2025 National Sports Safety and Security Conference & Exhibition a Success!
The NCS⁴ has concluded a successful 2025 National Sports Safety and Security Conference & Exhibition, with a record number of attendees and exhibitors. The conference was held June 30-July 2, 2025, at the JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort & Spa, in conjunction with title sponsor, CSA360 Software. The 2025 conference theme, “Setting the Standard”, focused on defining and implementing the highest levels of safety and security practices for sports and special events through the convergence of people, processes, and technology. The conference offered dynamic programming, solution provider engagement, and opportunities to network with fellow professionals.
The conference opened with a keynote from James Spellos, President of Meeting U., on Artificial Intelligence (AI) in security operations, followed by a panel presentation, “Inside Look With Our League’s Top Security Leadership”, with Billy Langenstein (NFL), Jared Maples (NHL), Leon Newsome (NBA), Jeff Stonebreaker (MLS), and Dave Thomas (MLB).
General sessions covered broad topics with panel discussions relevant to sports safety and security professionals in today’s ever-changing landscape, such as AI applications, credentialing, medical emergency planning, sports betting, insider threat protection, communications, and planning for international sports events. In addition to general sessions, the conference boasted an Awards Luncheon, breakout sessions, and an exhibition hall that allowed attendees to explore emerging technologies and network with industry peers.
2025 NCS⁴ National Sports Safety and Security Conference & Exhibition Highlights
Congratulations to the 2025 Award Recipients
Certified Sport Security Professional (CSSP) Recognitions
Young Professional Scholarship Recognitions
Sponsored by Axis Communications
Golden Eagle Award
Technology Alliance Member of the Year
Friends of NCS⁴ Award
Emerging Industry Leader Award
Facility of Merit for Safety and Security Awards
Professional of the Year Awards
Sponsored by Prevent Advisors
Cornerstone Award
Champion of Change Award
Sponsored by inOrbit
Lifetime Achievement Award
Sponsored by Meridian Rapid Defense Group
Milton E. Ahlerich Distinguished Leadership Award
Thank you to our Sponsors and Exhibitors
We hope to see you next year in Palm Desert, CA!
Summer 2025 Issue of GAMEDAY SECURITY Magazine Released
This issue covers the online harassment of athletes as more people participate in legalized sports betting, the potential return on investment for venue operators applying for DHS SAFETY Act designation and certification status, and the success of a recently implemented biometric credentialing system at all NFL venues. We also highlight the tremendous impact the NCS⁴ continues to have on the industry.
Farewell to NCS⁴ Team Members Natalie Williams and Brooklynn Pinegar
Natalie Williams, Training Manager, will be leaving the NCS⁴ team at the end of this month. Natalie has been with the NCS⁴ since 2022, when she started her career with the NCS⁴ as a Graduate Assistant. Post-graduation, Natalie joined the NCS⁴ Training Manager team, where she managed the trainer certification process and led the coordination and execution of the NCS⁴ awards for the annual conference. Thank you, Natalie! We wish you the best.
Congratulations to Brooklynn Pinegar, NCS⁴ Graduate Assistant, who has accepted a position at Integra Forensics as an Account Manager. She will graduate this summer with a Master's in Business Administration. While at NCS⁴, Brooklynn primarily assisted with marketing and event development. Thank you, Brooklynn!
NCS⁴ LEARN Course Highlight
Senior Leader Course: Sports and Entertainment Security
This course covers security leadership fundamentals for individuals assigned to leadership positions in the sports and entertainment industry. Participants will examine business and security management techniques, emergency management principles, planning considerations, legal and regulatory guidance, crowd management, and security procedures. This course is highly recommended for individuals seeking to earn the Certified Sport Security Professional (CSSP) certification.
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.
Cyberattacks are changing the game for major sports events
Sports fans and cybercriminals both look forward to major sporting events, but for very different reasons. Fake ticket sites, stolen login details, and DDoS attacks are common ways criminals try to make money or disrupt an event. Read More.
Donald Trump, the Club World Cup final, and how security protect VIPs at major sporting events
MetLife Stadium will host not only some of the world’s best football players in the Club World Cup final this weekend, but also arguably the planet’s most famous and polarising person. Read More.
Beyond the Stadium: Surveillance Trends at Outdoor Venues
Recent high-profile security incidents have heightened the importance of surveillance at outdoor event and entertainment venues. Stadiums, amphitheaters, festival grounds, and parks are ramping up efforts to secure not only interior areas where fans and performers gather, but also exteriors and physical perimeters, extending their surveillance coverage to surrounding sidewalks, parking lots, and high-traffic areas. Read More.
Beaufort Water Festival cancels Friday festivities; officials talk safety ahead of multi-day festival
BEAUFORT, S.C. (WTOC) - After preparing to open the gates for the 69th Annual Beaufort Water Festival, officials canceled all of Friday’s events due to weather. Read More.