More than 3 in 4 sports spectators (77.1 percent) feel comfortable with security personnel wearing body-worn cameras, according to a new survey by the National Center for Spectator Sports Safety and Security (NCS4) at the University of Southern Mississippi.

The Spectator Sports Safety and Security Survey gauges sport spectators’ perceptions of safety and security at live events, awareness and support of policies and procedures, and willingness to embrace new measures and technological solutions to enhance their safety and game-day experience.

Understanding spectators’ perceptions of safety and security practices and concerns while attending events can help venue and event directors plan thusly to ensure the optimal spectator experience, according to NCS4.

The report outlines the results of the study in the following sections: Participant Demographics and Attendance Habits; Perceptions of Safety and Security Practices, Technologies, and Industry Threats; and Perceptions of Fan Behavior and the Spectator Experience. Industry recommendations are also provided.

“We are pleased with the research output and hope sport venue and event security professionals and technology solution providers find value in the results,” said Dr. Stacey A. Hall, NCS4 executive director and professor of sport management.

Among key findings from the 400 survey participants noted in the report:

• 31.6 percent  indicated that security procedures entering the event negatively affected their experience
• 69.3 percent (agreed/strongly agreed) consider safety and security measures when attending a sporting event, and 73 percent (agreed/strongly agreed) prefer visible security measures.
• Approximately two-thirds of participants trust the venue’s measures to protect them from active shooters, vehicle ramming incidents and Personal Identifiable Information (PII) breaches
• Participants highly supported venue security staff presence, law enforcement presence, walk-through screening detection technologies, security wands, visible security cameras and designated entry gates.

The NCS4 administers the spectator survey every two years to investigate the general perceptions of industry safety and security practices and the potential impact of related current events among sports spectators.

To view and download the full report, go here.