Tens of thousands of people will be gathering at Spectrum Stadium at the University of Central Florida on Friday for the big UCF, USF rivalry game, and UCF Police are taking steps to make sure everyone stays safe.
- UCFPD enhance security before "War on I-4"
- There will be 200 law enforcement officers at the game
- Police chief already prepping for conference championship
“This is the University of Central Florida’s edition of the Superbowl,” said UCF Police Chief Richard Beary.
The rivalry game is known as the “War on I-4.” But UCF police want to make sure the battles remain on the football field.
“Any mass gathering is of course a security concern, so we start our planning weeks in advance,” said Chief Beary.
Several days before the game UCF Police had barricades, traffic cones and light towers set up around the stadium and around the campus.
“Because of the enhanced security we will have on site this weekend, we will ask people to come early, get to the gates early,” Chief Beary said. “It will help us with our job and it will give them a better fan experience.”
UCF Police are used to working security for home football games. But Friday’s game will be different.
“We have a sold-out game, we’ll have people trying to get tickets to get in, and it’s a nationally-televised game,” Chief Beary said.
There will be 200 law enforcement officers — some from the visiting University of South Florida — outside and inside the stadium.
“We’re all in this together, so if anybody sees something that doesn’t seem right, just let law enforcement know. There will be plenty of cops on site,” Chief Beary said.
Beary says fans will notice some of the visible security measures, but there will also be some things in place they won’t see.
“We look at all of the current threats, we look at what’s going on around the globe, we look at what’s going on around the Unites States and then we adjust accordingly, and I think our fans are in for a very safe, fun and exciting afternoon,” said Chief Beary.
If UCF wins Friday, their conference championship game will also be played at UCF the following weekend, so UCF’s police chief says his department is already making security plans for another big game on campus.