Six break-ins occurred at Tiger Stadium last spring, but there has only been one so far in 2018. After a year of implementing new security features, these seem to have paid off.
Senior Associate Athletic Director Ronnie Haliburton said the stadium was undergoing major construction last spring that made it vulnerable to trespassers.
The project included many contractors and sub-contractors. The stadium was not secure because many people were constantly coming in and out, Haliburton said.
“We don’t want to lock contractors in because we don’t give every contractor the combination or the keys to our facility,” Haliburton said.
Often, a contractor would work late when approaching deadlines. This presented an opportunity for anyone to just walk in, Haliburton said.
The situation put law enforcement at a disadvantage because they were unsure who was supposed to be in stadium and when. After stopping people often and learning they were contractors, naturally, law enforcement began asking less frequently, Haliburton said.
Haliburton said the stadium is constantly under construction, but the phase it was in last spring left it particularly vulnerable. Parts of the outside gates had to be replaced with temporary barriers so large construction vehicles could move in and out.
“We have elevated and added some additional security cameras, and we’ve enhanced the presence of LSUPD,” Haliburton said. “There is a combination of law enforcement agencies that handle security in Tiger Stadium.”
The number of people who entered the stadium last spring did not increase in total, but in frequency, Haliburton said.
As a response, contractors began detailing who was working late and brought unauthorized people to attention. It was a joint effort by contractors, law enforcement and athletics in stopping the frequent trespassing, Haliburton said.
Haliburton said they are trying to keep people safe by keeping them out.
“If I sneak into the stadium and I get trapped somewhere, who’s going to know?” Haliburton said. “How do I explain [where I am] when I’m on my cell-phone injured, nervous and scared because I’m not supposed to be in here?”
