Alabama Football: No packing heat at Bryant-Denny this fall
By Ronald Evans
Metal is out at Bryant-Denny this fall unless it played over the sound system. Alabama football will use metal detectors to increase crowd safety.
Those of you who choose to pack heat in public places, take Bryant-Denny stadium off your list. The University will use walk-thru metal detectors as fans enter the stadium for Alabama football games.
University of Alabama Athletic Director announced the policy was an additional step to assure safety in and around Bryant-Denny Stadium. The primary purpose of the metal detectors is to stop weapons being carried into the stadium. While it was not addressed in Byrne’s statement, the standard policy at stadiums across the country is any knife is considered a weapon. So, next fall, leave your pocket knife in your car.
The detectors can be triggered by any metal object. Some fans might need to re-think trying to sneak a bottle of their favorite beverage if it has a metal top. Don’t expect anything similar to a coat-check for your weapon either. Unlike an umbrella that can be leaned against the stadium fence until post-game retrieval, any weapons discovered must be taken back to your personal vehicle.
Statement from Greg Byrne
More complete information is available rolltide.com.
"our Board of Trustees voted to move forward with the implementation of metal detectors throughout Bryant-Denny Stadium. It goes without saying that safety at our venues is of the utmost importance, and these security enhancements will help to ensure that our fans, student-athletes, coaches and personnel can enjoy their game-day experience in a safe environment."
The use of metal detectors will slow down entry into the stadium. The University is spending close to $1 million dollars on the new equipment. No matter how many walk-thru units that buys, entry will be slower. Either come earlier to Alabama football games or come late and be prepared to miss a kickoff.
Both the NFL and MLB mandate metal-detectors at all stadiums. They are already used in many college stadiums.
We applaud the University decision to enhance crowd safety. Sports stadiums can become volatile environments, driven by the frenzy of competing fans. Mix in alcohol and weapons and a normally secure environment can become unsafe.
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For anyone thinking the metal detectors are not needed, there is an added benefit from using them. They will also detect another prohibited item, cow-bells.