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June 27, 2012
Barclays metal detectors
NY Post
by Rich Calder
In a stunning diss to the Borough of Kings, the head of security for Barclays Center last night said the Nets’ new home will feature walk-through metal detectors that all fans must pass before watching NBA games, concerts and other events when the arena opens Sept. 28.
“We’re taking security very seriously,” Robert Sena, director of security for the 18,200-seat arena, told community leaders at Borough Hall.
He also said there will be game-day bag inspections and that fans “triggering a light” at the metal detectors would be patted down.
No other sporting venue in the tristate area relies on metal detectors. Most – such as Madison Square Garden and MetLife Stadium -- subject fans to pat-downs or “security wands” that pick up metal objects.
Sena said metal detectors are “less intrusive” than being patted down, but even some of the Nets’ biggest supporters aren’t on board with the arena security plan.
“I was considering getting season tickets, but I don’t want to feel like a criminal when I go to a game,” said longtime fan Robert Master, 34, of Brooklyn. “They don’t even have metal detectors at [the Nets former home] Prudential Center, and crime is much worse in Newark than Brooklyn.”
Borough President Marty Markowitz, who led the push to bring the Nets to Brooklyn, said he’d “vehemently oppose” use of metal detectors as standard operating procedure.
NoLandGrab: Marty will "vehemently oppose" Nets' fans having to walk through metal detectors, but he doesn't seem too concerned that quite a few Brooklyn public school students have to do the same when going school.
Posted by eric at June 27, 2012 12:58 PM