These ticket scanners, based on past studies, should increase throughput into the stadium. To further expedite entry, guests are encouraged to have their mobile tickets ready before reaching stadium entries, either saved to their mobile wallet, in the Rams or Ticketmaster mobile app or on mobile web.
Mobile County schools will no longer play football games at Ladd-Peebles Stadium after a shooting there eight days ago, the spokeswoman for the system told AL.com today.
“Mobile County Public Schools is investigating all of the details of last week’s shooting at Ladd-Peebles Stadium and are willing to make whatever changes are necessary to improve our security plans,” Communications Director Rena Philips said in an email. “The first big change we are making is that we will no longer play football at Ladd, nor hold our graduation ceremonies there.”
The shooting happened at a game between Vigor and Williamson high schools on Oct. 15. Shots were fired on the stadium’s west concourse during the third quarter. Police said a group of people left the stadium and re-entered with guns. One opened fire injuring five people, one critically. Two people have been arrested and police are seeking the alleged gunman, 19-year-old Hezekiah Kaniel Belfon.
The school system and the stadium management have differed on who is responsible for the failure to keep the stadium safe.
Ladd-Peebles shooting: Stadium, schools dispute security responsibility
Philips said Mobile schools had already moved games that were scheduled for Thursday and Friday this week, as well as for games next Thursday and Friday and for playoff games.
In 2019, nine people were injured by gunfire at a LeFlore-Williamson game at Ladd-Peebles.
In May, the Mobile County Board of School Commissioners unanimously approved the hiring of an architect to design five new on-campus high school football stadiums at Vigor, Davidson, LeFlore, Williamson and B.C. Rain high schools.
Mary G. Montgomery, Baker, Alma Bryant, Theodore, Blount and Citronelle already have on-campus stadiums.
That will leave only Murphy without its own stadium. The Panthers are landlocked in a residential neighborhood.
See also:
Security measures questioned at Ladd-Peebles Stadium after shooting NBC 15 WPMI
Following a less-than-desirable debut of new security measures and a mobile ticketing system at Arizona Stadium, UA athletic director Dave Heeke has issued a formal apology.
“I want to apologize to those who were unable to fully enjoy that exceptional experience,” Heeke said in his Wildcat Wednesday newsletter. “We fell short in our obligation to provide you that experience. For that we sincerely apologize. We did not deliver.”
There were long delays entering the stadium for last week’s home opener against San Diego State, resulting in a very sparse crowd (other than in the Zona Zoo student section) at kickoff. By the time most of the announced crowd of 39,097 was in its seats the Wildcats were down 21-0, ultimately falling 38-14 for their 14th consecutive loss.
Heeke said the athletic department has been working to identify all the things that went wrong and come up with ways to fix them in time for this Saturday’s game against NAU. He said there will be additional staff at each gate and new queueing procedures will be in effect
“Our commitment remains to provide an outstanding game day experience for fans, and that means working tirelessly to resolve issues and deficiencies,” Heeke said. “These important elements of the fan experience will be better when we welcome you all for Saturday’s home football game versus Northern Arizona.”
Though Heeke said the mobile ticketing went well, he noted that ways for fans to help speed things up include making sure their tickets are up on their phone when they approach the gate, and he recommended fans enter at the gate closest to their seats.