What to Do About Dodger Stadium Security

The situation regarding the beating in the Dodger Stadium parking lot has received a lot of attention, and it is well deserved. Security there could be improved, especially with so many people going to games these days. All that I have heard to improve security is adding more security and LAPD officers. However, I do not think that this is enough, nor is it the most efficient use of money. Instead, Frank McCourt ought to think about these approaches.

When someone is kicked out of a stadium, why not kick them out for say a year or a few years, instead of just kicking them out that night? Many of these trouble-makers are probably repeat offenders, so why not keep them out instead of letting them back in night after night? Many theme parks use thumb print scanners to keep people who have been banned out (and to make sure that season ticket holders are who they say they are). Dodger Stadium should institute this technology. It is quick and would go a long way to making the stadium much safer.

McCourt should also think about developing the land around the stadium. There is a lot of land in that parking lot, and it is a lot to cover. The team should decrease that land area by building some of it out. The business owners there would then hire private security to patrol that area or at least would warrant a higher police presence than a parking lot does. But what about the parking? Simple. This development would encourage parking structures and more transit to and from the stadium. This would also decrease the rush into and out of the stadium as people would have more of a reason to come earlier and stay later.

As a Dodger fan, I usually go to the day games since that is just what I prefer. These tend to be safer as well since for the most part only real baseball fans want to sit in the hot sun to watch a game. Night games are a different deal, and I think that a large problem requires creative solutions. I think these ideas garner some attention since they would be cheaper and far more effective than simply adding more security to the games.