Director of Security Lance Emory met with the media Tuesday after protesters rappelled from the top deck of Bank of America Stadium during the Carolina Panthers win on Monday Night Football over the Indianapolis Colts.

How did they get the gear in to rappel off the upper deck?

"Let me first of all say that we're cooperating with the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department and there were four suspects arrested as a part of the incident. We do know that all suspects entered the stadium legitimately and they purchased tickets via the ticket exchange for the upper deck. We are conducting an inquiry into how the rappelling equipment got in. We're trying to determine that and doing an inquiry internally and we are also reaching out to fans who may have been inconvenienced by the experience, so that's ongoing."

Do you have anything surveillance-wise that could show what happened?

"We'll take a look at that. We haven't had an opportunity yet."

Do you think they brought the rappelling equipment through security?

"I don't have any idea at that point. We're just not that far into the inquiry."

What kind of equipment was it? Was it something that could get past security?

"We'd have to test the equipment they used to see if it would set off the handheld metal detectors to answer that question. At this point, I haven't seen it. The police department seized it, so they have it."

What changes could be made for future home games to prevent that?

"We're going to re-emphasize our training and procedures and that everybody is subject to search who enters the stadium. Hopefully, we didn't have a niche that they could have been discovered before. We have NFL security policy that dictates what we do stadium to stadium and do our best to execute it."

Was there a chance this was snuck in days ago or anything like that?

"I don't know. At this point, I don't have any idea. We have to bear down on it and see if we can determine that was a possibility."

Were there any signs ahead of time that could have given away this possibly happening?

"Not that I'm aware of, I don't think we had any inkling of it."

Will fans have to expect additional security on longer lines?

"I don't know if they should suspect longer lines. I'm going to essentially re-emphasize the whole process. People are probably going to go the extra mile to make sure we're looking as closely as we can without inconveniencing the fan, which is a delicate balance every time we do it. I wouldn't say it's going to have a negative effect. Everyone realizes what happened."

Are you able to list the items they had that were supposed to be banned?

"The prohibited items list is on the website if you want to read that. The police seized the equipment, so I haven't actually seen it, but I'll see it later."

Where were you when you first saw this last night?

"I was in one of the security suites where we monitor the bowl, and I got a call from the NFL security rep that someone was rappelling. First of all I didn't think I heard it correctly. Then we started looking and figured it. We just observed it until it was addressed. I can't say enough about the CMPD and fire department, in particular. To take that situation and address it without anybody getting hurt, suspects as well as fans in a delicate situation."

 

 

How was it getting them down?

"You'd have to talk to Major Johnny Jennings about that. I wasn't involved in any of the arrests, so he can answer that for you."

We saw two rappelling but four were arrested, what were the other two doing?

"Just assisting as the best that I can tell. Those people were just assisting but I don't know that factually."

What were the ropes attached to?

"I'm not sure. We have to talk to people in the area as far as guest relations folks and also whoever responded."

Is this concerning that people can get that type of stuff in?

"Yeah, we're always concerned about somebody bringing in something that can affect the game. Was it a bomb? No. Thank God that nobody got hurt. Those are our first considerations. Getting the balance right between security that doesn't inconvenience or prevent people from coming to the stadium. We went to a clear bag policy a few years ago and we finally have our fans adjusted to that. We're constantly communicating with them to try to make it better."