Sniffer dogs and heightened security greet NFL fans after Paris attacks
From Seattle to New York, the National Football League stepped up security inside and outside of stadiums as America's most popular sports league responded to a series of coordinated attacks across Paris
From Seattle to New York, the National Football League stepped up security inside and outside of stadiums on Sunday as America's most popular sports league responded to a series of coordinated attacks across Paris that left at least 129 dead.
Football fans, who were subject to vehicle searches and banned from bringing backpacks and purses into arenas, greeted new measures with a mixture of good humour, annoyance and resignation.
“We’ve had our 9/11. They had what happened to them. We're all one, without question. We sympathise absolutely,” said Craig Corcoran of the Bronx, referring to the September 11, 2001, attack on New York’s World Trade Center.
“It's not going to stop us from having a good time. Over there, it's the same way. They're still going to go out and have their fun and they should,” Corcoran said while tailgating in the parking lot outside of MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
“The safety of our fans, stadium personnel, and teams at all NFL games is our priority, and security at our games is robust,” the league said.
At Baltimore's MT&T Bank Stadium, K-9 units were visible outside the venue and inside around the concourse for the Ravens' game against the Jacksonville Jaguars, ESPN reported.
“They checked everything we had twice before they let us in,” said Dave Steavpack, who has been going to games at Lambeau Field for nearly 30 years. “They're obviously taking no chances.”
At MetLife, where the New York Giants were hosting the unbeaten, reigning Super Bowl champion New England Patriots in one of Sunday's marquee games, trucks and vans got special attention at the stadium complex.
“We've been coming here for 17 years but this time they were stopping all the pick-up trucks and some of the vans coming in because of what happened in Paris,” said Tony, who along with Bob and Rocco had come in early from Connecticut to tailgate in the stadium parking lot before the game.
“If they had the thing (cargo area) covered, they uncovered it. If they had boxes, they had to open up the boxes. This never happened before.”
Bob noted another first. “It's the first time I saw bomb-sniffing dogs,” he said.
“They were checking inside every one of those pots,” he said about the line of concrete planters that served as barriers ringing the perimeter of the entry gates.
Among special precautions was a complete ban on entering stadiums with backpacks, satchels or purses. Fans could only carry in small, clear plastic bags.
A moment of silence was observed at Sunday's games with the French flag shown on video boards, and in some stadiums, including MetLife, the French flag was also exhibited by national colour guard details during the anthem.