Security for Super Bowl called into question

[AGENDA21]

PHILADELPHIA - During the last few years, the NFL has tried to stage a more cost-efficient Super Bowl. But it could be playing with fire in its latest money-saving attempt.

The league has cut ties with the nationally respected security firm it has used for the last 29 Super Bowls, California-based Contemporary Services Corporation. It will go a less expensive route this year, hiring three smaller, less-experienced companies to handle security for Super Bowl XL next week in Detroit.

The league sure has picked a strange time to make a security switch of this magnitude, considering that next week's game will be played just a half-mile from an international border. (Detroit is across the river from Windsor, Ontario.) It also comes just three weeks after the latest taped threat of a terrorist attack by Osama bin Laden.

http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/sports/football/13726487.htm

[ComerPerro]

1. The Superbowl will be just fine.

[adriennui]

9. i agree

it's the rest of the country i'm worried about. i'm not leaving my house.

[0007]

2. What's the big savings gonna mount too? n/t

[chat_noir]

3. Alpha Protection Group - not even a website??

The league has replaced CSC with three smaller firms: S.A.F.E. Management and Guardian Corporation, both out of Detroit, and the North Carolina-based Alpha Protection Group. But they don't have the manpower of CSC, which manages 19 of the NFL's 32 stadiums, and have had to subcontract out to other security firms.

http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/sports/football/13726487.htm


Ahlerich downplayed the switch in security firms, pointing out that the primary Super Bowl week security will be provided by law-enforcement agents, including the Detroit Police Department, the Michigan State Police, the FBI, the Secret Service and U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

"That's really the front line," he said. "The government resources that we get from the city, state and federal government are really the front-line security."

That's news to the Detroit Police Department, which is the lead law-enforcement agency for Super Bowl XL.

"We're the backups to them (the NFL-contracted security companies)," said Detroit Police spokesman James Tate. "We lead the operational planning, but we let them handle the security issues. The law-enforcement agencies handle the sweeps and make sure the location is free of any incidents."

[AGENDA21]

5. It should make you think ,why they would do this?

[tanyev]

4. That's it. I'm not going.

:+

[Jeanette in FL]

6. Wonder if Marvin Bush is involved with any of these security firms

Seems like a very strange time to be changing security firms.

[AGENDA21]

8. That would be interesting,or just finding out who is

involved with these security firms.

[BushOut06]

7. I just hope they didn't hire Ben Affleck

He did a pretty shitty job protecting the last Super Bowl he was at ;)

[Xenotime]

10. Nothing will happen....it will be boring as usual.

[JohnyCanuck]

11. Hope they will have strict procedures in place

to handle any of those super-scary moms wearing t-shirts disruptors and protestors.

[BushOut06]

14. Don't worry, I'm sure that Cindy Sheehan won't be allowed anywhere near

n/t

[Missy Vixen]

12. Are they hoping something will happen?

I'm sure that players and ticketholders alike will be thrilled at this news. NOT.

Julie

[meganmonkey]

13. Yeah, somehow I don't think blowing up Detroit

would be a terrorist's priority.

:shrug: