The terrorist attacks in Paris, which included a suicide bomber attempting to enter France’s national soccer stadium, have renewed concerns regarding the security of NFL stadiums.
In a statement issued on Saturday, the NFL addressed the issue of stadium security.
“Following the events in Paris on Friday, we are closely monitoring events and have been in communication with the Department of Homeland Security and the FBI, which have informed us that there are no known threats against NFL stadiums,” the league said.
The NFL nevertheless will have an increased security and law enforcement presence this weekend inside and outside stadiums, including within parking lots.
The security of NFL stadiums recently came under scrutiny after protestors managed to sneak rappelling equipment into the Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte. That event, along with incidents in Paris that claimed more than 100 lives, should remind the NFL, all stadium workers, and all fans to be vigilant regarding the potential for violence in areas where large numbers of people gather.
Fans remain an active and critical part of the process of spotting suspicious behavior. If you’re at a game or outside a stadium and you see something that doesn’t seem right, don’t assume that someone else will alert the authorities.