NCS⁴ NEWS February 12, 2026

National Professional Sports and Entertainment Safety and Security Forum

The NCS⁴ team is looking forward to seeing our friends and colleagues at the 2026 National Professional Sports and Entertainment Safety and Security Forum in Charlotte, NC. The event is presented in conjunction with Title Partner, SkySafe. SkySafe provides advanced drone detection and airspace intelligence to help organizations understand their airspace.

Thank you to our SOLUTION PARTNERS!

Their participation helps make this event possible.

For more information on our Solution Partners, click here.

Make Plans to Join NCS⁴ at the 17th Annual National Sports Safety and Security Conference & Exhibition in Palm Desert, CA

The NCS⁴ invites you to attend the 17th Annual National Sports Safety and Security Conference & Exhibition on June 23-25, 2026, at the JW Marriott Desert Springs Resort and Spa in Palm Desert, California, in conjunction with Title Sponsor, ASSA ABLOY. The theme ‘Honoring the Past, Securing the Future, ’ pays tribute to the visionaries, partners, and professionals who have shaped the sport and special event safety and security industry, and looks ahead to the next generation of advancements that will protect spectators, participants, and event stakeholders. This year’s conference will explore emerging challenges, technologies, and strategies that define the future of event safety and security. The conference offers dynamic programming, solution provider engagement, and opportunities to network with fellow professionals. Please consider joining us in California, as the NCS⁴ will also celebrate two decades of dedication, innovation, and collaboration in ensuring the safety and security of sport and special events worldwide.

What to expect as a conference attendee:

• Meet and greet at the opening 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

Register by April 15 and save $$$ with the early-bird rate. Prices increase on April 16, 2026.

See complete details and exclusions on the website.

• Member Rate: $700 per person
• Non-Member Rate: $775 per person
• Group Rate: $675 per person (Three or more people from the same organization. Not stackable.)
• Private Sector Attendee: $950 per person (Individuals representing companies that provide products or services to the industry and are not sponsoring or exhibiting.)

The NCS⁴ is accepting applications for the 2025 Young Professional Scholarship Program

The NCS⁴ is committed to educating the next generation of sport and special event security professionals. The Young Professional Scholarship Program is designed for professionals 40 years of age or younger working in the sports and entertainment security industry. The scholarship program, sponsored by Axis Communications, supports young professionals’ educational goals by covering the NCS⁴ Annual Conference and Exhibition registration fee. Recipients are exposed to general educational programming, innovative technology solutions, security expert insights, and networking opportunities. The NCS⁴ will award five scholarships covering the cost of registration to the National Sports Safety and Security Conference & Exhibition, June 23-25, 2026, in Palm Desert, California. Application Deadline: March 2, 2026, @ 11:59 pm CDT Recipients Notified: March 16, 2026 Application Criteria

• Applicants must be 40 years of age or younger.
• Applicants must be current practitioners in the sports and entertainment industry.
• Applications must be completed online and submitted before the deadline.
• Recipients must be able to attend the National Sports Safety and Security Conference & Exhibition June 23-25, 2026, in Palm Desert, California.

Click the button below to register or share with someone you know who might benefit from the scholarship!

REGISTERED NCS⁴ CONFERENCE EXHIBITORS AND SPONSORS ARE INVITED TO APPLY FOR THE 2026 GOLDEN EAGLE AWARD

Excellence in Design and Innovation in Sport Venue Security Integration

Applicants from leading systems integration, architecture, design, engineering, and consulting firms are invited to submit case studies from successful projects with safety and security at the forefront of planning and execution. The NCS⁴ has partnered with Security Magazine to sponsor the 2026 Golden Eagle Award, which recognizes excellence in system integration, architecture, engineering, and/or construction (A/E/C) specifically related to the safety and security of spectators, property, and infrastructure of spectator event facilities. The Golden Eagle Award considers critical design and functionality elements that enable and promote the safety and security of all stakeholders in an efficient and effective manner. A panel of judges reviews all applications to determine the most compelling projects. The winning submission will be selected as the 2026 Golden Eagle Award recipient with the opportunity to present their case study to attendees at the National Conference. The winner will be recognized at the Awards Luncheon during the National Conference. Applicants are asked to provide the following project information for judges’ consideration:

• Describe what risk or security issue your company was hired to address
• Provide an overview of how your team strategically approached the project/security issue
• Share details on the solution you provided, including technologies used to mitigate the security issue
• Explain how the solution balanced safety/security with the fan experience
• Submit a 600-word case study about the project

Judges will also consider:

• Relevance to the sports industry
• Effectiveness and efficiency of the solution in solving the identified problems/issues
• The use of creativity, innovation, and technology in a way that leads the industry forward

To participate, interested applicants should complete an online application and submit it by March 16, 2026.

Thank you to our SOLUTION PARTNERS!

Their participation helps make this event possible.

The NCS⁴ is now accepting exhibitors and sponsors. To request information on exhibiting and sponsoring, please visit the website or contact Sara Priebe, NCS⁴ Event and Membership Manager, at sara.priebe@usm.edu or 601-266-6858.

A new technical whitepaper by the NCS⁴ Sports and Entertainment Technology Alliance on “Optimizing Venue Operations with Data-Driven Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and Executive Level Reporting” is now available. The whitepaper introduces a practical framework for defining, tracking, and applying KPIs that enhance safety, efficiency, and guest satisfaction, and integrates insights from leaders at SoFi Stadium and Hollywood Park, Kroenke Sports & Entertainment, the Kansas City Chiefs, Boise State University, the Texas Rangers Baseball Club, and 24/7 Software.

You can view the technical whitepaper by clicking the button below.

The NCS⁴ Training Team hosts training courses in preparation for the upcoming FIFA World Cup

The NCS⁴ training team facilitated an AWR-167: Sport and Special Event Risk Management and Planning course in Paramus, NJ. MetLife Stadium will host eight matches during the 2026 FIFA World Cup, including the World Cup Final.

The NCS⁴ training team facilitated an MGT-467: Sport and Special Event Public Information and Emergency Notification course in Kissimmee, FL, in preparation for being a potential base camp and training facility for the upcoming FIFA World Cup.

These courses represent a cooperative effort between The University of Southern Mississippi’s National Center for Spectator Sports Safety and Security (USM/NCS⁴) and the DHS/FEMA Continuing Training Grant (CTG) program. Learn more about DHS/FEMA-funded courses available at no cost by clicking the button below.

CISA Releases the Venue Guide for Mitigating Dependency Disruptions

The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) released a new resource, the Venue Guide for Mitigating Dependency Disruptions, to help public gathering venue owners and/or operators mitigate the consequences of potential disruptions to their facility’s lifeline sectors—Energy, Water and Wastewater Systems, Communications, and Transportation Systems.   The product was developed in anticipation of upcoming large-scale public gathering events at venues in American cities, such as the FIFA World Cup 2026, America 250, and the 2028 Summer Olympics, as well as in response to recent disruptions at high-profile public gathering sports and entertainment facilities that occurred both in the United States and internationally.    This resource is intended to assist critical infrastructure owners and/or operators, particularly those overseeing stadiums and arenas, in better understanding the threats to their lifeline sectors and choose effective strategies to safeguard operations, mitigate vulnerabilities, and enhance preparedness. Organizations can use the information and recommendations in this guide to identify and prioritize key assets and proactively identify vulnerabilities within their venues. Recommendations include collaborating with key stakeholders and partners to lessen the likelihood or impact of a disruption.  The new resource aims to:

• Provide critical infrastructure owners and/or operators with awareness and understanding of lifeline sector dependencies and interdependencies that their venues may rely on.
• Assist critical infrastructure organizations in approaching security risk assessments and associated key components of facility evaluation.
• Enhance critical infrastructure security and resilience by focusing on continued information-sharing and relationship building with key partners such as local services providers, first responders, and CISA Security Advisors.

GAMEDAY SECURITY Must Read: Press Play

The world of esports presents different security challenges than more traditional sporting events. Find the article on page 12 of the magazine.

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 on registering.

Pink Bows Foundation to host ShowStop Procedure Courses in Phoenix, AZ and Arlington, TX

The Pink Bows Foundation will host ShowStop Procedure Courses in Phoenix, AZ, at Chase Field on Friday, April 17, 2026, and in Arlington, TX, at Globe Life Field on Monday, April 20, 2026. For more information on the upcoming courses, click the button below.

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.