Wand security searches implemented at Raptors, Leafs games
Posted February 27, 2013 8:47 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
TORONTO, Ont. – A wand security check will become the norm at the Air Canada Centre when it hosts Toronto Raptors or Toronto Maple Leafs games at the request of both leagues.
Ahead of the basketball season, the NBA asked its teams to implement wand security checks at random games. The league then said it wanted the checks to be conducted at all games after the All-Star break, which was last week.
“They would like us to wand all fans, all games,” said Bob Hunter, MLSE executive vice-president, venues and entertainment.
“Just as a general procedure as to ensuring a safe and secure environment, they felt that this was a good move,” he said.
The NHL has already asked for wand security checks to be done at random games but that could become a procedure for every game, Hunter said.
“We will be starting to do wanding at Leafs’ games,” he said.
“It’s going to be league-wide and could be all games at some point.”
Hunter said patrons have been generally understanding.
“Everyone understands the changing society and the need for more security and I would say that generally people understand why we’re doing it.”
However, he said they have run into a few hiccups.
“We’ve had a couple of really big crowds and we had really cold days.”
“The combination of that, it just went much slower than we had foreseen and that was concerning.”
Hunter said they have added extra staff to compensate.
He added that security wand checks are done at other ACC events.
