7111/23 Item #9
MEMORANDUM SCSA
SANTA CLARA STADIUM AUTHORITY
TO Santa Clara Stadium Authority Board of Directors
FROM Jovan D. Grogan, City Manager/SCSA Executive Director Of DATE July 11, 2023
SUBJECT Public Safety Debrief of July 2, 2023 Concacaf Gold Cup Matches & Future External Review of Stadium Entrance, Security Screening and Neighborhood Protection Procedures In light of public safety challenges posed by the Concacaf Gold Cup matches at Levi's Stadium on July 2, 2023, this memorandum informs the Santa Clara Stadium Authority (SCSA) Board of Directors of steps that have and will be taken to review the event by Stadium Authority staff, the Santa Clara Police Department, and ManCo (the Forty Niners management company charged with operations of Levi's Stadium).
Additionally, and in response to the pending request for a special public meeting of the City Council/SCSA Board to discuss neighborhood impacts and operations of the stadium related to the July 2 soccer matches (submitted by Mayor Lisa Gillmor and Councilmember Kathy Watanabe), this memorandum conveys staffs' support for such a meeting and a commitment to ensure that an external review of stadium entrance, security screening, and neighborhood protection procedures is conducted.
Background
On July 2, 2023, Levi's Stadium hosted its first doubleheader professional soccer event. The Concacaf Gold Cup began with an initial match between Jamaica and St. Kitts/Nevis, scheduled to occur at 4:00pm, and a second match between Qatar and Mexico started at approximately 6:30pm. Prior to the event, the Santa Clara Police Department and ManCo undertook their normal event planning activities and security assessment procedures. Pre-event intelligence elevated public safety concerns related to the second match between Qatar and Mexico, specifically the potential for unruly fan behavior based on knowledge of fan conduct at previous similar events. This information influenced staffing as well as safety/security procedures implemented for the event. Additionally, the Santa Clara Police Department sent two officers to observe security procedures at a prior soccer match that occurred in Houston, Texas one week prior to the July 2 Concacaf Gold Cup at Levi's Stadium.
The event plan called for alcohol sales to be limited to one drink per customer per transaction for the second match and no cans/bottle sales were allowed. All alcohol sales were "poured" meaning dispensed into a recyclable plastic cup. This was done to limit potential projectiles within the stadium. These were measures that had not previously been employed for a stadium event. Additionally, the event plan called for alcohol sales to be stopped at the 70th minute into the second match. For reference, a soccer match is 90 minutes, not including halftime, stoppage and extra time.
Unfortunately, an unrelated criminal investigation that occurred in the early morning of July 2 caused the Santa Clara Police Department to adjust their deployment of uniformed officers assigned to patrol residential neighborhoods adjacent to the stadium. Additionally, tailgating, mobile vendors, and traffic 1500 Warburton Avenue | Santa Clara, CA | 95050 | 408.615.2210
POST MEETING MATERIAL
Memorandum to SCSA Board
Re: Public Safety Debrief of July 2, 2023 Concacaf Gold Cup Matches & Future Third Party Review of Stadium Entrance, Security Screening and Neighborhood Protection Procedures July 11, 2023
congestion created impacts to nearby streets and neighborhoods. Within the perimeter of the stadium and inside the venue, a heavy volume of patrons entering the facility prior to the second match, along with unruly fan behavior, and a series of fights immediately preceding and following the conclusion of the event, created additional public safety challenges. One incident involved the stabbing of a patron; the suspect has since been arrested.
Post-Event Debrief Meetings
It is important for the City Council and the SCSA Board of Directors to know that three post-event debrief meetings have occurred related to the July 2 event. Two meetings occurred within 72 hours following the event: one internal debriefing within the Santa Clara Police Department and another within security and management employees at ManCo. The third debrief occurred yesterday, July 10, between representatives from the Santa Clara Police Department, ManCo, and Stadium Authority staff. Topics discussed included pre-event planning activities, tailgating, parking lot operations and roadway impacts, entrance and exit procedures, neighborhood protection and quality of life impacts, mobile vending/peddlers, incident response times, event staffing (law enforcement and ManCo security staff/contractors), alcohol sales, media/press responses, and more.
Additional meetings will follow, and appropriate changes will be incorporated into future event plans, including the Soccer Champions Tour match that is scheduled to occur at Levi's Stadium between FC Barcelona and Juventus FC on July 22, 2023.
External Review
As noted above, Stadium Authority staff desires to have an external review conducted to identify necessary changes that will enhance public safety and reduce neighborhood impacts from events at Levi's Stadium.
As Executive Director for the Stadium Authority, following the July 2 event, I conveyed the need for an external review of stadium entrance procedures (including ticketing and security screening) as well as impacts on the surrounding community with representatives for the Forty Niners Stadium Company and the Bay Area Host Committee (the official host organization for the 2026 World Cup and Super Bowl LX, both of which will be held at Levi's Stadium). Both entities have concurred with the need for an external review, and further expressed a willingness to underwrite a portion of the cost for the review. Accordingly, the Stadium Authority will contract for the work, with approximately 50% of the cost paid by the Forty Niners as well as a contribution from the Bay Area Host Committee.
As we simultaneously complete a debrief of the July 2 event and assess immediate changes that can be implemented for upcoming events, Stadium Authority staff will develop a scope of work for an external review and solicit proposals from entities with expertise in large venue/event security. Further, we will work with the Santa Clara Police Department and legal counsel to ensure that the public discussions and presentation of the final report will balance the need for transparency with the need for protection of sensitive/confidential security procedures in and around Levi's Stadium.
CC: Santa Clara Police Chief Patrick Nikolai SCSA
SANTA CLARA STACIUM AUTHORITY