Entertainment, Terrorism Don’t Mix

I don’t know about you, but I love to attend concerts, festivals, sporting events… just about anything that draws a big crowd. The mass gathering of people brings to the event a certain excitement that smaller gatherings just can’t duplicate. But unfortunately, nowadays, it also brings about concerns of terrorism and acts of violence.

In the United States, entertainment is a huge part of our lives. And it is evident in the venues that we showcase our entertainment in. Every day, plans are being drawn up to construct new ballparks and stadiums, or to make changes to existing ones. The trend over the past several years has been to name, or re-name the venue to bear the name of their biggest financial contributor. Sporting teams are demanding new arenas and stadiums, with only the finest in luxury skyboxes and amenities catering to the rich and famous. Everyone is looking to build a bigger—and better—venue to top the next guy.

And it doesn’t just stop there. The Music Center of Los Angeles County recently remodeled their concert hall courtesy of the Walt Disney Company. Billed as an “architectural masterpiece,” the Walt Disney Concert Hall houses the famed Los Angeles Philharmonic and the Los Angeles Master Chorale.

So why am I talking about sports arenas and venues? Well, as I continue to enjoy concerts and sporting events at some of our most popular venues, I also grow more concerned about my personal safety when attending these events. The idea of being a terrorist target is never far from my thoughts.

And I’m sure I’m not alone in these thoughts. Today’s heavy political climate is definitely intimidating. Gathering tens of thousands of people in a major U.S. city at a popular venue coupled with famous celebrities could just very well be a recipe for disaster.

If you ask any entertainment insurer, they will tell you that terrorism is at the top of the list of their concerns right now. That’s why safety is more important than ever for the promoters of popular sporting and entertainment events. The threat of terrorism poses new challenges to promoters and insurers alike. While the promoters are responsible for beefing up security, it’s the insurers’ responsibility to perform due diligence and assess risk management principles when underwriting such a large—and potentially very liable—risk.

But insurance and safety aside, as a country we cannot let the threat of terrorism keep us from enjoying life as we always have. Instead, we need to get out more, relax, spend more time with family and friends, and enjoy the lives that we are so fortunate to lead here in the United States.