As thousands of fans pour into Atlanta for Monday night’s college football championship game, city leaders say they are ready to make it a fun and safe weekend of events.
After all, Atlanta has hosted big events for decades, and venues around Georgia also frequently draw huge crowds for games, festivals and parades.
But after the early-morning terrorist attack in New Orleans on Jan. 1 prompted Sugar Bowl organizers to reschedule the New Year’s Day playoff contest between Georgia and Notre Dame for the following day, Atlanta has worked to ensure the only headlines here will be about the game itself.
The Atlanta Police Department, working with the mayor’s office, said its careful planning, partnership between law enforcement agencies and experience gained from hosting previous events should keep people safe.
“We are prepared,” APD Chief Darin Schierbaum said. “We’ve been preparing for months now for this day.”
In addition to Monday‘s football game, there are fan events over the weekend at the Georgia World Congress Center, concerts Saturday and Sunday at State Farm Arena and the Trophy Trot run through downtown Sunday morning. Plus, Monday is Martin Luther King Jr. Day, an important holiday in the city where King was born, and events honoring King are planned around the city. The Presidential Inauguration will be held the same day in Washington, D.C.
Roads will close from noon to 4 p.m. for the MLK Day march, starting at Peachtree Street at Baker Street and ending at Ebenezer Baptist Church, Deputy Police Chief Charles Hampton said.
All hands on deck
The busy weekend means 12-hour shifts and no off days for practically the entire Atlanta Police Department, which will have hundreds of officers in the downtown area, Schierbaum said.
Atlanta differs from New Orleans and its French Quarter entertainment district in that Atlanta’s restaurants, nightclubs and other venues are not centrally located. In New Orleans, the terrorist attack happened just hours into the new year, as visitors and college football fans celebrated on historic Bourbon Street. Others were staying in nearby hotels, all within a quick walk to the Caesars Superdome.
Atlanta’s spread-out configuration means officers must be deployed throughout the city, a police department spokesperson told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Security experts say attackers typically look for “soft targets” and the vulnerability of crowds.
“While there will be an increased presence in the vicinity of the Mercedes-Benz Stadium and the downtown space, the Atlanta Police Department will maintain a vigilant and visible presence across all areas of the city,” the department said.
On Monday, the stadium will have its normal safety measures in place, including a clear bag policy. Security personnel will check all guests, who should be prepared to open bags and possibly show all the contents, stadium officials advise.
If someone needs help, specialized fire and emergency crews will be strategically placed throughout the city to get to places quickly and help those in need, Atlanta Fire Chief Rod Smith said.
Credit: Miguel Martinez-Jimenez
Credit: Miguel Martinez-Jimenez
Public safety expert Dr. Robert Friedmann said there haven’t been major changes in how law enforcement works to protect crowds and venues since 2017, when a gunman killed dozens of people in Las Vegas.
But recent attacks have led law enforcement to be more aware today, he said. There are also more frequent copycats, said Friedmann, who is the founding director of Georgia International Law Enforcement Exchange, a joint project led by Georgia State of law enforcement agencies around the globe whose mission includes providing training and best practices on how to best deal with threats to public safety.
For example, the car-ramming style of attack in New Orleans is nothing new, he said, as ISIS and al-Qaida have had publications explaining how to use pickup trucks to ram into large crowds to cause casualties. Less than two weeks before the New Orleans incident, there was a car-ramming attack at the Magdeburg Christmas market in Germany.
City officials don’t discuss their safety plans publicly, but Atlanta has gained valuable experience after hosting so many events, and strong law enforcement partnerships are key to keeping everyone safe, according to Friedmann.
Still, even with proactive defense measures, those wanting to do harm have to be successful just once, he said.
“Are they (the police) prepared? Yes. The issue is that you can’t guarantee 100% success,” Friedmann said.
To keep the city safe, agencies share best practices and constantly evaluate their efforts after a major event, APD said. They look at what worked in the past and discuss what they can improve on. Hours are spent preparing to secure each event, with tactics that include monitoring social media for threats, as previous attackers have posted information online, Friedmann said.
He added that he would have been more concerned two decades ago because agencies now have a good scope of potential threats.
“There are a lot of unsung heroes out there who are trying to guarantee the safety of spectators and attendees,” Friedmann added.
Athens and Savannah also host big events
Athens and Savannah are among other cities that frequently draw large crowds, and what their law enforcement agencies learn about safety is shared with Atlanta agencies -- and vice versa.
UGA home football games and graduation ceremonies draw thousands to Athens, along with AthFest music & arts festival and the Athens Orthopedic Clinic Twilight Criterium bike races.
Credit: Jason Getz / Jason.Getz@ajc.com
Credit: Jason Getz / Jason.Getz@ajc.com
UGA says it also partners with various law enforcement agencies, including Athens-Clarke County police, and continually reviews and assesses plans. Athens-Clarke County Lt. Charlie Wang says early planning is key, and communication helps officers be prepared for the big events.
In Savannah, managing the nation’s second-largest St. Patrick’s Day celebration each March has cemented the city’s public safety professionals’ reputation as event security specialists. They face security challenges on two fronts: a 3-mile parade that winds through the city’s historic district during the day and an after-dark party in the downtown bar district.
“There’s a chink in every piece of armor; the goal is to make that armor as tight as you can make it,” said Savannah Police Sgt. Jason Pagliaro, who has coordinated special events operations for more than a decade. “And the threats are always evolving, so you are always working to figure out ways to do it better.”
See something, say something
And law enforcement also relies on Atlanta residents to do their part and alert the authorities when they see potential problems.
“If you see something, say something,” Schierbaum said, even in the days leading to the game. “If a vehicle, an individual (or) a package does not look right, call 911. Flag down one of the individuals in uniform that you will see around.”
Mayor Andre Dickens said the city “does ‘big’ very well,” and he is hopeful the college football championship game, along with other weekend events, will prove that once again.
“This is a huge undertaking, and I speak for all of us when I say we will not rest until all of our residents and visitors leave safe with a positive experience and great stories to tell when they get back home,” the mayor said.
— Staff writers Adam Van Brimmer and Fletcher Page contributed to this article.
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