NBA issues security guidelines for NBA Arenas

[Guest_Randy]

from Espn.com

DENVER -- The NBA is creating standard security guidelines for all of its arenas in an attempt to prevent another brawl between players and fans, according to a report.
The league will provide directives on security officers, alcohol sales, and fan behavior, commissioner David Stern told The Denver Post in a story published Thursday. The policies are to go into effect starting next week, after the All-Star break.
The guidelines are to be announced Thursday.
Fans and players fought during a game between Detroit and Indiana in November, with players going into the stands after a fan threw a full cup of beer at the Pacers' Ron Artest.
The league plans to provide guidelines on the number of security officers teams should employ, as well as their tactics and placement in the arenas, the paper reported.
Also, the league plans to limit the size and number of beers sold, and have teams announce what type of fan behavior is considered unacceptable.
"We are not looking to eject fans," Stern told the Post. "We look at this as an opportunity to remind people that coming to an arena is an opportunity to share an experience of rooting a home team on to victory and booing the opposition, but not doing it in an anti-social way that goes against our civil society."
According to the report, the league consulted each team as well as outside security experts, and researched its own previous recommendations.

It's about time.  I love Stern's quote "we are not looking to eject fans."  Of course, what he means is "we don't want to eject people who are willing to pay that kind of money to come to an NBA game" -- of course, it will be interesting to see how Arenas respond -- they are now looking at less revenue from bear sales and arenas could have to hire additional security personell.  I do like the idea that security will be more visible courtside -- it might help make the whole NBA experience more palatable for young fans (I know there are some arenas that I would NEVER want to take my son to).  

[guest-koast]

I dont think the arenas will take that big of a hit IMO.  They should limit the number of drinks people are getting at a certain time anyways.  Not just for security of fans in the building but for the security of people all over the city.  So many people are drunk when the game is over at Staples.  Everytime I leave the game I pray to god that the drunk idiot yelling at the top of his lungs leaving the building didnt park anywhere near me.

As for more security.....they are going from none to a few lol.  Only reason Staples center has security guards is to escort the frickin stars to places at half time lol.  That or to make sure you dont move up into a few empty seats in the 3rd quarter 2 rows ahead of what you paid for.

They are still making a killing selling t-shirts that cost a dollar to make for 20.   Buying 10-15 kegs of beer for a hundreds of bucks and turning around to sell them for 8-10 a cup.  7 dollar krispy kreme donuts.  4 dollar quarter pounders.  The list is endless......I think its safe to assume most arenas are raping the fans just as bad as Staples center.