Security is high on the agenda for the new Dallas Cowboys stadium which is set to open in Arlington, Texas, USA on 6 June 2009.
The venue will seat around 80,000 fans for regular-season games
It will hold up to 100,000 for special events such as the 2011 Super Bowl
At the end of March 2009, dignitaries were given a private tour of the new venue
Home to the National Football League American football team, the stadium is considered to be a high-profile target, not only because of its cultural significance but also because it will seat around 80,000 fans for regular-season games and up to 100,000 for special events such as the 2011 Super Bowl.
At the end of March 2009, dignitaries were given a private tour of the new venue including a preview of a special luxury box on the upper deck that will serve as a game-day operations centre. Police there will have a live electronic link to Arlington’s new emergency operations centre, which is several miles away at police headquarters. That link will give police access to all sorts of communication and monitoring equipment, realtime weather information and even data about emergency room availability. Instant teleconferencing with local, state and federal security officials will also be possible.
During a news conference after the tour, Arlington mayor Robert Cluck said his city – the seventh-largest in Texas – will be the most heavily visited in the state when the new Cowboys stadium opens in the entertainment district. "When this stadium opens, it will be the safest public structure anywhere," Cluck said.
There will be 17 ways to get in and out of the stadium – considerably more than there were at Texas Stadium in Irving.
Local public safety officials declined to cite specific security measures but said coordination among agencies, numerous video surveillance cameras and bomb response vehicles will contribute to the safety of fans. Police have already begun conducting drills at the stadium to prepare for the opening.
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