SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) - Entertainment venues in Sioux City are planning to add walk-through metal detectors to enhance security, saying such measures are becoming standard across the country.
The city’s proposed fiscal 2018 capital improvements budget includes $100,000 for walk-through metal detectors at the Tyson Events Center as part of the venue’s maintenance improvements, the Sioux City Journal (https://bit.ly/2keQPe8 ) reported.
The expense is expected to cover 10 to 12 detectors to place at the venue’s entrance.
Events facilities director Erika Newton said staff currently use wands to check for security. The department may need to hire more security staff since the metal detectors would likely slow the rate of entry.
The Orpheum Theatre board of directors is also considering walk-through detectors for events and plans to purchase them at the same time in order to save money on a bulk purchase.
“We probably don’t have quite as much risk as the Tyson, but any venue I think today has risk,” said Irving Jensen Jr., president of the board.
Newton told City Council that while no shows have declined to perform at the Tyson because of the lack of walk-through metal detectors, some have said they wouldn’t return unless security was increased.
“We have had shows in the building that said, ’We’ll let you get away with it this time, but we wouldn’t come back again until you have a solution,’” Newton said, citing the rock band KISS as an example.
The city is also budgeting nearly $1 million in enhancements for the Tyson. The projects will include LED lighting throughout the venue, a curtain to conceal an area for catering personnel and money for creating a premium seating option.
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Information from: Sioux City Journal, https://www.siouxcityjournal.com
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