the convergence of people, processes, and technology. Attendees will explore how to create a culture of safety, build trust with stakeholders, and respond effectively to emerging threats, all while striving to set a new standard for excellence in safety and security.

The conference will offer dynamic programming, solution provider engagement, and opportunities to network with fellow professionals. This highly regarded gathering of sports safety and security professionals is an opportune time to share ideas, tools, and proven strategies to help advance the industry.

What to expect as a conference attendee:

• NEW! Welcome Mixer in the Exhibit Hall on the day before the conference
• Meet and greet at the reception and social
• Hear from leading industry experts on current topics and technology advancements
• Participate in interactive panel discussions
• Attend the Awards Luncheon
• Network with peers
• Engage with panelists and attendees in dynamic breakout sessions
• Explore emerging technologies
• Discover new products and services in the Exhibit Hall

New This Year! Welcome Mixer the day before the conference begins

The NCS⁴ will have a Welcome Mixer in the Exhibit Hall on Sunday, June 29, from 3-5 p.m. Mix and mingle with fellow attendees, exhibitors, and sponsors. Appetizers provided. Alcoholic beverages will be available for purchase. We hope you will join us!

See complete details and exclusions on the website.

• Member Rate: $700 per person
• Non-Member Rate: $775 per person
• Group Rate: $625 per person
• Private Sector Attendee: $900 per person

Conference Agenda Highlights

James Spellos, President of Meeting U., announced to present “Everything You Need to Know About AI…But Didn’t Know to Ask” at this year’s National Sports Safety and Security Conference & Exhibition.

Has it really been over 2 ½ years since ChatGPT exploded onto the scene? Generative AI has been the topic of nearly all tech conversations in that time, so you’d think we’re all experts by now. Well, not so fast, as the upgrades and improvements keep everyone scrambling to keep up. And 2025 looks the same for GenAI, as the term “Agentic AI” may even be familiar to everyone by the time of the conference (and maybe not…you never know). Attend this session to continue to learn the various ways GenAI can be your new best assistant…while making sure to keep your humans in the loop as well.

A top-tier panel of sport security professionals will be hosting a panel on “Defending the Grey: Strategies for Venues and Events” at this year’s annual conference.

This panel will provide insightful and dynamic discussions exploring the critical yet often overlooked concept of “grey space” or “Zone Ex” in venue security- those ambiguous areas in and around event spaces that can become vulnerabilities. This session brings together venue management, event planning, and regulatory experts to dissect the challenges, share real-world insights, and propose actionable solutions for turning these grey spaces into defensible zones.

A panel of professionals will have a panel discussion on “Sports Betting and Athlete Harassment” at this year’s Annual Conference.

With 39 states now offering legalized sports betting, the panel will discuss the security challenges that their respective organizations face, including a steadily growing trend of athlete, staff, and game official harassment related to sports betting.

accredit solutions

2025 GOLDEN EAGLE Award recipient

The NCS⁴ announces Accredit Solutions as the 2025 Golden Eagle Award winner. The case study submitted was titled - A League United: The NFL's Game-Changing Leadership Approach to Efficient Game-Day Security.

The Golden Eagle Award recognizes excellence in system integration, architecture, engineering, and/or construction (A/E/C) specifically related to the safety and security of spectators, property, and facility infrastructure.

akmal ali

2025 technology alliance member of the year

The NCS⁴ announces Akmal Ali, Founder and CEO of inOrbit and Aluma, as the 2025 Technology Alliance Member of the Year.

The Technology Alliance Member of the Year Award recognizes a Sports and Entertainment Technology Alliance member who has demonstrated a high level of commitment to research and training addressing industry needs in sports safety and security.

gary gardner

2025 Cornerstone Award recipient

Gary Gardner, CEO of TotaleAccess and Vice President of North America for InControl, will be presented the third-ever Cornerstone at this year’s National Sports Safety and Security Conference & Exhibition. The award will be presented at the Awards Luncheon, sponsored by Evolv Technology, which provides weapons detection systems for security screening.

The Cornerstone Award recognizes individuals who have played an integral role in the foundation of the NCS⁴ and/or provided leadership in the development and growth of NCS⁴ programs.

Thank you to our Sponsors and Exhibitors

BECOME AN EXHIBITOR OR SPONSOR

Exhibit booth spaces and sponsorships are quickly filling up - don't delay!

Registration for exhibitors and sponsors is being accepted. Exhibitors may register online using the "Register for an Exhibit Booth" link below. For those interested in sponsoring, please contact Lauren Cranford at lauren.cranford@usm.edu or Brooklynn Pinegar at brooklynn.pinegar@usm.edu to request a sponsorship packet or for additional information.

The NCS⁴ Hosts a Pilot Course in Chicago, IL, at the United Center

The NCS⁴ conducted a pilot course delivery for the recertification of MGT-475: Crowd Management for Sports and Special Events course in Chicago, IL, at the United Center, home of the Chicago Bulls and Chicago Blackhawks.

This course represents a cooperative effort between The University of Southern Mississippi’s National Center for Spectator Sports Security and Safety (USM/NCS⁴) and the Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service - TEEX National Emergency Response and Recovery Training Center (TEEX/NERRTC), a member of The Texas A&M University System.

NCS⁴ Team attends ISC West

The NCS⁴ was represented well at this year's ISC West at The Venetian in Las Vegas, NV. Anthony Palazzolo, Manager of Marketing and Business Development, and Daniel Ward, Director of Training and Exercise, spent the week meeting with new and existing solution providers, to let them know about the innovative practices we are doing at NCS⁴.

NCS⁴ Hosts Research Seminar Series with Mr. Steven Watchers and Dr. Jimmy Smith

This presentation addresses the literature gap pertaining to cybersecurity through in-depth interviews involving participants from major U.S. professional sports leagues and the cybersecurity industry, delving into physical security, personnel security, and cybersecurity domains.

NCS⁴ LEARN Course Highlight

frontline staff foundational skills

This course introduces frontline staff members to the skills necessary for providing guests with a safe and enjoyable experience.

To learn more about eLearning opportunities, visit NCS⁴ LEARN or contact us at NCS4Learn@usm.edu.

NCS⁴ eLearning Options

The NCS⁴ eLearning platform, NCS⁴ LEARN, provides opportunities for individuals and organizations to access asynchronous professional development opportunities. Current offerings include the following:

• Frontline Staff Foundational Skills
• Crowd Manager Fundamentals
• Venue Staff Training: Security Awareness
• Senior Leader Course: Sports and Entertainment Security

Please visit the website or contact us at NCS4Learn@usm.edu if you have any questions or would like to inquire about bulk registration.

Click one of the links above or the button below for details or to register.

Fundamentals of Crowd Safety Course

NCS⁴ and GKStill International have partnered to jointly offer the Fundamentals of Crowd Safety online eLearning course to address capability gaps in crowd behavior and sciences. Professor Dr. G. Keith Still, Visiting Professor of Crowd Science at the University of Suffolk, developed this certified, accredited course. The course offers an 8-hour online interactive experience designed to teach the essential elements of crowd safety and crowd risk analysis. The course is especially valuable to event organizers, as it ensures that those who complete it are compliant with the NFPA 101 - Life Safety Code — specifically, the areas of section 12 of the code that require a venue to provide a crowd manager trained in crowd management techniques for occupancies exceeding 1,000.