MLB to force fans through metal detectors

[MrBill]

What is driving this new requirement? Seems like a lot of hassle to go to a pro sporting event these days.

Metal detectors at big league ballparks by '15

Posted: Jan 22, 2014 7:54 AM CST Updated: Jan 22, 2014 7:54 AM CST
By RONALD BLUM

NEW YORK (AP) — Entering a big league ballpark will be a bit like going through an airport by 2015.

Major League Baseball has told its 30 teams they must implement security screening for fans by then, either with hand-held metal detection or walk-through magnetometers.

"This procedure, which results from MLB's continuing work with the Department of Homeland Security to standardize security practices across the game, will be in addition to bag checks that are now uniform throughout MLB," baseball spokesman Michael Teevan said Tuesday.

The Seattle Mariners announced Tuesday that fans entering Safeco Field will have to walk through metal detectors starting with this year's opener.

Boston, the New York Mets, Oakland, Pittsburgh and San Francisco were among the teams that experimented with screening at times last year. Security gained more intense focus after three people were killed and more than 260 wounded in when two bombs were set off at the Boston Marathon finish line.

"We conducted testing of these measures at the All-Star game and at both World Series venues last year, and we were pleased that it was effective and received without issue from fans," Teevan said.

MLB is being assisted by CEIA USA Ltd., which manufactures walk-through metal detectors, and the security company GSIS.

Big league teams have generally limited bags that fans bring to 16 inches by 16 inches by 8 inches.

In an effort to increase security this season, the NFL limited the size and type of bags fans can bring to games. With the exception of medically necessary items, only clear plastic, vinyl or PVC bags no larger than 12 inches by 6 inches by 12 inches have been allowed. One-gallon clear plastic freezer bags also were permitted along with clear plastic bags approximately the size of someone's hand.

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

 

[ThomasTomasz]

After I started attending games again this year, I noticed that I could easily have carried a gun into the stadium and no one would have known. Definitely something that MLB needed to improve upon, and I was surprised this hasn't come across sooner.

 

[NAHSTE]

Doesn't bother me, there's already a bit of a bottleneck at the gate for bag search. A few more minutes in exchange for more peace of mind is a fair trade. One drawback is this eliminates one's ability to sneak #datflask into the park. Unless you have a plastic flask, of course.

 

[Glenbino]

Show up for BP and this isn't an issue.

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[Slateman]

What is driving this new requirement? Seems like a lot of hassle to go to a pro sporting event these days.

It's for your protection. From terrorists and crazy people with guns. Now, pick up that can, citizen.

 

[Warner2BruceTD]

What is driving this new requirement?

Dodger fans.

 

[spursup]

All you have to do to avoid extra time going through the gate is show up earlier, there's no real hassle in that. And I'll leave 15 minutes earlier if it means less looking over my shoulder at the game.

 

[Slateman]

All you have to do to avoid extra time going through the gate is show up earlier, there's no real hassle in that. And I'll leave 15 minutes earlier if it means less looking over my shoulder at the game.

Not everyone has this option. 7pm game. You get off work at 5, takes a half hour to get home. Get changed, grab the mit, get the kids . . . getting there earlier may not be an option.

 

[Glenbino]

Same guys complaining about these lines have no problem waiting through three innings to buy a stale hot dog and $11 beer I bet.

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[spursup]

Not everyone has this option. 7pm game. You get off work at 5, takes a half hour to get home. Get changed, grab the mit, get the kids . . . getting there earlier may not be an option.

I guess getting home from school at 3 and living within 2 hours of 3 MLB parks kept me from thinking about that.

 

[NAHSTE]

Not everyone has this option. 7pm game. You get off work at 5, takes a half hour to get home. Get changed, grab the mit, get the kids . . . getting there earlier may not be an option.

Groaned for bringing a glove to a game, but the rest of this I agree with. It takes me 45 to an hour to get to either Citi or Yankee from my office and that's if I leave at 6 right on the dot which is usually a tough proposition.

Not feasible to suggest everyone arrive early.

 

[Glenbino]

I still don't see how this will cause any huge delays. 90% of people will pass on through because they can follow instructions. Some people will be pulled to the side and wanded for 30 seconds because they were too stupid to take off their belts, and that's about it.

It's a small price to pay for someone not bringing a gun, knife, or worse yet an explosive into a baseball game IMO.



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[Warner2BruceTD]

I go to Minute Maid roughly 15 times per year, and I can tell you that if I wanted to bring a bazooka into the stadium, I could.

With that said, try to sneak a bottle of water past the gate. Good luck.

 

[kkp2420]

Especially being a Dodger fan and going to a lot of games, i do think this is a smart thing to add to the stadiums, why not take the extra precaution, it's for your safety and everyone else in the stadium!

 

[Villain]

Dodger fans.

Honestly, I was surprised that Dodger Stadium didn't require it already. Last time I went I forgot to take my knife out of my pocket and it didn't matter since I wasn't checked.

 

[BroncoBlue]

Not everyone has this option. 7pm game. You get off work at 5, takes a half hour to get home. Get changed, grab the mit, get the kids . . . getting there earlier may not be an option.

Don't you have to be at least thirteen years old to post on a forum? Mother fucker, at that age you shouldn't be taking a glove to a MLB game anymore.

 

[JeremyHight]

If you don't want to wait, arrive early. If you cannot arrive early, but a ticket for a different day. If you want them to reduce security at games, GOOD FUCKING LUCK. Post 9-11, bitches.

 

[ThomasTomasz]

If you don't want to wait, arrive early. If you cannot arrive early, but a ticket for a different day. If you want them to reduce security at games, GOOD FUCKING LUCK. Post 9-11, bitches.

Orioles did not do pat-downs last year. I commented to my stepmom, a former cop and Bureau of Prison officer, and she was in agreement- anyone could have gotten in there with a weapon on their person. I was shocked at that, because I had not been to an Orioles game post 9-11, but the Redskins always had pat-downs, as did the Naval Academy (hell, we sold food at the graduation one year and each time we left the stadium, we had to be patted down on return.)

 

[spursup]

Citi Field did a good job security wise last time I was there. At Yankees Stadium you can walk in with pretty much anything you want though.

 

[Slateman]

I still don't see how this will cause any huge delays. 90% of people will pass on through because they can follow instructions. Some people will be pulled to the side and wanded for 30 seconds because they were too stupid to take off their belts, and that's about it.

It's a small price to pay for someone not bringing a gun, knife, or worse yet an explosive into a baseball game IMO.



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I think you're over-estimating the human population.

On top of that, baseball games are supposed to be family friendly. Do you know parents who don't bring a bag when they go to the park? Don't have a ton of extra stuff? It's going to slow things down. People will forget they wore the big belt buckle or that their boots are steel toe, or a host of other things.

Look at TSA and airport security. You KNOW you're getting searched. You show up 2 hours early because of it. And still people set off the scanners and metal detectors.

I'm not saying this is going to be a cluster fuck, but it will impact attendance. Maybe I'm just jaded from living in DC, but it's already an effort to get to the game. I have to ride Metro or fight DC traffic, and then pay a shit ton to park. I have to walk through the shitty part of town that they don't seem to be developing (which was the whole reason DC built the park in the first place). On top of that, now I have to go through a security checkpoint that consists of a metal detector?

Maybe, just maybe, I decide it's not worth it. Not without another compelling reason like it's a big series or my Dad wants to see them play the Tigers (last year).

I understand why they're doing it. It's the day and age we live in and, frankly, I'm surprised it hasn't happened already. Doesn't mean I have to like it though.