With the FIFA World Cup 2026 getting closer, event security is stepping into a more visible role.
Large-scale events are drawing broader audiences, bringing more movement between venues, and placing greater expectations on how consistent teams can perform over multiple days. For many organizations, that shift has their approach to temporary security, less as a standalone service, and more as a coordinated effort that can scale, adjust, and support the overall experience.
In our recent Security Connected North America episode and fireside chat, Shaun Oliver, VP of Operations at Sports Illustrated Stadium, joined leaders from Securitas USA and Pinkerton to share how that plays out in real environments. The conversation stayed close to the day-to-day reality of running events, from early planning conversations to how teams can adjust once the gates open and crowds begin to move.
We explore with Shaun Oliver, Tommy Zarna, President, Mobile Division, Securitas USA, and Miguel Martinez, VP at Pinkerton, how event security is being applied today, across stadiums, large venues, and multi-day events, and how different layers of protection come together to support both safety and the overall experience.
Event security now relies on connected layers
Event security has always required coordination, but the level of integration has changed. Event security now focuses on how different capabilities can work together across the event footprint.
That often starts with planning. Teams typically begin with a risk assessment that looks at crowd size, venue layout, access points, VIP requirements, and local conditions. From there, security planning becomes more tailored, aligning coverage with both risk and guest experience goals rather than a one-size-fits-all deployment.
In practice, that means combining several connected elements. On-site presence, mobile response, remote guarding, and specialized protection all play distinct roles, but their value comes from how they interact.
Tommy Zarna describes this approach as a “force multiplier, bringing all three of those elements together,” to extend coverage while helping maintain awareness across the venue. This layered approach also helps teams stay responsive as attendance, visibility, and activity levels shift.
On-site guarding shapes the first impression
Every event starts at the gate, and for many attendees, that interaction defines their first impression. On-site officers are often the first people attendees interact with, which means their role carries more weight than a simple checkpoint. They help set expectations, answer questions, and establish the tone for the event. At the same time, they’re also representing the venue in a very visible way.
That visible presence also plays a dual role. It reassures guests while supporting access control, screening, and bag checks at key entry points. When done well, it balances professionalism with approachability, which can shift depending on the type of event and audience.
"They’re the first people that people come across... they’re the ones that they associate their guest experience with,” Sean Oliver says.
Behind that front-line presence, planning often helps officers be positioned where they can support crowd movement, reduce bottlenecks, and help keep entry and exit points flowing smoothly.
Mobile guarding helps teams stay responsive
Once guests are inside and the event is underway, activity tends to move quickly and often unpredictably.
Mobile officers help provide the flexibility to respond as those conditions change. They move throughout the venue, support high-traffic areas, and can step in when situations begin to build. Their role is often about early intervention, addressing small issues before they escalate and helping maintain steady flow across the event.
In larger environments, that flexibility also supports faster decision-making. Officers can be repositioned based on real-time conditions, whether that’s crowd density, emerging congestion points, or developing incidents.
This type of responsiveness often ties back to broader coordination across the event, including communication with entry teams, back-of-house coverage, and remote guarding functions.
Remote guarding extends situational awareness
For large events and venues, visibility becomes a shared responsibility.
Remote teams can monitor camera feeds, track activity across the venue, and share updates that support decisions on the ground. They can also contribute to pre-event planning, helping teams identify areas that may need more attention.
Remote officers often have “the operational footprint... of that entire facility,” Tommy says. Even when they’re not physically on site, that broader view helps team stay aligned, especially when events stretch across multiple days or involve several areas operating at once.
Additional coordination for VIP and talent movement
For events involving high-profile guests or players, another layer of coordination comes into play.
These individuals often arrive with their own teams and expectations, which need to be integrated into the broader operational plan. That includes aligning timing, access routes, and movement through shared spaces without disrupting the event flow.
Miguel Martinez spoke to the importance of understanding those expectations while staying aligned with the venue’s approach.
“You have to understand the human,” he says. These interactions often shape decisions in real time.
That understanding helps teams adjust in real time, balancing individual protection needs with the overall guest experience and operational flow of the venue.
Coordination becomes more visible as events grow
Each of these elements can operate independently, but larger events tend to highlight how much they depend on one another.
An update from a remote team may influence how an entry point is managed. A mobile officer may respond based on information shared from another part of the venue. Movements tied to a VIP can temporarily shift how certain areas are staffed.
When those connections are clear, and information moves smoothly, teams are better positioned to adjust without slowing things down.
That level of coordination becomes especially important as events grow in scale and frequency.
Preparation still sets the pace
Even with strong coordination during the event, much of the work begins well beforehand.
Teams spend time understanding the expected audience, aligning with local partners, and planning for different scenarios. As Sean shared, that pre-work plays a significant role in how teams “figure out what the demographic of the crowd is coming in” and how they should respond.
They also consider how information will move once the event begins, what needs to be shared, how quickly it needs to reach the right people, and how teams will respond when something changes.
That preparation helps create a steadier experience, even when the environment itself is less predictable.
Looking ahead to global events
As the World Cup approaches, event environments are likely to see more attention and more sustained activity over a shorter period of time.
Teams aren’t starting from scratch, but they are building on what’s already in place, bringing together different capabilities, strengthening communication, and preparing for a higher level of visibility.
Event and temporary security continue to take shape through that process. The teams that perform well tend to stay connected, adjust when needed, and keep the experience moving in a way that feels natural for the people attending.