[Infowarrior] - NFL wants pat downs from ankles up at all stadiums

[Richard Forno]

http://content.usatoday.com/communities/gameon/post/2011/09/nfl-orders-ankles-up-frisks-for-16-million-fans-enterting-stadiums-security-buffalo-bills/1

Sep 15, 2011
NFL wants pat downs from ankles up at all stadiums

By Michael McCarthy, USA TODAY
Updated 4h 24m ago

The NFL wants all fans patted down from the ankles up this season to improve fan safety.

Previously, security guards only patted down fans from the waist up before gaining entry to NFL stadiums. Under the new "enhanced" pat-down procedures, the NFL wants all 32 clubs to search fans from ankles to the knees as well as the waist up.

The stricter security approach impacts the 16.6 million fans expected to attend live regular season NFL games this season.

The league wanted all clubs to implement the enhanced searches for Week One of the new season, says spokesman Brian McCarthy. The NFL hopes fans will be "patient" -- and arrive earlier to games to avoid lengthy delays.

"The enhanced security procedures recommended by our office before the start of the season will further increase the safety of fans but will require some additional time," McCarthy told USA TODAY in a statement Thursday. "We encourage fans to come early, enjoy their tailgating tradition, and be patient as they enter the stadium."

The NFL suffered damage to its family-friendly image when a South Carolina man was arrested for using an illegal taser on other fans at a New York Jets-Dallas Cowboys game Sunday night.

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The NFL predicts its live gate will be equal this year to last season's overall regular season attendance of 16,569,514.