On 30 November 2017, UC Berkeley held an intercollegiate sports event between its California Golden Bears and the Seattle University Redhawks women’s basketball teams. The Cals won the game. The game took place at the Haas Pavilion. The Haas Pavilion is home to the University of California Golden Bears men and women’s basketball, men and women’s gymnastics and the women’s volleyball teams. To get to the Pavilion, one walks along Bancroft Way found at the intersection with Dana Street (CalBears.com University of California Official Athletic Site, 2017). According to California Golden Bears website, the facility was built in 1933 as Harmon Gym but later reconstructed in 1999 as Haas Pavilion- named after Walter A. Haas, Jr. It is a state-of-the-art basketball arena and sports facility that can seat 11,877 people.
The event provided an excellent opportunity to see first-hand how the University of California managed its facility and sports events. The success of any game is determined by how well the venue is maintained. In this regard, sports facilities should be accessible to everyone including persons with disability. According to the United States Access Board Summary Guidelines the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), prohibits any discrimination towards persons with disabilities (Accessible Sports Facilities, 2003). Its guidelines provide specifications for sports facilities that can create a certain level of usability for those with disabilities. In compliance with this Act, the Haas Pavilion offers ADA seating areas on levels 1, 3 and 4. The corridors are also wide enough to allow movement of wheelchairs within them.
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Crowd control at sports events is always difficult to handle especially where celebratory riots may arise. The 1993 “Camp Randall Crush” the University of Wisconsin football stadium was an eye-opener for many campus safety officials (CalBears.com University of California Official Athletic Site, 2017). The Campus Safety Magazine web article stresses that for effective crowd control, public address announcements should be made warning the fans against entering the playing area (Staff, 2017). It also suggests the elimination of alcohol within the sports facility as a suitable measure for crowd control. At UC, Berkeley, have a list of permitted and prohibited items in which alcohol is listed. A fan code of conduct ensures intoxicate and inebriated individuals are not allowed in the Pavilion. About 50 television monitors and two high-resolution video boards are used to make announcements to the fans at Haas.
For security purposes, Cal Athletics has come up with a clear bag policy that gives specifications on the size and type of bags to be brought to events at the Haas (CalBears.com University of California Official Athletic Site, 2017). The clear bags and the contents inside are only allowed in the building if they meet the specifications. Patrons with diaper bags or those with medical needs do not carry clear bags. If a fan fails to comply with the specifications, they are sent back to leave their belongings in the vehicle. Checking of bags is done at the Spieker Aquatics Complex which is located next to the ticket office. Other measures put in place include the presence of security officials in bright vests who patrol the Pavilion throughout the sporting event. These steps ensure that the risk of anything going wrong within the facility is managed.
Within the facility, there is a Cal Team Store and two club rooms. However, it the Cal Team Store is only open during men basketball games. The only store that one will access during other events is the Cal Student Store which is located a block away. I recommend that the Cal Team Store should also be open during other competitions.
The Haas Pavilion at UC, Berkeley meets the standards of facility and sports management. It ensures maximum safety, security, and entertainment for athletes and fans.
References
Accessible Sports Facilities: A Summary of Accessibility Guidelines for Recreational Facilities. (2003). United States Access Board.
CalBears.com University of California Official Athletic Site,. (2017). Calbears.com Retrieved 1 December 2017, from http://www.calbears.com/sports/2013/4/17/208212524.aspx
Staff, C,. (2017). How to Manage Crowds at College Sportin Events - Campus Safety Magazine Campus Safety Magazine Retrieved 1 December 2017, from https://www.campussafetymagazine.com/university/controlling-crowds-at-college-sporting-events/
