Beginning Friday, people entering Reds games through the main ballpark gates will have to go through metal detectors. Next season the detectors will be at all Great American Ball Park gates.
The team says this is part of Major League Baseball's initiative to standardize security procedures at all 30 Major League parks. MLB is working with the Department of Homeland Security.
The metal detectors are in addition to the standard bag checks.
Before walking through the metal detector, fans will have to take their cell phones and any large metal objects from their pockets. The Reds say, "Ballpark staff will work diligently to insure this procedure is timely and efficient."
Guests that cannot walk through the metal detectors because of medical conditions will be manually checked with a hand-held detector.
“The safety of our fans is the number one priority for us at Great American Ball Park,” said Tim O’Connell, Reds Vice President of Ballpark Operations. “We are committed to the procedures that MLB has asked us to implement and our staff is dedicated to maintaining the highest security standards possible.”
