Will terrorists target the Superbowl? U.S. counter terrorism officials recently did a threat assessment of the event, concluding that there are “no credible terrorist threats” to the Superbowl this year.
If terrorists – or anyone planning mischief, for that matter – were considering doing something disruptive at the Mercedez-Benz Superdome in New Orleans, they had better think twice.
Multiple U.S. state and federal agencies will be present to enforce security. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security considers the Superbowl a “Level One” event eligible to receive millions of dollars in federal aid to enhance security. This includes everything from additional law enforcement and technical support, to surveillance and even signage.
Signage of the “See something, say something” sort.
In addition, the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) will restrict airspace over the stadium during the event. NORAD fighter jets practiced procedures for responding to possible disruptions earlier this week.
Even the New Orleans police department will be working overtime, looking out for everything from public drunkenness to potential threats of terrorism in a city hosting over 150,000 for the event and the Mardi Gras festivities following shortly after.
“Customs and Border Protection has been on the ground,” said Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano on her visit to the city earlier this week. “They’ve been actually scanning all the cargo coming into this area since Monday morning to make sure everything is safe,” said Napolitano.
So if you’re heading to the Superdome for the game, be prepared for the pat-down of a lifetime.
“Fans can expect to pass through metal detectors and a pat-down search,” said NFL Chief Security Officer Jeffrey Miller. “After the pat-down search, fans will be asked to unzip any coats. All bags will be x-rayed.”
X-rayed by scanners of the gamma ray sort that can see through inches of steel.
K-9 units will be on hand to sniff and search anyone and anything mysterious.
Don’t worry, it’s nothing you probably haven’t experienced before if you’ve ever gone through an airport security checkpoint.
But at what cost?
To the NFL, it’s estimated to be between $6-$11 million for the annual games. To the federal government, the numbers are less clear. Republican Senator Tom Coburn recently questioned the department’s expenses, noting that at last year’s Super Bowl at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, $250,000 was spent for security upgrades, of which $9,000 was spent solely on signage.
So what’s worse: the figurative or the literal expense of a federal agency pat-down?
Flickr photo courtesy of hmerinomx
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