Register Now for the 2026 National Professional Sports and Entertainment Safety and Security Forum
The NCS⁴ will host the 2026 National Professional Sports and Entertainment Safety and Security Forum on February 23-24, at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. The event is presented in conjunction with Title Partner, SkySafe. SkySafe provides advanced drone detection and airspace intelligence to help organizations understand their airspace.
This event brings together industry leaders to address evolving safety and security challenges and to share best practices for continuous improvement.
In addition to general programming sessions, attendees will engage in moderated discussions about key safety topics.
Why Attend?
- Learn from Experts: Gain insights from professional sports and entertainment safety leaders.
- Engage on Key Topics: Participate in moderated discussions on staff training, fan behavior, communications, perimeter security, severe weather planning, and command center operations.
- Share Best Practices: Exchange ideas with peers dedicated to creating safe environments for fans, athletes, and performers.
Who Should Attend?
We have very limited space for this event, and registration is based on a first-come, first-served basis.
Attendees include those working in or supporting professional sports and entertainment venues and events.
- Safety, security, operations, event, and facility managers
- Local and state law enforcement
- Emergency managers, fire, HAZMAT, EMS
- Guest services and government officials
Register now to guarantee your spot! Registration is open through February 2, 2026, or until all spots are filled. Solution Partner spots are SOLD OUT!
Session Highlights
As athlete harassment and player stalking continue to make headlines, our panel explores these issues and provides valuable insights. Topics discussed include on-field incursions, social media harassment, and the tools available to help protect athletes and staff.
Thank you to our Reception Partners, 24/7 Software and ClearForce, Inc., for supporting the National Professional Sports and Entertainment Safety and Security Forum at UNC Charlotte. This year's reception will be held at the historic Charlotte Motor Speedway! We look forward to seeing everyone there.
Thank you to our SOLUTION PARTNERS!
Their participation helps make this event possible.
For more information on our Solution Partners, click here.
17th Annual National Sports Safety and Security Conference & Exhibition
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 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.
NCS⁴ Research Enterprise
The NCS⁴ aims to create dialogue between academia and the profession by identifying research gaps and exploring lines of inquiry that address industry needs with real-world applications. Research activities include annual industry research reports, white papers, coordinating an affiliate program and a seminar series, as well as maintaining an extensive list of sport safety and security publications. The NCS⁴ applied research goals are accomplished through interdisciplinary partnerships with industry professionals and academics.
Routledge Handbook of Sport Security
Dr. Stacey Hall, NCS⁴ Executive Director, serves as the editor of the first-ever published Handbook of Sport Security (available in hardback and eBook format).
The book provides an in-depth analysis of security issues and concerns in contemporary sport. Featuring the work of 60 leading researchers and practitioners from around the world, it offers practical, evidence-based commentary and guidance covering over 40 chapters.
The book examines the multiple stakeholders, agencies, and organizations involved in providing a safe space for spectators, participants, staff, organizations, communities, and sponsors. It considers the coordination of private and public entities in the sports security ecosystem, including facility management, event management, law enforcement, emergency management, emergency medical services, and state/federal government partners, as well as the private sector organizations providing support services. The book also offers a comprehensive analysis of key issues and debates in contemporary sport security, including terrorism, cybersecurity, spectator violence, planning and assessment guidance for sport venues and events of all sizes, management and policy considerations for leaders and decision-makers, and the lessons learned from critical incidents. It introduces the core principles of research methods in sport security and looks ahead at future developments in this rapidly changing field.
This is essential reading for any advanced student, researcher, practitioner, or policymaker with an interest in sport studies, security studies, event studies, criminal justice, management, or public policy.
Michelle Juehring named MarathonFoto/Road Race Management Race Director of the Year
A committee made up of race directors, athletes, media, corporate executives, and club officials has named Michelle Juehring, director of the Quad City Times Bix7, as the MarathonFoto/Road Race Management Race Director of the Year. MYLAPS Sports Technology is the presenting sponsor. In the eyes of the selection committee, Michelle Juehring epitomizes what it takes to be a great director and leader. Michelle is a committed member of the NCS⁴ Marathon and Endurance Events Advisory Committee and has been a supporter of the NCS⁴ for many years. Congratulations, Michelle!
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.
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.
SEA Games to open in Thailand with tightened security
The Southeast Asian Games officially open in Bangkok on Tuesday with security for athletes tightened due to fresh border clashes between Thailand and Cambodia. The SEA Games run until December 20 in Bangkok and the nearby coastal province of Chonburi, with thousands of athletes from 11 southeast Asian countries competing in events ranging from football and fencing to skateboarding, sailing and combat sports. Read More.
Fiorentina take security measures after threats
The threats were received following the club's 3-1 loss at Sassuolo on Saturday, which left winless Fiorentina bottom of Serie A after 14 matches. The club condemned the threats in a statement and said it "expresses its full solidarity and support for the players and their families". Read More.
From the World Cup to the Olympics, the US must put security and resilience first
Americans are entering a decade in which they will be front and center in international sports. In 2026, the United States, along with Canada and Mexico, will host the World Cup. In 2028, Los Angeles will host the Summer Olympics. Then in 2034, Salt Lake City will host the Winter Olympics. While it’s exciting for US cities to host these global events, doing so also poses complex security challenges requiring years of planning and coordination. Read More.
Security and funding looms large in planning for FIFA World Cup events in North Texas
Funding and security are among the big topics North Texas makes plans to host matches for the world's biggest soccer championship. North America was chosen to host the 2026 World Cup, but North Texas will host nine matches at AT&T Stadium in Arlington. Read More.