Posted on 01/29/2007 6:55:52 PM PST by NormsRevenge
The National Football League has boosted the law enforcement budget and heightened the security threat level for Super Bowl 41 because of terrorism fears.
The Super Bowl has been raised to a level one national security event, putting it on par in terms of manpower and resources with the US President's State of the Union speech and the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympics.
"We consider the Super Bowl so high profile that we see it as attractive to terrorists," said Milt Ahlerich, NFL vice-president of security.
The last Super Bowl to be given a level one security designation was the 2002 New Orleans Super Bowl held three months after the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks upon New York and Washington.
Ahlerich said the league has budgeted six million dollars for the event. The money will pay for sophisticated equipment, screenings, background checks, hiring security experts and paying for 3,000 civilian security workers.
Ahlerich said they expect a peaceful event but are preparing for the worst.
"Our teams will be safe," Ahlerich said. "We want the focus to be on the teams on field and not on security."
Robert Parker, director of the Miami-Dade Police Department, said their contingency plans include bringing in officers from all over the state of Florida. They will be backed up by the military.
He declined to say how many law-enforcement personnel would be working at the various Super Bowl events.
"We are not giving out those figures," he said. "We have planned for major casualty-type situations. We are not worried about not having enough manpower."
Without going into specifics, Parker said uniformed and undercover officers will have the latest crime-fighting equipment on the ground and in the air.
"We have envisioned every possibility imagined as far as potential threats," Parker said.
Part of their preparations has also included what might happen if aging Cuban President Fidel Castro were to die during Super Bowl week.
"We don't expect anything to happen, but if it did we would be looking at celebrations and people taking to the streets," Parker said.
Aircraft will also be prohibited from flying anywhere near the Super Bowl stadium, Ahlerich said.
Jack Bauer has it covered, not to worry, Colts by 3. :-)
Indianapolis Colts football quarterback Peyton Manning arrives at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., Monday, Jan. 29, 2007. The Colts will play the Chicago Bears in The Super Bowl Sunday in Miami. (AP Photo/Alan Diaz)
Whats the world coming to?
You cant bring a cooler in anymore, you cant throw snowballs at the refs. Yeesh
Chicago Bears linebacker Brian Urlacher arrives at the Bears' hotel Sunday, Jan. 28, 2007 in Miami. The Bears will take on the Indianapolis Colts in Super Bowl XLI, Sunday, Feb. 4, in Miami. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
No tailgating this year either .. heck, it's better on HDTV then being there .
I agree
you set off a bomb bria will personally rip the head off everyone in your family. he is a beast
But the pressure is one to put in prayer rooms aimed toward Mecca in stadiums and airports.
you set off a bomb bria will personally rip the head off everyone in your family. he is a beast
If Brian wins the Super Bowl, will he get a car dealership instead of just a used car lot?
I've figured out the worst job in the world: a security guys on the field at the Super Bowl who has to spend the entire game watching the crowd instead of the game.
You just have to watch the game using a reflection off someone's sunglasses.
In this case it's a beach because I couldn't find a football field. :O)
That was the same Super Bowl that the Tampa Teen suicide pilot made a threat against in his suicide note. You know, the one that was suppressed until AFTER the Super Bowl?
We were told that his crash was an accident and that he was not carrying out a terrorist act (even though he used precisely that term in his suicide note).
Smoking Gun has the original handwritten note.
Is there proper venting for grilling hot dogs in those little rooms?
NFL Ping.
LOL! My boss has bought so many used P/U's he's moved up from the "signed poster" and "54 sweatshirt" to the "signed football" level (it's on his bookcase). Course, he's looking for tickets, but I guess he'd have to buy a whole fleet and Chicago's a little far.
That was the same Super Bowl that the Tampa Teen suicide pilot made a threat against in his suicide note. You know, the one that was suppressed until AFTER the Super Bowl?
Makes you wonder if they have received a more specific threat this year than in the past. Of course the Super Bowl has been considered a general target these past few years, but for some reason this year's threat level is the same as 2002?
A post to ponder on.
Thank you good old days.
There is no specific threat that I have read about regarding the Super Bowl at this time.
Nope. Colts by 6....at least. Bear butts are about to be kicked, big time.
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