NCS⁴ NEWS January 22, 2026

Only a Few Spots Remain for the 2026 National Professional Sports and Entertainment Safety and Security Forum – Register Now

The room block ends TODAY!

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

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.

Make Plans to Join NCS⁴ at the Annual National Sports Safety and Security Conference & Exhibition This Summer

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 Announces 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.

The NCS⁴ Training Team hosts MGT-466 in Doral, FL, in preparation for the upcoming FIFA World Cup

Nearly 1 million visitors are expected to visit the Greater Miami, FL, area during this year’s FIFA World Cup. The NCS⁴ training team has boots on the ground in Doral, FL, teaching the MGT-466: Sport and Special Event Enhanced Risk Management and Assessment course. This is one of the many courses being held in the area in preparation for the upcoming FIFA World Cup. This course represents 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: Threat Control

As reports of harassment and stalking of athletes escalate at all levels of sport, cooperative efforts are emerging to combat bad actors. Find the article on page 7 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 Course in Arlington, TX

The Pink Bows Foundation will be hosting a ShowStop Procedure Course in Arlington, TX, at Globe Life Field on Monday, April 20, 2026. For more information on the upcoming course, 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.