Mass Gathering Security: a Look at the Coordinated Approach to Super Bowl Xlviii in New Jersey and Other Large-scale Events

Publisher Marketing: On February 2, 2014, Super Bowl XLVIII took place less than 10 miles from where we are sitting today. That event, which was attended by more than 80,000 people and watched around the world by more than 100 million people, is just one of the many large sporting events and gatherings that take place around the country each and every year. Just a few days before the Super Bowl, a suspicious powder was mailed to several locations in New Jersey and New York, including hotels near the Super Bowl site. Those substances were non-toxic, but the situation served as a stark reminder of the threats we face and the importance of planning, training, and exercises prior to mass gatherings. One of the keys to success is thorough planning and coordination. That includes at all levels-Federal, State, local, and private sector. It involves intelligence personnel, first responders, security experts, and dozens of other players who have a part to play. In preparation for Super Bowl XLVIII, the Department of Homeland Security took the lead in coordinating Federal efforts to assist the New Jersey State Police in security operations at MetLife Stadium and the surrounding areas, directing over 13 Federal offices and agencies in a massive interagency partnership. This partnership included the FBI, Department of Health and Human Services, FDA, and DOD, among others, all essential partners.