[azcap]

I doubt they would target a major college or professional sporting event . Those events will have hundreds of local police, private security, federal law enforcement, etc. Terrorists get their impact out of the body count. They would get just as much bang for their buck killing  a large crowd somewhere less secure. As for rural American targets - in the small town where I grew up in Indiana you can find 5000 people in the high school gym on Friday nights. The only security there is a paramedic and couple of cops working parking lot detail for the overtime. Back in the fall you'd find the same kind of crowds in high school football stadiums all over Texas and the South.

[luvbach1]

Those events will have hundreds of local police, private security, federal law enforcement, etc

Could not a plane do the most damage at such an event (bowl game)? I suppose jet fighter interceptors could nearby. but at all events?

[L`enn]

But remember 9-11 final toll was 3k+. Major sporting events have 50K in a concentrated area. Many would be killed by impact, many other by the resulting stampede. They would get their dollars worth.

[nicko]

ref. Black Sunday, 1977 film with Robert Shaw, Bruce Dern...you're right about Indiana- I too grew up there...