How Sports Arenas Confronted COVID-19

Almost a year ago, most professional sports were cautiously taking first steps to restarting after pausing at the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic. Today stadiums, arenas, and ball parks are opening up to fans nationwide, many at full capacity.

In this episode of BioTalk, a presentation of GBACtv, a webcast series produced by the Global Biorisk Advisory Council^™ (GBAC), a Division of ISSA, and ISSA Media, ISSA Media Director Jeff Cross and GBAC Executive Director Patty Olinger explore how teams safely transitioned from empty stadiums to welcoming back fans. They are joined by Sam Coghill, vice president of operations for the NFL’s Miami Dolphins, and Ignacio Guerra, vice president of operations and parking for the STAPLES Center, home of the NBA’s Los Angeles Lakers and the Los Angeles Clippers, the NHL’s Los Angeles Kings, and the WNBA’s Los Angeles Sparks.

Coghill and Guerra discuss the state of the professional sporting industry right now and the hurdles their organizations faced during the past 18 months. Find out how they successfully navigated reopening and the creative first steps they took to keep attendees safely socially distanced but also socially engaged with the sporting events. Coghill and Guerra also delve into how GBAC assistance with developing policies and procedures helped their facilities stay safe while returning to full capacity.

View the extensive discussion below and be sure to check out all the GBACtv video content at gbac.issa.com/media/gbactv/.