Women's Final Four Basketball tournament: A security slam dunk

May 1, 2001 12:00 PM

Traditionally, women's college athletics have not generated the security threat levels of men's college and professional sports, which have been linked to a number of post-game riots over the years. But this year's melee on the campus of Purdue University, Lafayette, Ind., as a result of its 68-66 loss to Notre Dame, Southbend, Ind., in the NCAA Women's Championship game, served as a wakeup call to officials. More than 1,000 students desecrated their halls of higher learning with bon fires, molotov cocktails, and broken windows until police finally quelled the crowd with tear gas and riot sticks.

Billed as Arch Madness — the female version of March Madness, the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Women's Final Four Tournament in St. Louis was a huge event. More than 22,000 spectators filled Savvis Center, for each of the three games, and thousands of others gathered for conventions and related events, such as Hoop City, an indoor basketball fair. Despite the influx of tourists, spectators and young people — an equation that often results in pick-pocketing, street scams and disorderly conduct — security incidents were minimal.

Richard Haselhorst, president of Associate Engineered Systems Inc., St. Louis, which installed Savvis' security system, suggests technology was one reason for the low crime rate during the event. The high-tech systems allowed minimal police presence inside the facility, and maximum presence on the streets, where problems typically occur.

According to Haselhorst, the arena uses a Continental Smart Term access control system with proximity card readers, as well as Pelco CCTV cameras. “They have about six domes, which overlook the crowd, so if they hear of a security problem, they can zoom in,” says Haselhorst. There are also fixed cameras that monitor stairwells, escalators, entrances and exits, as well as panic buttons located in high-risk areas, such as cash handling rooms.

Savvis Center, formerly named Kiel Center, was constructed in 1994. “We put the Continental Smart Term system in when they were building the dome, so it's been in from day one,” says Haselhorst.

A number of prevention strategies were considered during the construction phase, thus reducing the need for continually-expanding electronics. According to Salvatore Ruffino, project director with Alberici Construction in St. Louis, the Savvis Center includes architectural features that lend themselves to better security for high-profile events.

The complex is attached to a multi-story parking garage, “which makes it convenient for suite and season ticket holders to drive to the same level that their seats are on, and walk straight in,” says Ruffino. To control the area, a concierge desk is positioned right inside the arena entrance.

When the facility was constructed, designers had clear lines of sight in mind, as well. “There's a large atrium with a three-story-tall glass curtain wall, as well as escalators and balconies that add to the visibility,” says Ruffino. There are public entrances on each side of the building, but in the garage, the players and performers can park their cars on the lower level, and enter right onto the level with the locker rooms and dressing rooms.

The garage also includes a truck ramp leading into the basement of the center. If the circus comes to town, it can proceed through the garage to an underground loading dock. For the Final Four, the wide thoroughfare offered plenty of parking inside for ESPN equipment trucks.

Ticket windows and the atrium lobby were fitted with bullet-proof glass. A complete security command center covers the 15th and Walnut entrance, which serves as the vendor and media entrance. For the Final Four, a St. Louis Police officer was positioned outside the door at all times; he approached any vehicle or truck, arriving to load or unload.

One of the key security decision-makers during the Final Four was Commander Michael Caruso, of the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department (STLMPD) Special Services Division, who also serves as a security consultant to the Savvis Center. He coordinated the security officers for the event, who were dressed in sports coats and ties, and were supplemented with a number of St. Louis Police officers. There was also a significant cadre of vice detectives on the street to watch for ticket scalping and counterfeiting. “Our vice squad is really cracking down. They worked the whole weekend watching for it,” he said.

Following the event, the STLMPD recorded 19 arrests for scalping, confirmed Adella Jones, a public affairs officer. “Some 57 tickets with a street value more than $5,000 were seized. In St. Louis, you can only sell tickets on the street at face value or below,” she added.

Official tickets included a hologram which made identifying counterfeit tickets easier. Counterfeiting media credentials is not out of the question, either, and because credentials did not include any particular markings to ensure authenticity, a police sergeant also manned the entrance leading from the credentialing area to the arena to inspect each attendee before they entered the facility.

Caruso also coordinated closely with Michael Drucker, associate counsel with The Collegiate Licensing Company (TCLC), Atlanta, which is charged with combating counterfeit merchandise on behalf of 180 NCAA-member schools. “We seize upwards of a few thousand pieces every year on behalf of the NCAA, which doesn't translate into a lot of dollars, necessarily, but by conducting this enforcement, it provides some protection to the licensees, who make and sell the product. Traditionally, the Women's Final Four has not been a place where a lot of this activity occurs, but we had some problems back in 1997 in Cincinnati, so now we are on hand just in case something happens.”

While the CLC's enforcement primarily uses undercover officers who patrol the area around Savvis Center looking for apparel and merchandise knockoffs, they also implemented a new strategy this year in St. Louis — holograms. “Each licensee bought these hologram stickers, and it allowed us to track products back to the manufacturers. It's something counterfeiters would not go through the trouble of buying, or trying to remake,” says Caruso. Evidenced by a number of vehicles filled with young men and sports items, professional autograph harvesting was also an issue. “The problem might be new to collegiate stars, but the pros are becoming wise to it,” says Caruso. “When they see the same faces with the same articles over and over again, they know something's not right. And that really aggravates a player.”

Due to the nature of the crowd, Ciro, a docile-looking German Shepherd, and her partner Officer Peter St. James of the STLMPD canine section played a key role in crowd control. “We're mainly out here to introduce Ciro to the community, and let them know she's not a man eater — unless I tell her to be. She's very sociable.”

But potential troublemakers should not misinterpret Ciro's affable demeanor. She's trained to sniff out explosives and firearms, adds St. James — a capability helpful to specialized details at high-profile events.

Caruso coordinated the security details with the governors of Missouri and Indiana. While he would not allow coverage of the arrival, he did say it would be very low-key.

Other security and safety-related amenities at Savvis include first aid and medical treatment rooms. And in order to comply with ADA, a number of stairwells include wheelchair lifts in addition to ample special needs seating.

Sue Donohoe, director, NCAA Division I Women's Basketball, confirmed that a host's city ability to provide security is a major consideration in the selection process. And she said St. Louis lived up to its bid proposal.

“We ask each of the arenas to submit to us an emergency response plan, just in case we had a bomb threat. And Savvis' plan was excellent,” says Donohoe.

She applauded the officers on the streets, as well. “Whether it was at the arena, the hotels or any of the auxiliary events, the city did a great job. Security and police officers were visible throughout the whole area and friendly and helpful. I went to a dinner one night, and was riding back in one of our NCAA courtesy cars, and got lost. I pulled up beside a police officer who gave me directions back downtown, and then offered to drive me back to my hotel. It was done very well.”

Haselhorst says Savvis officials are planning to upgrade to digital technology in the near future.

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